Cassava
052
Best, Rupert; Henry, Guy; Gottret, María Verónica. [1994]. El impacto de
la industria de la yuca seca en la costa Atlántica de Colombia. [The Impact of
dry cassava industry in the Atlantic Coast of Colombia]. In: El desarrollo rural en
América Latina hacia el Siglo XXI memorias del seminario-taller internacional. Pontificia
Universidad Javeriana, Santafé de Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia). v. 2 p. 3-17. Es. (60189)
A project was started in 1981 to promote the cassava-drying industry in
Colombia's North Coast region. Project participants were associations of small cassava
farmers, and several national and international institutions. This project applied a
methodology that validated and adapted production and processing technologies in the
field, while developing markets for cassava products. This approach, called Integrated
Cassava Project (ICP) integrates research on cassava production, processing, and
marketing, and links it with technology transfer and dissemination activities. In 1981, a
pilot cassava-drying plant began producing dried cassava chips and, in 1984, the project
began its commercial or replication phase. Results of adoption studies show that,
currently, more than 150 cassava-drying plants operate in the North Coast. Production of
dried cassava totals 35,000 t/year. In areas with drying plants and institutional
presence, adoption of cassava production technologies is high. Among technologies adopted
are the variety Venezolana (93 percent), seed treatment (19 percent), increased planting
density (42 percent), use of herbicides (47 percent), and mechanization (36 percent). The
expansion of traditional markets and the adoption of improved technology have increased,
by 22 percent, the area planted to cassava in the North Coast between 1982-1992, with a 50
percent increase in production. Economic impact analyses showed that the ICP in the North
Coast generated about US$22 million in surplus between 1984-1991, of which 69 percent was
accrued to small cassava farmers. Cassava processors received 10 percent of the surplus.
Considering that the project cost US$1.2 million, the profit was US$18 per dollar
invested. The aperture of the Colombian economy and prevailing economic conditions caused
by GATT negotiations with countries marketing cassava products represent risks for the
Colombian dried cassava industry. The recent importation from Indonesia of 20,000 tons of
pelleted cassava indicates that (1) internal prices of dried cassava cannot compete with
imported cassava at "dumping" prices; (2) the internal product is substandard;
and (3) national dried cassava production does not satisfy the demands of the Colombian
feed industry. Constraints faced by the Colombian dried cassava industry are now being
discussed by a panel formed by the Ministry of Agriculture, associations of cassava
farmers and processors, ANDI, CORPOICA, and CIAT. These discussions should help solve
these limitations through an integrated, participatory strategy. An activity plan, still
under discussion, will attempt to link the different entities according to their
comparative advantages and mandate, and thus support the dried cassava industry, which can
be a potential example of how sustainable rural development can be achieved.
053
Epperson, James E. Pachico, Douglas H. Guevara, Claudia L. A cost analysis of
maintaining cassava plant genetic resources. En: Crop Science (USA). 1997 v.
37(5) p. 1641-1649
Costs represent a chief consideration as a major constraint to germplasm
preservation. The objective of this study was to ascertain in detail the costs for cassava
(Manihot esculenta Crantz) germplasm storage to identify potential areas for greater cost
effectiveness. The cost analysis for this study encompassed the field and in vitro parts
of the cassava collection at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), near
Cali, Colombia. The isozyme laboratory costs used for genetic evaluation also were
included in the analysis. The total cost of in vitro preservation of cassava germplasm at
CIAT was about 53% more than that for field preservation. Variable costs (those that can
vary within the year) were quite high for field preservation relative to that for in vitro
preservation. Labor comprised a large part of the cost for both operations. Labor was
considered part of the fixed cost (those that cannot be varied within the year) for in
vitro preservation although it was a variable cost for field preservation. Skilled labor
is required for the in vitro facility and cannot be varied in the short run without
endangering the security of the collection. Further, since variable costs were quite high
for field preservation, relative to that for in vitro preservation, greater cost savings
can be achieved in the short run by reducing accessions and replications of accessions in
the field where prudent. Use of the isozyme laboratory is cost effective if procedures
allow the identification and elimination of duplicate accessions for both field and in
vitro preservation of the collection.
