Cassava commercialization in Mozambique

Cassava has historically served as Mozambique&rsquo;s key food security crop. This paper examines the commercial dynamics in Mozambique&rsquo;s cassava value chain as well as the food security implications of growing cassava commercialisation.<br /><br />Findings can be summarised as follows:<br /> in northern Mozambique, cassava commercialisation centers on trade in dried flour, while in the south a prepared cassava-based convenience food called &ldquo;rale&rdquo; accounts for the bulk of marketed cassava cassava prices in Mozambique&rsquo;s northern cassava belt average about 55% of the cost of wheat and 60% of the cost of maize this cost advantage underpins considerable commercial opportunities for cassava-based foods, feeds, and starches because cassava is a perennial crop, farm households can store cassava roots in the ground for multiple years, adjusting harvests as required to ensure household food security during times of cereal shortfalls in the same way, urban households can substitute cassava for maize during lean years (Cassava farmers in northern Mozambique release additional cassava for sale on the market during drought years) accordingly, cassava stocks can serve as a national and regional food-security shock absorber <br />Nevertheless, cassava commercialisation in Mozambique remains in its formative stages. Therefore, strategic investment in a set of key public goods can help to shape this transition in ways that benefit both commercial interests and food security of vulnerable households. Subsequently, the paper recommends that: <br /> researchers will need to focus on in-ground storage properties of improved cassava varieties disease resistance and long-term in-ground storage properties remain critical for reinforcing the food safety net provided by Mozambique&rsquo;s cassava farmers and traders &ndash; breeding is of great importance<br />Furthermore, commercial processing and trade merit further exploration given the high protein and vitamin content of cassava leaves, urban marketing, and the nutritional implications of various forms of leaf preparation.