|
|
|
 Last
update: 29 August 2007
|
|
|
Proceedings On-line
7th Regional Cassava Workshop
(28 October-1 November 2002, Bangkok, Thailand)
 This
Workshop not only dealt with cassava breeding and agronomy
research, as well as the progress made in the Nippon Foundation-funded
FPR projects in China, Thailand, and Vietnam, but also included
the recent research conducted in various new topics, such
as the use of cassava roots and leaves for animal feeding,
the latest developments in cassava processing into starch
and many starch-derived products, as well as the development
of cassava growth models.
The Proceedings of this Workshop, entitled "Cassava
Research and Development in Asia: Exploring New Opportunities
for an Ancient Crop", have been published and provide
an important historical record of the progress made in cassava
research and development in Asia during the past 25-35 years.
Download the proceedings.
Download the program
of the workshop and the abstracts (749 kb)
See the list of the PowerPoint Presentations
of the workshop and download most of them.
You can also download the proceedings
of the 6th Regional Cassava Workshop held in Ho Chi Minh
city, Vietnam, 21-25 February 2000. (more
information)
Contact: Reinhardt
Howeler
|
|
Improving the Livelihoods of Smallholder
Upland Farmers in Lao PDR and Cambodia through Improved and
Integrated Cassava-based Cropping and Livestock Systems
 The
Nippon
Foundation recently approved funding for a new five-year
cassava research project to be implemented by CIAT in Asia.
Cassava is currently the third most important crop in Laos,
after rice and maize. It is widely grown throughout the country
by upland farmers but in small areas using local varieties
and with very few inputs. The roots are used mainly for human
consumption and for feeding livestock, especially pigs. Young
shoots are also harvested for human consumption.
Livestock are a vital safety net for vulnerable upland farmers
in Indochina. Feed shortages are a common and major constraint
to improving these livestock systems. Recent research in the
region has demonstrated the high potential of dried or ensiled
cassava roots and leaves as a feed supplement for pigs, cattle,
fish and poultry.
The new project will use farmer participatory research approaches
to evaluate, develop and disseminate new varieties, improved
production practices and more efficient animal feeding practices
that will increase yields and income for upland farmers. The
work commenced in Laos in April 2004 and will expand to Cambodia
in 2005.
(more information)
Contact: Reinhardt
Howeler
|
|
Cassava
Researchers Honored by the King of Thailand
 A
close collaborator of CIAT's, Wilawan Vongkasem of the Thai
Department of Agricultural Extension, has been presented with
the King of Thailand Vetiver Award in the category of vetiver
technology dissemination by a government institution. She
received the award during the 3rd International Conference
on Vetiver Grass, held in Guangzhou, China, on 5-9 October,
for her paper entitled "The use of vetiver grass for
soil erosion prevention in cassava fields in Thailand."
Vongkasem and her coauthors (K. Klakhaeng, W. Watananonta,
and R.H. Howeler) describe widespread adoption of vetiver
hedgerows (about 150 km of hedgerows planted so far) in Thailand,
resulting from the work of the Nippon Foundation-supported
Farmer Participatory Research (FPR) Project.
The award was presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn, who attended the conference as patron of
the Vetiver Network. Vongkasem also received US$2,500, provided
by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
Reinhardt Howeler, who coordinates the FPR project, received
a certificate of excellence for vetiver grass research as
part of the King of Thailand Vetiver Award. In addition, the
Vetiver Network awarded him second price in the category of
Agricultural Application in Asia for a paper entitled "Working
with farmers: The key to adoption of vetiver grass hedgerows
to control erosion in cassava fields in Thailand." Howeler's
coauthors are W. Watananonta, W. Vongkasem, K. Klakhaeng,
S. Jantawat, S. Randaway, and B. Vankaew, representing five
partner institutions in Thailand.
It is a great honor that the achievements of the project have
been recognized in this manner.
Contact:
Reinhardt Howeler
|
From the latest issue of our institutional bulletin Growing
Affinities
The Power to Choose: A new Role for Asian Farmers in Cassava
Development
 On
a Sunday morning near the end of cassava harvest, the communal
meeting hall at Thong Nhat village in northern Vietnam is
nearly packed with well-groomed farmers. Spared today from
the backbreaking toil of pulling starchy cassava roots from
the ground, they're busy instead making choices that could
mean real improvement in their families' livelihoods.
For the last 2 hours the farmers have hurried
from one on-farm experiment plot to another, observing trial
results printed neatly on paper signs and jotting down data
on specially prepared forms. Now it's time for them to examine
the results together and plan their next steps.
Read the
whole story
|
Downloads
Cassava's Potential in Asia in
the 21st Century: Present Situation and Future Research and
Development Needs
 The
book collects 44 papers presented at the 6th Regional Cassava
Workshop, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 21-25 February
2000. Participants included cassava researchers from China,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam,
and Colombia.
Download the book’s
papers with the following topics:
- Present situation and future potential of the crop in
various cassava-producing countries of Asia
- Breeding
- Agronomy
- Farmer participatory research
- New products from cassava
- CIAT collaboration
These papers are followed by a list of participants, including
their e-mail addresses, and an appendix with the results of
analyses of soil samples collected in various Asian countries
from 1995 to 2000.
|
|
|
|
|
Download PDF Documents
Related Web Sites