054
Gottret, María Verónica; Henry, Guy. 1994. La importancia de los estudios
de adopción e impacto : el caso del proyecto integrado de yuca en la costa norte de
Colombia. [ The importance of adoption and impact studies : the case of the
cassava integrated project in the Northern Coast of Colombia]. In: 3. Reunión
Panamericana de Fitomejoradores de Yuca. Cali (Colombia). May 1994. Interfase entre los
programas de mejoramiento, los campos de los agricultores y los mercados de la yuca en
Latinoamérica : memorias. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Cali (Colombia).
(Documento de trabajo ; no. 138). p. 193-223. Es. (SB 211 .C3 I573)
Adoption and impact studies have been designed to determine the returns
to resources invested in research. They are important as a tool for focusing R&D
activities and as a mechanism for ex ante and ex post feedback. The document is divided
into four parts: the first reviews recent adoption and impact studies and the mechanisms
for their evaluation. The second presents a case study on the adoption and impact of
technologies within the Integrated Cassava Project, carried out by DRI (the Colombian Fund
for Integrated Rural Development) and the CIAT Cassava Program in a region of Colombia,
known as the North Coast. The third part discusses the results as related to previous
terms of reference, and the fourth part gives recommendations on how to design evaluations
of research programs. Between 1984 and 1991, small-farmer cooperatives, who participated
in the Integrated Cassava Project in the North Coast, adopted cassava-drying technologies
and created new markets that established a base price, which favored increased planting of
cassava and benefitted, not only urban consumers of fresh cassava, but also buyers of
dried cassava, processors, intermediaries, and producers. In 1991, the region had 142
drying plants producing 25,000 MT to meet a demand of 62,000 MT of fresh roots. During
this same period, the area planted to cassava increased from 55,000 ha to 110,337 ha.
Factors that influence the adoption of drying technology are distance to market centers,
access to credit and technical assistance, relative importance of cassava as agricultural
crop, and the formation of cassava growers' associations.
055
Gottret, Maria Verónica; Henry, Guy; Cortez, Mauricio. 1992. Impact of
integrated cassava projects in the North Coast of Colombia. Centro Internacional
de Agricultura Tropical. Cali (Colombia). 101 ref. (Es). (HD 9235 .C3 G67)
In 1994, 52 percent of cassava grown in Colombia was produced in the
North Coast area. As part of an extensive analysis of the adoption and impact of
technologies for cassava cultivation in the departments of Atlántico, Magdalena,
Córdoba, Bolívar, and Sucre, the Economics Section of CIAT's Cassava Program conducted a
study to (1) quantify the relationships between the prices of inputs and products and
volume of cassava production, market processes, and consumption; (2) study the
fluctuations of consumer and farmer prices, before and after the adoption of new
technologies; (3) estimate the per capita cassava consumption that resulted from the
adoption of new technologies; (4) calculate the benefits of the technology for cassava
farmers, consumers, and processors; and (5) based on the results of the previous points,
analyze the implications of adoption studies and their benefits. A model was developed
that incorporated cassava production, marketing, processing, and consumption. Between 1981
and 1986, cassava production increased significantly as a result of reduced market risks,
adoption of new technologies, growing number of cassava-processing plants for animal feed,
increased availability of credit for small producers, diseases affecting yam crops, and
implementation of agrarian reform. The on-farm demand for fresh cassava is mainly affected
by farmgate and retail prices and by the availability of efficient transportation to
consumption centers. The model indicated that farmers who adopt technology and who are not
faced with limitations adjust their level of productivity to price changes accordingly.
Farmers especially adopt cropping techniques that do not demand machinery or additional
labor. The main inputs of cassava processing are labor and volume of roots for processing.
