Assessing the Impact of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz), in Nigeria, [A Case Study of 4,000 Farmers Sampled at Different Locations]

This research work was carried out, to assess the impact of cassava in Nigeria. 4 Local governments, namely: (Ife East, Ife South, Ife Central and Ife North), local government areas were sampled. 4,000 open questionnaires were distributed to the 4 Local Governments, out of which 1000 was used for the farmers in each local government. A total of 40 different locations were visited in all the four Local Governments, out of which 100 questionnaires were used in each location. It was gathered that above 75% of the farmers from the four local governments, supported, assessing the impact of cassava in Nigeria. while below 25% of the farmers, could not even understand whether or not there was any need, to assess the impact of cassava in Nigeria. The results from the questionnaires when using Pearson two-tailed correlation coefficient revealed that there was a significant difference from the summary data collected from the farmers within the four local government areas visited and sampled, (p > 0.05) table 5. This shows a strong positive correlation, which implying that, to assess the impact of cassava in Nigeria, is strongly influenced and enhanced the farmer’s support in our society, and therefore has made the research work to become a reality, (p>0.05) table 5. The reasons may be due to the fact that, cassava farming is not mainly done, to produce items, solvents, alcohol, glucose, animal feed, energy, fertilizers, and some extra by-products, but many industries in Nigeria also used cassava tubers, as major raw materials for: cassava flour factories, noddles production industries, alcohol and liquor production industries, garri factories, fufu producers etc. Pie chart was used to depict the summary data of each of the local government areas sampled in Ile–Ife Kingdom, of Nigeria.


Introduction
Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz), of the family Euphorbiaceae, is one type of starchy tuberous; a perennial tree grows in tropical and subtropical areas, which are consumed by the people as a food [1]. Commercial cassava farming has been very profitable farming venture for Nigerian's farmers. Cassava tubers, which is very highlydemanded, as the raw material for producing "GARRI", which is a staplefood for Nigerians.
Cassava farming venture is known forits low input and output nature. Many industries in Nigeria used cassava tubers as major raw materials for: cassava flour factories, noodles production industries, alcohol and liquor production industries, garri factories, fufu producers. Cassava farming is mainly done, to produce items, solvents, alcohol, glucose, animal feed, energy, fertilizers, and some extra by-products. Nigeria tops the list of cassava production list, all over the world while Thailand tops the list of cassava production in the Asian continent. Mainly, from cassava plant, leaves and tubers are the important part, which is used most, by the people for cooking or in other forms. Roots of these commercial crops are mainly consumed because of these, the roots are the excellent source of minerals and vitamins such as manganese, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. All these are responsible for the healthy development of our body. Cassava is among the popular foods grown in Nigeria and has an increasingly diverse use for its product. As a result of its uses, cassava farming is becoming lucrative and offers numerous opportunities to would-be investors. Now growing through tropical world, cassava is second onlyto the sweet potatoes, as the most important starchy root crop of the tropics. Because it grows easily, it has large yields and it is little affected by diseases and pest. The area under cassava cultivation is increasing rapidly. The plant is grown for its edible tubers, which serve as a staple food in many tropical countries and are also the source of an important starch. Its value is a famine relief crop has long been recognized. Cassava is now grown widely as a food crop or for industrial purposes. In many regions of the tropics, cassava occupies much the same position as sweet potatoes do in some parts of the temperate zone as the principal carbohydrate of the daily diet. The industrial utilization of cassava is expanding every year. The plant is popularly known under a great variety of names: In Yoruba speaking people of Nigeria, It is called EGE or GBAGUDA. In Indonesia, it is called UBI KETTELA or KASPE. In Latin America, it is called MANIOCA, RUMU or YUCCA. In Brazil, it is called MANDOCA or AIPIM. In Madagasca and French Speaking Africa, it is called MANIOC. In India and Malaysia, it is called TAPIOCA. In English speaking regions in Africa, Thailand, Srilanka. It is called CASSAVA and sometimes CASSADA ON HARVEST: For high quality of cassava, for both short term and long term spoilage before harvest and storage, cassava should be protected from healthy stem cutting that helps to reduce the spread of cassava pests, and diseases. There are some risks connected, in growing cassava. This is because, in Nigeria and other African countries, cassava plant is not normally affected by diseases or pests. However, in others, it may be attracted by VIRUS DISEASES, like: (a). mosaic. (b). the brown streak and leaf curl of tobacco may attack leaves, stems and branches. Many parts of Africa harbour these diseasesand attempts are being made to select resistant varieties. BACTERIA DISEASES, like: phytomonasmanihotis (in Brazil), Becterium cassava (in Africa), and Bacterium solanacearum (in Indonesia), may attack roots, stems or leaves of cassava plants. MYCOSES: There kinds which attack roots, stem or leaves of cassava plants and cause various diseases. INSECTS: Some insects affect the plant directly (locusts, beetles, and ants). Others affect the plant indirectly by the transfer of virus (aphids). ANIMALS, like rats, goats, and wild pigs are probably the most troublesome, they freed on the roots, especially in areas adjacent to forests. TOXICITY: The toxicity principle in cassava is hydrocyanic acid, found in the roots, branches and leaves of the plant in both free and chemically bound forms. The plant contains a cyanogenetic glucose called phaseolunatin. This begins to break down upon cassava harvest into hydrocyanic acid, acetone and glucose by the action of the enzyme linase. The presence of hydrocyanic acid is easily recognized by a bitter taste, [2]. At the harvest of cassava roots, the amount of the acid in the plant varies from harmless to lethal; from a few milligrams to 250 milligrams or more per kilogram of fresh root. Hydrolysis of the glucose by the enzyme can be accelerated by soaking the root in water, by crushing or cutting them or by heating. The distribution of the acid in roots varied in different varieties. In sweet varieties, the major of the acid is located in the skin and in the exterior cortical layer, while in bitter varieties; the acid is uniformly distributed in all parts of the roots, [3]. PREPARATION METHODS: The selected stem cutting should be planted the right way by ensuring that the land was appropriate tilled. The planting season, the type of seed bed, preparation methods, handling and planting of the stem cutting, should be done with precision. Cassava tubers attached to the main stem can remain safely in the ground for several months. However, after harvest, the roots start deteriorating within 2-3 days, and rapidly become of little value for consumption or industrial use. When storing, cassava roots as earlier said, start deteriorating, soon after harvesting, but internally discoloration and loss of marketing value occur if they are not cooked or processed within 24-48 hours of harvesting. Secondary fungi, and bacteria infection may cause rot in untreated roots. It was however noted from the traditional methods of storage that, cassava roots are heaped under shade and watered every day; the roots may be coated with clay and mud; freshly harvested or peeled roots are stored for 1-2 days by completely submerging in water. The roots are simultaneously detoxified but may ferment or spoilt after 3 days; cassava roots are left underground after maturity and harvest in piecemeal when needed, etc.  ORIGIN: The centre of its origin wasbelieved to be traced to the old World War before the discovery of America. There is archaeological evidence of two major centers of origin for this crop; onein Mexico and central America and the other in north eastern Brazil. The first Portuguese settlers found the native Indian in Brazil, growing the cassava plant. And that the "poisonous root" of a yucca was used in the preparation of bread, [4]. It is believed that cassava was introduced to the western coast of Africa in about the sixteen century by slave merchants. The Portuguese bought it later to their stations around the month of the Congo River, and it then spread to other area. The preparation of cassava flour in Angola and subsequently its uses in the Congo. The cassava cultivation increased after 1850 in the east African territories as a result of the efforts of Europeans and Arabs who were pushing into the interior and who recognized itsvalue as a safeguard against the frequent period of time [5]. In the Far East, cassava was not known as a food plant until 1835. In about 1850, it was transported directly from Brazil to Java, Singapore and Malaya. When the more profitable rubber plantation were started on theMalaya Peninsula, cassava as the mostimportant growing, movedto other parts of Indonesia where it flourished, [6]. The plant produces best when rainfall is fairly abundant, but it can be grown where annual rainfall is low as 500mm or where it is as high as 5000mm. The plant can stand prolonged periods of drought in which most other food crops would perish. This makes it valuable in regions where annual rainfall is low or where seasonal distribution is irregular. In tropical climate, the dry season has about the same effect on cassava as low temperature has on deciduous perennials in other parts of the world. The period of dormancy lasts two to three months and growth resumes when the rain begins again.

