FABCO’s cassava research applauded
All the hard work and investments into cassava, put in place by the Farmers Business Cooperative (Fabco) finally paid off.
This after the farming cooperative based in Nkowankowa outside Tzaneen was recognised by the Agriculture Research Council (ARC) for having completed a collaborative on-farm research project between 2016 and 2020 which strived to find ways of commercialising the cassava vegetable in the South African starch industry. The vegetable root is usually a dominant starch in most African countries, including Mozambique.
Fabco chairperson Oupa Mathebula told Herald that the cassava is more than just another starch, as it has more health benefits compared to other starches. “It requires less water, agrochemicals, labour, mechanisation and it offers better yields. Besides being utilised as food, it can also be prepared as a snack. Its other uses include production of feeds, drink, alcohol and bio-gas.
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”They are currently promoting the vegetable as an affordable alternative source of food and feeds, including registering farmers who want to produce cassava. The trials were designed to identify a cultivar of cassava suitable for this farming region. The council successfully registered two cassava cultivars which are currently being promoted in the country for commercialisation.
Those are industrial types to produce flour, starch, and feeds and food types which are sweet and perfect for chips or as an energy source. Those selected have demonstrated better yields (up to 90t/ha), and resilience under harsh conditions and disease. Fabco Primary Cooperative was recognised along with other parties during a feedback session organised by the council in Tzaneen on September 15.
The research programme for cassava was sponsored by the Department of Science and Innovation through the Technology Innovation Agency. The council reaffirmed its commitment to continue to work with farmers to ensure that cassava contributes significantly in terms of the national food basket. Mathebula added Fabco’s recognition is symbol of encouragement.