For farmers, the new technologies represented a profit of US$15 million. For dried cassava
consumers, profits were US$4.3 million, and for processors, US$1.1 million.
056
Gottret, María Verónica. Henry, Guy. Dufour, Dominique. Adoption et impact de la
transformation du manioc en amidon aigre. En: Les Cahiers de la Recherche
Développement (France)no.44. (1997) p. 38-58. [62051]
The studies of technology adoption and impact are useful for the donors
and the managers of research projects and more particularly for the researchers and
revealing, for which this information allows to readjust (if that be necessary), the
objectives and the methodology of projects in progress. This study made it possible to
quantify and analyze the origin and the rates of adoption of new technologies of
transformation of cassava varieties. The use of a simple econometric model made it
possible to identify the principal reasons of the adoption or rejection of those. The
analysis of the social and economic benefit brought to the community shows that the
producers and transformers of cassava were the main beneficiary of the project. Over the
period 1988-95 the benefits related to the adoption were estimated in 25,3 million
dollars. The rate of return on investment for the development project was estimated in
83%. The information collected and the many technical recommendations, organizational and
economical formulated in conclusion of document are other essential elements for the
formulation of a new phase of the project to support the cassava sour starch agroindustry
in the North of department of Cauca in Colombia.
057
Gottret, María Verónica. Henry, Guy. Dufour, Dominique. Caractérisation de
l'agroindustrie de production d'amidon aigre de manioc dans le département du Cauca,
Colombia. En: Les Cahiers de la Recherche Développement (France)no.43 (1997), p.
56-80 .[62052]
The small-scale sour starch agroindustry of the Cauca valley comprises
the largest concentration of sour starch producers, producing the highest output of the
product in Colombia. The industry is assessed and its main technical and socioeconomic
aspects are characterized. Technology adoption and impact are also evaluated and, based on
this, a future research and development agenda involving all levels of the market channel
is proposed. Levels of technology are closely correlated to plant size and product output,
and to distance from the major highway. The smaller plants, further from the highway and
higher in the mountains, manifested the lowest levels of technology utilization, output,
efficiency, credit use and technical assistance. Of five designated technology levels
observed in the plants, the two lowest levels showed negative returns to investment. The
industry in general is dynamic from a technology-adoption point of view, as smaller
low-technology plants are replaced by larger high-technology units.
058
Gottret, María Verónica; Henry, Guy; Duque E., Myriam Cristina. 1993. Going
beyond dichotomous adoption : the case of cassava technology on the Atlantic Coast of
Colombia. Trends in CIAT Commodities no.128 p. 97-118 En.
An important aspect of the research and development (R&D) cycle is
technology diffusion. Researchers, extension agents, research managers, donors and
policymakers need to receive feedback from the field with respect to farmer
adoption/nonadoption. Technology adoption studies attempt to explain and characterize
adoption levels, rates and users. They can also serve as a guide for research managers in
the allocation of funds among alternative R&D options. If the factors characterizing
adopters/nonadopters can be identified fully and their decision-making analyzed, current
R&D systems can be modified in order to reach this segment of the population more
effectively. However, most studies have been of a qualitative nature; and there is no
theoretical basis for specifying structural relationships and interdependencies. The
purpose of this research was to identify the factors influencing farmers' response to new
technology and then quantify the effect of accessing new alternative markets and joining
small farmer organizations for cassava processing. The possible correlations studied were
between technology adoption and the following factors: access to markets, characteristics
of government programs and farm/farmer characteristics. More appropriate methodologies
were developed to analyze the effect of explanatory variables on dichotomous dependent
variables. The logistic regression model used estimates of data from a survey of 544
cassava farmers in the region. Preliminary results show that introducing the demand side
in the analysis of the factors affecting the adoption process is important. In the case of
cassava on the Atlantic Coast of Colombia, it was found that adoption of specific
technologies was significantly affected by market access. Moreover, the study showed the
importance of the cassava utilization technology in the adoption of production technology,
which iS, in turn, affected by "distance to plant" and "membership in a
cassava drying coop," supporting the theory that farmer associations can serve as
vehicles for technology diffusion. Government programs that influence the access of
farmers to information and credit are of great significance in technology adoption,
especially when more intensive technical assistance and greater capital investment are
required.
