Abstract

The need for an indigenous croplocally grown by subsistence farmers that willhelp bring direct economic benefits to thosewho need it most is very important. Cassava hasa great potential for this purpose if certainproblems are solved, because cassava has playedvital roles in the diet of many Africancountries especially the grassroot people, yetthe utilization of the crop in diversifiedforms has been very limited. There are few foodproducts from cassava that are processedindustrially with added value that will be ofhigher nutritional value and have longer shelflives. There are a number of traditionallyprocessed staple foods from cassava in Nigeriaand other African countries that needimprovement. Most of these foods can beimproved on if the market for them is assuredby the end users, a market that is currentlylacking. It will be necessary to create morepublic awareness within Nigeria and otherAfrican societies to increase the acceptabilityof such novel products and this requires amultidisciplinary approach to interpret whatscientists and technologists are doing to theold crop in the present age