Agbona, A.

Aina, O.O.

Akuwa, K.C.

Bello, A.A.

Dixon, Alfred G.O.

Ilona, P.

Kanju, E.

Kulakow, P.A.

Mahungu, N.M.

Moshood, B.

Ntawuruhunga, Pheneas

Olaosebikan, O.

Parkes, E.Y.

Ilona, Paul

CGSpace

www.iita.org   I   www.cgiar.org PreambleCassava biofortification has been a successful strategy focused on reducing the menace ofmicronutrient deficiency among the most vulnerable groups of people (pregnant women andchildren under age of 5) in Africa. Strategic integration of innovative research activities withdelivery and dissemination platforms (Fig.1) has yielded significant impact in producing andpromoting biofortified food products with increased nutritional value. Cassava varieties bred forhigher levels of provitamin A content have been released and distributed in Nigeria and DRCongo with research in progress in over 10 other countries in Africa.Delivery and Dissemination ApproachHarvestPlus has mainstreamed cassava biofortification delivery through a decentralized stemmultiplier mechanism. Starting with four states in Nigeria in 2011, subsequent expansion in lateryears through well coordinated in-country partnerships with multi-stakeholders, NARS partners,media and entertainment industry and ministries of agriculture, health, and education. Nutritiousfood fairs and Farmers Field Day’s (FFD) were organized in Nigeria (Fig. 4) and Ghana topublicize nutritional benefits of biofortified foods among rural and semi-urban communities.Agroshops and online marketing also helped scaling-up of dissemination with over 5 millionstem bundles of PVAC varieties disseminated in Nigeria and DRC during 2011-2014.Future ReleasesMore than 50 biofortified cassava genotypes with total carotenoid content higher than the best released variety are in the pipeline in advanced breeding stages and national performance trials. To scale biofortification, partners are testing genotypes with total carotenoids content for incorporation into national breeding programs (Fig. 6).  Genotypes in current national performance trials include IITA-TMS-IBA141092, IITA-TMS-IBA141099 and IITA-TMS-IKN120016 with total carotenoids content ranging between 13-17 µg/g fresh wt. Training and Capacity DevelopmentOver 4000 individuals have been trained on processing and storage of biofortified cassava-based products. Additionally, NARS partners have been trained on carotenoid quantificationusing iCheck™ (Fig. 5). 260 participants were collectively trained on cassavabase and datacollection using the fieldbook application in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria between2015-2017.Figure 1. Activity flow chart for development, delivery and impact of PVAC varietiesBreeding ApproachHybridization generates large populations of families for screening, selection (Fig. 2a & b)and further evaluated in different breeding stages (Fig. 3). A total of seven biofortifiedcassava varieties with total carotenoid content (TCC) ranging from 8–12 µg/g fresh wt.have been released (Table 1).Figure 3. Schematic representation of the  PVAC breeding cycle in 2014ConclusionThrough our various  strategies, it is expected that more than 2 million farming households will be planting PVAC varieties and at least 17 million people will be consuming vitamin A food products in their regular diets in 2018 resulting in a vibrant and stronger cassava value chain with multi-sectoral engagement and new nutrition based markets for cassava in Africa.TCC - total carotenoid content, FW- fresh weight, µg/g* Pro-vitamin A content is approximately 80% of total carotenoid content (fresh weight) Notes: Data from two years of multi-locational NCRP testing at 9 sites during 2008/09 and 2009/10 (Nigeria).Table 1. Biofortified cassava varieties released in Nigeria and DRCFigure 4. Participants at the HarvestPlus stand during 2017 FFD held at Ago-owu, Osun state, Nigeria Figure 5. iCheck™ training for NARS partners in different countries from 2012 to 2016 disaggregated by gender Variety Name Total Carotenoids(µg/g fresh wt.)Fresh RootYield (t/ha)Dry Matter (%)Nigeria – Released in 2011 - 2014IITA-TMS-IBA011371 8 20.1 30.7IITA-TMS-IBA011412 7 29.8 30.1IITA-TMS-IBA011368 7 26.7 33.4IITA-TMS-IBA30572 (whitecontrol) 0.9 23.2 37.1NR07- 0220 12 25 32IITA-TMS-IBA070593 12 27 33IITA-TMS-IBA070539 11 25 30DRC – Released in 2008IITA-TMS-IBA011661 9 34.9 30Butamu (Check) 4.4 35.0 3502468101214DRC Malawi Tanzania Ghana Cameroon Benin Cameroon Coted'ivoireDassa Sirrealone2012 2013 2014 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016no of participantsMalefemaleFigure 6. Genotypes with total carotenoids levels higher than the best released variety.Figure 2: Male and female flowers for Hybridization (a) and populations in seedling nursery (b)Female flower male flower Mainstreaming Cassava Biofortification in Africa: A contribution towards reducing malnutrition and hunger E. Y. Parkes1 , E. Kanju1, P. Ntawuruhunga1,  N. Mahungu1, O.O. Aina1, B. Moshood 1,A. Agbona1, K.C. Akuwa1, A. A. Bello1, O.Olaosebikan1, P.Ilona2, A.G.O Dixon1, P. A. Kulakow11International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Nigeria, 2 HarvestPlus NigeriaProblem: Malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) are widespread throughout AfricaActivities • Develop productive cassava varieties with high contents of pro-vitamin A (PVAC) in the roots• Promote cultivation of, and consumption of products from PVAC varieties through:- decentralized multiplier mechanism of planting materials- awareness of efficiency of food based intervention and PVAC potential- collaboration with government and strategic partnersOutcome• Increased cultivation and consumption of PVAC foods across target African countries Goal: To mitigate micronutrient deficiency among vulnerable groups in AfricaOutputs• PVAC varieties selected and released to farmers• PVAC value chain developed and strengthened• Technical support for cultivation provided• Beneficiaries trained on enterprise development, processing and storageCorresponding author Elizabeth Parkes  (e-mail: e.parkes @cgiar.org)

Mainstreaming cassava biofortification in Africa: a contribution towards reducing malnutrition and hunger

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/90702/1/U17ProcParkesMainstreamingNothomNodev.pdf

Mainstreaming cassava biofortification in Africa: a contribution towards reducing malnutrition and hunger

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

CGSpace