059
Gottret, María Verónica. Raymond, Melanie. An analysis of a cassava integrated
research and development approach : has it really contributed to poverty alleviation?
/ María Verónica Gottret, Melanie Raymond. Cali, Colombia : Centro Internacional de
Agricultura Tropical, 2000 . 32 p. : il.. .[62557]
In 1981, the Integrated Cassava Research and Development (ICRD) Project
was implemented as an integrated set of institutional, organizational, and technological
interventions designed to link small-scale cassava farmers to expanding markets. The
Project’s objective was to develop both technology and market opportunities for
cassava producers in the northern Colombia, targeting especially small farm owners and
landless farmers. The paper assesses the Project’s impact on participating
communities in terms of poverty alleviation, and identifies the avenues by which the
Project was able to bring these positive changes. The ICRD Project showed that
agricultural research can contribute tangibly to poverty alleviation, but with the
following conditions that (1) market and post harvest research and development are
integrated with production technology research agenda; (2) interinstitutional partnerships
are developed, whereby different institutions with their own expertise, comparative
advantages, and mandates collaborate to respond to the demands of local community
organizations and individuals; and (3) existing social and human capital is used to create
intimate networking among institutions, local social organizations, and individuals.
060
Henry, Guy. 1991. Adoption of cassava technologies : constraints,
strategies and impact. Trends in CIAT Commodities (CIAT) En. (no.1.16) p. 22-40.
An attempt is made to identify and analyze cassava technology adoption
constraints (multiplication, var. diffusion, institutional, political, structural) and to
describe an integrated research strategy that leads toward a more successful impact.
Issues that should be considered in the research agenda that will contribute to alleviate
constraints are true cassava seed, specific breeding objectives, farmer participatory
research, preproduction plots, and on-farm cassava stake multiplication. The efficient
development of improved technology and optimization of technology diffusion help increase
the area planted to new var., the no. of farmers using improved production and processing
technologies, and the no. of cassava processing plants. Examples of cassava adoption and
impact are detailed, namely the adoption of Rayong 3 in Thailand and the integrated
cassava drying projects in Latin America. Relatively too much emphasis has been placed on
production technology development and too little on alleviating basic constraints on the
adoption process, resulting in reduced technology impact. The strategy used by CIAT
integrates technology and adoption research. Quality of adoption research is also
important; the integration of technology and adoption research is the key to successful
diffusion and impact. This integrated approach must involve complete collaboration of
farmer and researcher during the entire research process. (CIAT).
061
Henry, Guy. 1992. Adoption, modification and impact of cassava drying technology :
the case of the Colombian North Coast. In: Product development for root and tuber
crops. International Potato Center, Lima (Perú). v. 3 p. 481-492. En. (HD 9019 .R66 P7).
The techniques, commercial procedures, and social organization for
cassava drying plants have experienced rapid diffusion and adoption in a number of Latin
American countries in recent years. This paper briefly reviews the evolution of the model
on which the diffusion of this technology was frequently based. The performance of the
initial plants over time is examined. The paper then analyzes the impact of this
technology on cassava consumption and utilization as well as area planted and yields.
Benefits associated with the proliferation of the drying plants in the form of employment
generation and foreign exchange savings are also estimated. The impact of changes in the
cassava production system, resulting from the drying plant technology, on the natural
resource base is among the topics suggested for future research.
062
Henry, Guy; Best, Rupert. 1994. Impact of integrated cassava projects among
small-scale farmers in selected Latin American countries. In: Symposium of the
International Society for Tropical Root Crops (9. 1991 : Accra, Ghana). Proceedings.
