The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on Tuesday said the continent needed 30 tonnes per hectare of cassava by 2050 from the current nine tonnes per hectare.
Dr Claude Fauguet, Director of the Global Cassava Partnership of IITA, made the assertion at a news conference in Lagos to announce the 4th International Cassava Conference.
Fauguet said that Africa currently produced about 10 tonnes per hectare of cassava, while Latin America and Asia currently produced 12 tonnes and 22 tonnes per hectare respectively.
According to Fauguet, Africa needs more science in the cultivation of cassava because its population and Nigeria, especially will double by 2050.
He said: “Africa needs transformation in the cultivation of cassava, otherwise, there will be a major food problem by 2050 if cassava remains less than 10 tonnes per hectare.
“We need to change the yield of cassava. Cassava is grown in 106 countries, Africa is 55 per cent while Latin America and Asia grows 12 and 33 per cent respectively. Read more