Agriculturist advises farmers to cultivate cassava with vitamin A nutrients to curb malnutrition

An agriculturist, Mrs Bola Adeyemo, has called on more local farmers to embrace the cultivation of Cassava with Vitamin nutrients to address malnutrition and hunger.

Adeyemo, also a food processor, made the call on Thursday in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Vitamin A helps form and maintains healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membranes, and skin.

It is also known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A promotes good eyesight, especially, in the low light environment.

Adeyemo said that the benefits of Vitamin A fortified cassava are multifaceted.

She listed them to include health benefit for its consumers and an increased gain for farmers after harvest.

She said, “Vitamin A Cassava was developed by the world body on agriculture to address issues of malnutrition and the hidden hunger ratio found in the World Health Organisation (WHO) data.

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“It has been observed that Africa and Asia are the worst hit by malnutrition, hence, the fortification of cassava and potatoes with Vitamin A nutrients since they are the major staples in African and Asian diets.

“The benefits of the Vitamin A Cassava will address malnutrition and hidden hunger mostly found in rural areas in Nigeria.

“It is whatever the farmer grows that he sells to the city dwellers.’’

The agriculturist then appealed to local farmers to embrace the infusion of micronutrients into their crops.

She noted that Vitamin A fortified Cassava had less sugar content than the regular species, adding that its cultivation would foster inclusive prosperity for all involved.

“Through research, the Vitamin A Concentrate in cassava is enhanced to give Nigerians healthier options.’’

She said that at present, three varieties out of the six species of Vitamin A cassava developed worldwide were being cultivated in Nigeria.

“The Vitamin A cassava has less sucrose than the regular cassava crop and very good for diabetic patients.

“Our local farmers should tap into the cultivation of Vitamin A Cassava because it has inclusive prosperity for all involved,’’

Adeyemo said that there was a league of Vitamin A Cassava producers.

“They supply the products to processing companies who in turn make snacks and other pastries out of them.

“In the end, everyone enjoys the inclusive prosperity,” Adeyemo said. (NAN)