International Society for Tropical Root Crops, Accra, Ghana. p. 304-310. En. (SB 209 .S9)
The identification, introduction, and development of cassava drying
technology has led to a more stable and wider cassava market in several important
cassava-growing regions in Latin America. It has also encouraged small-scale cassava
farmers to increase both cassava cultivation and production using improved technologies.
This paper describes integrated cassava production and drying projects and the results of
a survey on the impact which the establishment of cassava drying plants has had on the
adoption of improved cassava production technologies.
063
Henry, Guy; Gottret, María Verónica. 1995. Cassava technology adoption:
constraints and opportunities. In: Cassava breeding, agronomy research and
technology transfer in Asia: proceedings of the fourth regional workshop held in
Trivandrum, Kerala, India, Nov. 2-6, 1993. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical,
Bangkok, Thailand. p. 410-432. En. (SB 211 .C3 C377)
The impact of improved technological components depends to a large
extent on the appropriateness of the intervention for the end-user, the efficiency of the
technology transfer mechanism and the socio-economical and political conditions of the
technology target area. In order to optimize impact the constraints in each of these areas
of influence need to be analyzed and opportunities need to be identified to alleviate
these constraints. From a different perspective these constraints can be divided into
technical, institutional, socio-economical and political limitations. Technical
constraints include the appropriateness of the technology intervention. Institutional
constraints include the research/extension integration, technology transfer mechanism,
seed multiplication capacity, and adoption information feed-back mechanism. The
socio-economic constraints include the presence and capacity of commercial seed
multiplication and distribution entities and the market situation regarding possible price
premiums or potential demand for additional supplies (as a consequence of the technology
adoption). The political constraints may be adverse governmental policy interventions. The
results from different adoption studies are used to demonstrate the importance of
appropriate technologies, institutional support, transfer mechanism, and market influence.
One case study treats the adoption and impact of cassava technologies within the
Integrated Cassava Project in Colombia's north coast. The other study concerns the
adoption of cassava variety Rayong 3 in Thailand. The last section of the paper identifies
and discusses various opportunities that are open to research and extension institutions
to alleviate adoption constraints and that subsequently can translate into higher impact.
064
Henry, Guy; Izquierdo, Diego A.; Gottret, María Verónica. 1994. Proyecto
integrado de yuca en la costa Atlántica de Colombia : adopción de tecnología.
[Integrated cassava project in the Colombian Atlantic coast : technology adoption]. Centro
Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, Programa de Yuca. Cali (Colombia). Documento de
trabajo ; no. 139. 79 p. Es. (HD 9235 .C3 H46)
The North Coast is considered the most important cassava- producing
region of Colombia, accounting for 49 percent of the area planted to cassava and 48
percent of the total domestic production. Before 1984, the introduction of new
technologies in the region encouraged overproduction of fresh cassava, and producer prices
dropped drastically. In 1984, however, thanks to the development of systems for conserving
dried cassava and using it in animal feed, prices were stabilized and planted area
increased. The study measured the effect of the Integrated Cassava Project on the
distribution of the area planted to the crop and on land tenure. The degree of adoption of
the different technological components, especially variety Venezolana, was estimated, and
the effect of institutional support on increased planting of cassava was determined.
Estimates were also made of the changes in yield as a result of technology adoption.
Adoption studies were conducted in the cassava-producing areas of the departments of
Córdoba, Sucre, Bolívar, Atlántico, Magdalena, César, and Santander del Norte and del
Sur. Among the reasons farmers gave for increasing the area planted to cassava
(percentages in parentheses) were improved market conditions (50), available land (22),
substitute crop for yam (12), and higher income (5). Reasons for planting the variety
Venezolana were higher yield (43), earlier maturity (13), higher starch content (11), good
market conditions (10), and access to seed (3). In view of the new prospects for the
cassava crop, land use has been intensified in the region, reducing the areas under fallow
and planted to grasses. At least two-thirds of the farmers have adopted one or more
technological components, especially the variety Venezolana. Seed storage, seed treatment
before planting, and use of fertilizers were the least adopted components.
