MALAWI Entrepreneurial Development Institute (Medi) Friday graduated 88 growers in cassava processing and utilisation as one way of empowering them economically.
Medi Executive Director Charles Kazembe said Malawi was on the right tract to be a net exporter as more people were involved activities that promote local investment.
He said this at the end of a training workshop for the cassava growers, 58 of whom were women.
The training drew participants from four centers of Bwemba, Chadza, Chitseka and Mtata in Lilongwe , targeting six clubs.
Medi started a pilot project in cassava processing in 2006 with funding from a US-based organization, Kellog, to the tune of U$855, 000 and the two year project ends this year.
However, during the function graduates asked Medi to consider extending the project’s life span which they said would help more people in rural areas to equip themselves with entrepreneurial skills.
”Medi should continue with the programme because we are ready to produce more cassava and that our friends should also benefit from these trainings,” said Daniel Mlande, a class representative who spoke on behalf of all graduates.
The cassava growers graduated from a two-week course on bakery, entrepreneurship and business management of cassava products.
They went through courses such as hygiene and safety, rural cassava preparation, cassava flour processing, bakery tools and equipment, bakery ingredients, products from raw cassava and cassava flour, and product costing and marketing.
At the end of the training the participants showcased various products which they made from cassava such as biscuits, yellow bans, meat balls and cassava-curry, among others.
Medi trains 88 cassava growers
Cassava for 30 cents a Kilos
A proposed new ethanol production factory will be buying cassava at -30 cents a kilo when it commences production in January 2010.
According to Viliame Vosarogo of the Energy Department the current cassava price is 40 to 45 cents a kilo for good cassava only.
He says cassava quality will not matter with the ethanol factory.
Vosarogo who will be leading a team to China next week to see a factory there told Radio Fiji News that the 15,000 hectares is required to sustain the factory and this amount surpasses the amount planted for local consumption and export.
He said the factory which will be specially designed for Fiji will require 1000 tons of cassava a day to operate with one shift of workers.
If there is a requirement to have two shifts a day then the factory will require 2000 tons of cassava a day. Vosarogo said the construction of the factory will only take a few months and the factory running by January, 2010.
He adds farmers should now be planning to prepare for planting.
He said one problem will be is the planting material and farmers should be looking at that now.
When asked about assistance especially with machines, Vosarogo said machines will be used where the land terrain is difficult.
Vosarogo said 15,000 hectares is not much if all squatters in Suva and the other urban centres go back to the village and plant one acre each, they will not only plant the acreage required, they will also be earning money.
$10,000 for every hectare of Cassava
FARMERS expected to get advantage of $10,000 for every hectare from cassava to produce ethanol grand total about an advantage coincidently $130million per annum, according to National Strategic Committee in biofuel.
Committee chairman Viliame Yabakivou said they have secured 50 acres of land in the Naitasiri Province for an ethanol plant which it intends to set up by 2010.
The land belongs to the tribe of the Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata Naivisere.
Mr Yabakivou said it was an ideal site because of the water supply to the area.
"The factory will need a lot of water as ethanol is in gas form so you have to liquidate it and add in water. So we need a lot of water," said Mr Yabakivou. At this location, on one side, there is the Waimanu River and the other side is the Rewa River. The site sits in the middle on a hill and has 400 hectares of flat land for cassava."
Mr Yabakivou said it would cost $US40million to establish the ethanol plant.
"We are looking at bilateral assistance between the Fiji Government and the People's Republic of China to assist us with technology. They want to teach us about this high technology mechanised production so we'll have mechanised preparations, mechanised harvesting.
"A lot of work needs to be done like infrastructure. Those budgets are already incorporated so we need $193million for the five years from next year. This is the planning stage.
"After the second year of harvest, Government can recover those costs that it needs to spend for the five years. But that's not counting the multiplying effects.
"$163.8 million will be paid out to farmers per year at 30 cents per kilo of cassava that is the minimum price."
Mr Yabakivou said the 50 acres was for the plant itself. They have not considered the residential area for staff at the plant.
