most important source-crops of calories in the tropics. It is
mainly grown by small farmers using labor-intensive methods and
is consumed mostly in rural areas close to the production site.
It should not be regarded solely as a subsistence crop, however,
as most cassava is traded outside the farm where it is produced. I
Traditional methods of producing foodstuffs from cassava have led
to the development of processing activities which convert the
freshly harvested roots into a range of products for industry, as
well as for livestock and human consumption. This report
provides a brief background to the cassava crop, and some insight
into the various processing technologies currently practiced. A
small section describing the toxic elements contained in the
cassava plant is included to draw attention to the importance of
their elimination during processing. A bibliography, which
should be consulted for in-depth information is included.