065
Janssen, Willem G. 1986. Market impact on cassava's development potential in the
Atlantic Coast region of Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical.
Cali (Colombia). (En). (HD 9235 .C36 J35)
The impact of markets on agricultural development was analyzed by means
of a case study on cassava in the Atlantic Coast region of Colombia. In the development
process, the demand for agricultural products changes considerably. Traditional food
products, such as roots and tubers, face a decreasing demand in the course of urbanization
and income growth. Feed grains and animal products face a growing demand. The agricultural
sector is often not able to adapt to these demand changes and imports result. In case the
structure of agriculture is dualistic, small farmers might be harmed and large farmers
benefitted by these changes. This leads to unbalanced agricultural development. Market
improvement strategies directed to small farm products might correct part of the
unbalanced development. Cassava in the Atlantic Coast region is a small farm crop which
faces severe market(ing) problems in the development process. Fresh cassava consumption,
the traditional utilization, decreases because it has a high marketing margin, because it
has to be bought on the day of consumption and because other products become more widely
available. Two market improvement strategies for cassava are evaluated: improvement of the
traditional fresh cassava market by means of improved storage; opening the market for
dried cassava as an animal feed in order to replace sorghum. To study the impact of these
strategies the role of cassava in the Atlantic Coast region is analyzed within a systems
framework. The interactions that are found between production, marketing and consumption
are strong. Cassava production will be stimulated by the price stabilization that the
establishment of a cassava drying industry will cause. The improvement of cassava's
storage characteristics will decrease marketing costs, increase consumer convenience and,
therefore, stimulate cassava consumption. Because of the interactions encountered, the
impact of cassava market improvements cannot be measured in the market alone. An analysis
of the cassava system that integrates production, marketing and consumption is needed. The
integrated analysis is made by means of a multi-market, multi-farm type simulation model.
The model forecasts the impact of market improvement strategies given different
assumptions on the development of the Atlantic Coast economy and on the cassava systems
behavior. Cassava drying for animal feed is a strategy, which explicitly benefits cassava
producers. Additionally Colombia could save on sorghum imports. Improvement of the fresh
market would most benefit urban consumers. Considering the rural-urban migration problems
of Latin America, cassava drying appears the most attractive strategy. Both market
improvement strategies have very favorable rates of return. Market improvement projects
might serve additionally as a diving board for further rural development efforts.
Increased attention to the role of markets could contribute to fulfilling the goals of
agricultural development and to balancing overall economic growth.
066
Janssen, Willem G.; Lynam, John K. 1990. Integrated ex ante and ex post impact
assessment in the generation of agricultural technology : cassava in the Atlantic Coast of
Colombia. In: ISNAR/Rutgers Agricultural Technology Management Workshop. New
Brunswick, N.J. (USA). 6-8 Jul 1988. Methods for diagnosing research system constraints
and assessing the impact of agricultural research : proceedings. International Service for
National Agricultural Research, The Hague (Netherlands). v. 2 p. 217-244. En. (S 540 .E92
M48)
The present paper elaborates the concept of ex post and ex ante impact
integration, describes possible impact assessment methodologies, and illustrates these
with data from a joint CIAT/DRI project in the Atlantic Coast of Colombia. In this
project, a cassava-drying industry was established, involving changes in production
technology and the introduction of new processing and marketing methods. Ex ante analysis
stressed the benefits of the project to the small farmer, while the monitoring effort
measured distributional benefits and readjusted the project strategy. The continuous
impact assessment allowed increased goal orientation and improved distributional and total
effectiveness of the project. (AS (extract)).
067
Lynam, John K.; Janssen, Willem G.; Romanoff, Steven A. 1986. From start to finish
: impact assessment in the Cassava Program. Trends in CIAT Commodities
(CIAT)(En). p. 1-49.