Mr Yabakivou said the ethanol plant would need to produce 50,000 tonnes of ethanol per year and he was optimistic that Fiji would surpass this by 100,000 tonnes because of the high starch level content in local cassava.
"We'll reduce our import costs and also look at exports. Since 50,000 tonnes of ethanol will meet our local consumption the additional surplus of 100,000 will be exported. We have forecasted that in the next five years we are looking at a billion dollar industry only from ethanol."
The committee is focused on areas outside the cane belt in Ra, Tailevu, Naitasiri, Rewa, Namosi, Sigatoka, Lomaiviti, Lau and Vanua Levu to supply cassava to the six centres in the Central and Eastern divisions and three centres in the Northern Division.
"We've already identified 15,000 hectares in fact a 100,000 hectares is available for cassava. We are planning to open the factory by 2010 January. So planting should begin by March next year."
Mr Yabakivou says ethanol factory will require 1500 tons from cassava per day. He says a nursery will provide farmers with cassava shiver which in turn will yield around 500,000 cassava tubers.
"From then on they can sustain their own planting materials," he said. "Our research component too is something we want to focus on those varieties that have high starch content. We have about 27 varieties of cassava here and we're looking at five high starch varieties".
He said cassava peelings would produce organic fertiliser and that would be sold to farmers to replenish their farmland.
"15,000 hectares is going to be rotating since we have 100,000 hectares available. They can rotate it with other crops like dalo and yams. These crops also contain a lot of starch. So we have a very wide scope for sustaining supply for our ethanol plant and for its expansion."
Starch crops applied to make ethanol with yeast then we yield ethanol interacting with benzen. Opportunity now sick of cassava using technological Chinese because they have one international patent rights.
He said the committee was trying to address the importance of reducing costs on fossil fuels and also address the Kyoto Protocol - an international convention to reduce green house gases created by increased industrialisation.
As a requirement which Fiji has to ratify as a signatory, Mr Yabakivou said by 2015 Fiji must reduce its green house gas emission by 50 per cent.
He said the Fiji Government has addressed this issue and put in place an energy policy.
Blender on Cassava
Blender is one of a must have tool in kitchen. It is very useful for mix ingredients and puree food. It has 2 main parts, Blender base and glass bowl. Even we call it glass bowl but it can be made from plastic or stainless steel. On top of bowl is a lid to prevent mixed ingredients to pop up during blended operation and at the bottom is a replaceable blade.
As for general purpose blenders comes with minimum tools, replaceable blade and main base. But there are some more advance blenders has high performance and higher price. Most of the blenders have from 300 to 600 watts, but sometime blender with 1300 watts is needed for some purposes. If you plan to buy a blender, try to remember to consider choosing the right color, and size of the blender. But you should have no problem finding one, because usually one model type of blender has a lot of design and color.
It is believed the first electrical blender invented by Dr. Oliver Johnson Schofield, an English engineer in 1921.
Blenders are used both in home and commercial kitchens for various purposes :
- To make smooth purées of semi-solid ingredients, such as for creating mesh cassava.
- To help dissolve solids into liquids.
- To crush ice and other ingredients in non-alcoholic drinks
- To emulsify mixtures
- To reduce small solids such as spices and seeds to powder or nut butters
- To mix and crush ice in cocktails
- To blend mixtures of powders, granules, and/or liquids thoroughly
One of the sample recipe made with blender for blending process
Getuk Lindri
Ingredients:
1 kg Cassava, Fresh
200 gr Sugar
100 ml Water
½ tsp Vanilla powder
100 gr Grated Coconut
Food dye as your needs.
Cooking Process
- Peel Cassava, cleanse it, and slice it dice. Boil it until tendered.
- Serve it for 20 people.
- Take it while it hot, blend it until soften with blender.
- Cook sugar, water and vanilla until sugar melted.
- Pour it into Cassava. Add grated coconut.
- Mix well. Add a food dye.
- Put into dough roller then slice as you need.
