Introduction
Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) is a staple food crop and
source of calories for hundreds millions of people in both the
tropical and subtropical regions of the world (Howeler et al., 1993).
The crop is largely cultivated for its nutritional and industrial
importance. Cassava is a tropical root crop that yields a large
amount of easily extractible starch and when converted to alcohol
forms a good bio-fuel to power vehicles. The roots provide food for
man and livestock animals. The stem of cassava is a very efficient
and effective source of feedstock in a downdraft gasifier for the
generation of electricity. The potential for generation of electricity
from cassava leaf and tuber was estimated at 16,970 kwh ha
1
(Phalla, 2005).