Adoption and impact studies are basic tools for assessing the benefits
of technology generated by international research centers. These studies measure the
returns on investment in research, and serve as a basis for maintaining budgets in the
area. A greater understanding is achieved of adoption by farmers, and the socioeconomic
impact and political objectives of the research are also assessed. Based on the previous
premises, the impact of the CIAT Cassava Program Research Network was reviewed. This
Network aims to increase the income and well- being of small farmers, and overall food
availability. The effects of the market, processing, and consumption habits of both rural
and urban populations on the demand for improved cassava technologies were analyzed. The
following factors were found to affect the market: (1) organization of transportation of
fresh or dried cassava, training in cassava processing, and construction of processing
plants; (2) use of new technologies; and (3) market development and farmers' response,
especially related to changes in area planted. The evaluation of cassava research in
Colombia's North Coast region indicated that benefits were distributed, through
cassava-drying associations, among the population that owned less land.
068
Ospina Patiño, B.. Gottret, María Verónica. Pachico, Douglas H.. Cardoso, Carlos
Estevao Leite. Integrated cassava research and development strategy in Northeast
Brazil-CIAT. En: A synthesis of findings concerning CGIAR case studies on the
adoption of technological innovationsRome : Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research, Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, 1999p. 37-47 .[S 540 .8 .C6
S43]
The adoption of new cassava post-harvest production technology in the
state of Ceará in Northeast Brazil is studied. The technology of chipping and sun-drying
cassava can link small farmers to dynamic growth market and provide then with an
opportunity to increase their incomes. This case study addresses some key issues on the
adoption of technology by rural people in low-income countries, and the process from the
point of view of the various groups involved, using a range of data and information
sources. From the results it is concluded that the integration of production, processing
and commercialization around the cassava crop at community level, can stimulate
development of the crop. Institutions on charge of technical assistance activities for
cassava farmers cannot, and should not, work exclusively in any of these three activities
in isolation from the others. Analysis of the benefits generated by the project in Ceará,
and their distribution among the different actors, clearly indicate that cassava farmers
in the region benefited from new employment opportunities and additional cash income. The
establishment of market outlet allowed farmers to decide, according to price, in which
market to sell their production. This strengthened farmers and represented a radical break
with the existing commercialization schemes for cassava in the region. Benefits generated
by the project were important and significant for groups such as women and landless
farmers, who often do not benefit from rural development projects. Additionally,
communities obtained other important benefits such as credit programmes, training
opportunietes and several other projects and activities that were brought to the community
as a consecuence of the cassava agro-industry.
069
Ospina, Bernardo; Poats, Susan V.; Henry, Guy. [1993]. Integrated cassava research
and development projects in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil : an overview of CIAT's
experiences. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Centro Nacional de
Pesquisa de Mandioca e Fruticultura. Cruz das Almas (Brasil). 25 p. (En). (HD 9235 .C3
O864)
Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, ClAT's 12 year experience
in developing the Integrated Cassava Research and Development Project (ICRDP) approach and
methodology, is discussed in this paper. The origin, justification, methodology, results
and lessons learned from this approach are presented using a comparative analysis of
ClAT's experiences in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. ICRDP's have been an effective vehicle
for ClAT's Cassava Program to interact with various national research, rural extension and
development institutions. Existing production, processing and marketing technologies have
been validated and adapted to specific regional conditions with the ICRDP framework. New
technologies have been generated through the synergy of research and development promoted
by the ICRDP. The results have demonstrated to research and development institutions,
donors, governments and policy makers that cassava is a crop that can play an important
role in achieving development goals. Through the integrated approach, traditional cassava
markets have diversified, overall cassava demand has increased, reducing price variability
while increasing yields, and as a result creating incentives for adoption of improved
technologies. Additionally, income and employment opportunities of poor farmers have
improved through promotion of small-scale, cassava-based rural agroindustries, with low
opportunity costs especially for landless producers.
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