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The Cassava satire
Ever since Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton made his famous speech in which he advocated the return to the cultivation of cassava as a response to the global increases in the price of basic food items, and what is being characterised by many as an impending global food crisis, there is hardly a social gathering in which one does not hear some kind of joke or punchline which centres on cassava cultivation and consumption.
It may very well be that people see this as a return to a stage of national development which we have long outgrown and to which there is no desire to return, a hasty and ill-conceived idea which lacks appropriate thought and supporting scientific research before being articulated, or it is one of those uncomfortable realities with which we are confronted and for which laughter becomes the way to cope.
What is clear, however, is that the rise in prices is a current reality, a food crisis looms, and any meaningful response on the part of our Government and nation must involve a return to local agricultural production for domestic consumption of which the cassava may be a central element or a symbol of our local staple foodstuff. To that extent, the cultivation of cassava may not be a laughing matter.
At the end of April, the House of Bishops and Standing Committee of the Church in the Province of the West Indies (Anglican Church) issued a communiqué to its members and to the people of the Caribbean Community, which sought to address the matter of the increases in food prices and that of petroleum products with its domino effect on almost every aspect of the productive life of the nations of our region.
While not advocating the cultivation and consumption of cassava, it sought to join with those regional institutions and individuals who are seeking to find some creative strategies for facing the challenges which the current global situation is creating for us.
The communiqué sought to underscore the moral and social imperatives which make it necessary for us to address the current situation with a measure of urgency. It highlighted the reality of poverty under which many of our people live and the dehumanising effects of the same, the difficulties many are facing in providing for the most basic needs of their families, and points to the fact that, if this situation is not addressed, it will only sow the seeds of social unrest as we have already seen in neighbouring Haiti, and even some European cities.
This not only places a responsibility on the part of the Government to accelerate the programme of poverty alleviation, it also says that those of us who believe that we are okay because we can make ends meet, and that the problem is to be the concern of some other person or agency, may be in for a rude awakening when the social unrest turns violent in a society already overwhelmed by crime and violence.
We cannot ignore the fact that some analyses of the current high level of crime and violence posit the notion that poverty and the lack of means for acquiring the basic demands of daily living constitute a major force in the current scenario. So, even as we treat the call to cassava cultivation as a source of comic relief, it may really have in it the making of a tragedy.
In seeking to pursue a creative and responsible path, the Province has committed itself to the pursuit of a number of things, most of which will have to be undertaken at the local diocesan and congregational levels. The proposals include an acceleration of some of the interventions in which we are currently involved, including the operations of feeding programmes which provide a hot meal or care packages for the most needy, and in some instances the provision of cash to assist persons with their needs.
Sadly, one of the things which frustrate the attempts of the church to respond to those who are most in need is the spirit of entitlement on the part of those who are not the most needy and who often help themselves to the supplies intended for the needy. This is not unlike the response of civil society to any goods and services which the government provides for the poor and needy. These, however, constitute stopgap interventions.
Long-term strategies advocated include the following:
a Developing skills training programmes;
b Developing programmes of empowerment;
c Assisting with self-employment efforts;
d Improving education through the development of literacy programmes;
e Developing income-generating skills; and
f Collaborating with agencies and organisations involved in the alleviation of poverty.
While one can get almost any proposal to look good on paper, the real challenge comes with the implementation of the same. Realism has to inform what the church or any other institution attempts to do by way of poverty alleviation and social outreach. In this regard, it must be acknowledged that in many instances there are certain attitudinal blocks which one must overcome if one is to see social interventions being effective.
Granted, it may be true that at a point one is not only being confronted by attitudinal blocks on the part of those one is seeking to help but also the reality of the urgency of certain perceived needs, whether misplaced or otherwise.
I recall being at the launch of a goat-rearing project which was intended to empower men and women with hybrid livestock which would have the potential to increase their income, and listening to former minister of agriculture, Roger Clarke, exhorting recipients not to be like those for whom baby chicks and feed were provided, but who did not even leave the precincts of the building in which they were provided with the supplies before they sold them.
