INDUSTRIES
26
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 16. 2011
IITA-Ied team develops vitamin A cassava to tackle malnutrition la~ 1
Ade loye
A
research team led by the International Institute of Troplca.l Agriculture has developed three new varieties of \.·i!amin A cassava that codd impJ'OIIe lhe IJvellh00ci5 0 1 millJons of fanners in Africa and help put an end to malnutrition due to vitamin /-,. deficiency in the continent. The vitamin A cassava vanebes, name..! by the National Variet·, Re lease Committee o( Nigeria as
UMUCASS 36. UMUCASS 37. and UMUCASS 38, are lecognised as IITA genotypes TMS 0111368, TMS 01114 12. and TMS
0111371 They have high beta carotene (prG-vltamin A) and are suitable for food uses as gari, furu, and high Qua1i!y caMava flou r. According to a statement by IITA on Thursday, the \.'t!Uow root color o( the ..itamln A·rich varieties are produdS of over 20 years of breeding efforts far improved nutriliooal Qualily using traditional breeding methods involving hybridIZation and selection of cassava seedlings followed by donal propagatioo o( the selected desirable plants. IITA Cassava Breeders, Drs. Peter Kulakow and Norbert Maraya, said,
~The development of these varietle:; is II. major wi ll breakthrough that change the nu tritional status of people hving on cassavabased food KnOUln for its high content, Cdfbohydrate cassava is the fourth largest staple after wheat. maile, and rice consumed in the developing countries, with over 200 million people In sub-Saharan Africa relying on the crop for over half of their dai ly food en~. The biofortinca tion o f cassava With pro-vitamin A provides a CQ5(;!ffeclive way of combating vitamin A deficiency in the region where
miUions are malnourished and many people live on less than SI pet day. In Nigeria, where the average consumption of cassava is 600 grams per capita per day, about 20 per cent of pregnant women and about 30 per cent of children under five suffer from vitamin A defidency, Resultant health implications Include low Immunily and impaired vision, which often lead to blindness and even death, Maraya described the release of this first set o( vitamin A cassava varieties in Nigeria as Ma victory for women and children.-
The proj«t, funded by Harvestplus, was carried out by IITA with the Nigeria· based National Root Crops Researth Insti tute, Umudike and with other local partners NRCRI Ca55ava Breeder, Dr. Chiedozie Egesi, was Quo ted as saying that the development of Ihe varieties marks a new dawn in Nigeria's cassava industry as it is the first sel of 'nutritious CdSSava developed and released in Nigeria.' Farmers. who participated in the proJed were said to have loved Ihe varieties (or their high-ylelding abilily and resistance to major diseases
and pe5ts. MOemand for these varieties has already sl<lrted, but it will lake some time before we have enough quantities to give: ouf, ~ said Paul nona, the HarvestPIus Manager for Nigeria. According 10 the statement, the yellow cassava is already being multiplied through stem ruttings. In 2013, when wlncien! certified stems will be available, HarvestPlus and its partners will then distribute these to abou t 25,000 farming households iniu"lly. MFarmers
will be able to grow these n£w vitamin A varieties and feed them to their fllmilles. They can abo multiply and share cuttings wilh others in their community, amplifying the
nutritional
benefits.
After
the rnid-20 14 harvest. more than 150,000 household members lire expected 10 be eating vilamin A-rich '"""~.
Royco
WOOS
customers with ca r gifts NllEVER Nigeria, producers of Royco cubes. appreci8ted its customers by giving ou t two Kia P"lCanto cars during its recent Royco celebration promo In a statement on Friday, Unilever Nigeria's Category Man3ger for Savoury. Mrs. Nsima Ogedi-AlalnAle. said that it was part of its mISSion to help consumerl get more out of life. She said. ~The Royco Celebration Season 2 1'5 10 5how women across the country how to use its Royco seasoning cubes 10 give their traditional meals its umque flavor and the irresistible aroma that brings their husbands home ~ She added t~t it also det ided to reward some o( ils customers with the car rewards. According to her, the firm recenlly launched marke ting communication campaign. to help wives to make good meals (or their family. using Rayco cube. ~When we launthoo the 'Bring Your Husband Home' campaign last year. It loll!.!; with t he inte ntion to celebrate the joy of marital bonding and togetherness, whith can be facilitated by a delicious meal Ihal has a unique aroma and flavor that only a wile am grve her husband, Mshl added. Ogedi·Alakwe said that the Royco celebrlltion had exciting seriH of events. part of whkh induded the door to door adwation where women were visited in their __ _Royco _ homes. and _ those with
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