Nigeria, which is the largest global producer of cassava, harvests about 59 million tonnes of cassava a year (20% of global production), resulting in about 15 million tonnes of wet peels. These peels which in most cases turn out to be waste can be actually converted into feed in the animal industry. This particular problem of wastage is not only common to Nigeria, other African countries do the same. Cassava production has proven to be useful in households and also in the commercial industry. Commercially in the sense that the cassava peels left in large quantities can be used in animal feeding.
On the African continent mostly, animal feed is in high demand yet there is insufficient supply. Traditionally, farm animals and poultry were left to graze and feed in the open field. Now, animal rearing has taken a more intensive nature where animals are housed and reared. Instead of buying expensive compound feeds from foreign countries, the cost could be defrayed should more industries in Africa invest in producing high-quality cassava peel mash. In Nigeria, the amount of cassava used in the livestock industry increased from 0.56 million tonnes per year in the mid-1980s after the Government banned the importation of maize in 1985/86 and feed mills were forced to use local raw materials such as cassava.
Although it is undeniable that feed from cassava peel may be deficient in other nutritional values, alternatively other protein sources such as soya beans can be included in animal diets to nourish them. If livestock feed producers in Africa should turn their attention and resources to adding value to cassava peels, post-harvest waste could be curbed and the “waste” could generate millions to boost the African continent at large.
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