Modernising production practices

Cassava is an economically impor­tant crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet farmers in the region achieve on average a yield of just 7-9 tonnes per hectare, around a third of that pro­duced by their counterparts in Asia and Latin America. This is largely due to the high labour cost and inefficient production and processing practices.

The Cassava Mechanisation and Agroprocessing Project (CAMAP) is working towards revitalizing the cassava industry through mechanized production and agroprocessing along the cassava value chain. The Project aims to improve cassava productivity through increasing the operational effi­ciency and improving market linkages for smallholder farmers.  With this approach, the Project is enhancing  food security, incomes and livelihoods for farmers, processors, and marketers in the cassava sector.

Currently in four countries (Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania-(TAAT Cassava)), CAMAP also promotes good agronomic practices, encouraging farmers to use improved stem varieties, fertiliser and herbicides, and ensure timely farm operations.

Since its launch in 2013, the Project has increased the efficiency and timeliness of operations the key results being 200% increase in yields, 100% increase in incomes, improved quality of life and attraction of more women and youth into cassava farming as a business.

Mechanisation has increased the efficiency and timeliness of operations and this has attracted women and youths into cassava farming.

Objectives

• Increase cassava production through mechanisation across the value chain
• Add value to the cassava industry through value addition and creation of market linkages
• Create economically viable mechanisation agroservice provision in the cassava sector
• Build capacity of local entrepreneurs to design prototypes machines, manufacture, maintain and repair the necessary equipment for cassava planting, harvesting and processing
• Integrate Digital Solutions and Farmer Aggregation for the Provision of Economically Sustainable Field Mechanization Services to Smallholder Cassava Farmers SSA

Vision of Success/Goal

• 3.5 million farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa including youth and women reached and have access to cassava mechanisation
• Enhanced agricultural business management capacities for 300 entrepreneurs

Due to the success of CAMAP in Nigeria, Agridrive was formed to offer mechanization services as business