Study Area
The study area is Ife. Ife (popularly known as Ile-Ife) is the 2 nd largest city in Osun State and has been selected for the proposed research work. Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in South Western Nigeria. The city is located in present day of Osun State. Ile -Ife is famous Worldwide for its ancient and naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta sculptures dating back to between 1200 and 1400. It has a population of 262,000 (1991 population estimate). The city is the oldest Yoruba city in South WesternNigeria and evidence of habitation at the site has been discovered to date-back to as early as 600 BCE. The city was the most powerful Yoruba Kingdom until the late 17 th century when Oyo surpassed it. (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Material and Methods
The responses of the people in different locations of the four local government areas can be seen from the decision table as below:

For high Productivity and ultimate high investment,
the Federal Government of Nigeria should encouraged cassava farmers to make research and seek expert opinion and advice for the latest productivity techniques to maximize profit. 2. Workshop at different intervals should be organized to farmers, so as to educate them in the uses of current farmer's equipments, to increase their cassava output production and eradicate cassava spoilage. 3. Some of the rural areas roads in, Nigeria are bad.
Government should provide good motor-able roads to farmers in plantation areas with high concentration of cassava farm. 4. Nigerian Government should encourage cassava plantation, by given funds/loans to prospective investors. 5. Federal government should support the farmers by given enough assistance in terms of cassava roots subsidy, so as to booth their production. 6. Government should organized Agricultural extension services to farmers by providing and bringing agricultural equipments closer to them, so as to reduce the cost of cassava harvest to the buyers. 7. Government should provide electricity in rural areas for Farmers to enable them to stay longer in their farm for maximum increase in their cassava harvest Production. 8. Government should erect large storage facilities at intervals for cassava farmers, to avoid losses and spoilage.

Conclusion
The following conclusions are made based on the findings of this study. Since, many industries in Nigeria used cassava tubers astheirmajor raw materials for: cassava flour factories, noddles production industries, alcohol and liquor production industries, garri factories, fufu producers, and also, roots of these commercial crops are mainly consumed because, these roots are the excellent source of minerals and vitamins such as manganese, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron, also, all these are responsible for the healthy development of our body, the results of this study provide the empirical evidence that, assessing the impact of cassava in Nigeria, had enhanced people's achievement in our society. The society, therefore should use, assessing the impact of cassava in Nigeria, to argument peoples' maximal output in their businesses, in order to attain minimum goal needed for everybody in the society.