It has been my experience that in attempting a similar project in which sewing machines were provided, along with a course of training in various techniques in sewing, several participants never returned once they got their machine.
Attitudinal issues are also present among a generation of youth who say that they will not work for "slave wages", meaning that they will not work for anything that comes close to the minimum wage. At the same time, many of these individuals are the ones who, when asked what they can do readily respond, "Me can do anything, sir."
This is usually another way of saying they have no skill and often are challenged where literacy is concerned. Intervention strategies of a long-term nature which seek to empower persons must involve a commitment on their part to pursue some course of disciplined training, as there are few jobs that do not require some measure of competence, and, even as we talk so glibly about the Government providing jobs for people, we must understand that job readiness requires some commitment on the part of the prospective worker.
While the proposal from the church includes empowerment of persons, we recognise that this empowerment is not just about skills and competencies but also education in terms of values. Staff members at the Children's Hospital have spoken at times about seeing children who are malnourished wearing expensive bangles and jewellery on their tiny bodies, a clear case of misplaced values and priorities. The same is true of the many parents who are using their small wages to buy fast food for their lunch each day and keeping their children from school when they cannot find the lunch money for them to do the same thing.
There are so many ways in which to prepare a nutritious and inexpensive lunch at home and take it to work and to school. The commitment of the church is therefore to promote ways of budgeting and utilising the resources at hand in the most creative ways to satisfy the needs of families.
The church is also clear that the desired intervention at this time cannot come only from Government, but must be a collaborative exercise involving various non-governmental agencies, including the church, along with the mobilisation of the general population to address this major social concern.
Whatever the cultivation and consumption of cassava mean to us as Jamaicans, it cannot be just a source of comic relief. It comes out of a recognition of the serious situation we are facing as a people, and that our salvation in the current situation will not come from outside our nation but from a homegrown, domestically driven strategy.
Power up on potatoes, cassava and rice
STEFAN HEMMINGS, The Gleaner's Silver Pen awardee for April, is again urging Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton to explore the growing of potato as an alternative to cassava and rice.
Hemmings, a medical doctor, whose winning Letter of the Day was published on April 26, told The Gleaner yesterday that the nutritional capacity and safety of potato made it the ideal crop to be grown anywhere in the world, especially at a time when food security is paramount.
He said the minister should consult with his advisers and international experts, if necessary, to examine the potato's virtues, growth time, fertiliser requirements and crop yield per acre.
Comparative analysis
Hemmings said a comparative analysis should be done with potato, rice and cassava to determine what was the most feasible crop to meet the requirements of the country at this time.
"It's more nutritious than rice, more nutritious than cassava as far as I am aware. You can eat potatoes alone with a glass of milk a day," he said, adding that it contained half the daily requirements of vitamin C, and 22 different amino acids.
In his letter to The Gleaner, Hemmings had pointed out that the United Nations was observing 2008 as the 'International Year of the Potato'.
He said the UN hoped that, through the promotion and heightening of the virtues of the potato, it would contribute to the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals. These include alleviating global poverty, improving international food security and sustaining economic development.
Cassava Crackers With Crab, Coconut and Mint
Serves 6
Inredients
For frying : vegetable oil
250 gm cassava crackers (see note)
140 ml coconut cream
1 red jalapeño chilli, seeded and chopped
½ cup thinly sliced mint
2 tsp caster sugar
¼ cup mayonnaise
½ lime, juiced (or to taste)
500 gm cooked crabmeat, picked over
½ fresh coconut, flesh shredded with a citrus zester
Method
Fill a deep-fryer or large heavy-based saucepan two-thirds full with vegetable oil and heat, then deep-fry cassava crackers, in batches, for 30 seconds or until puffed and crisp. Drain on absorbent paper.
Process coconut cream, chilli, half the mint and sugar in a food processor until a purée forms. Transfer purée to a bowl, then whisk in mayonnaise, lime juice and remaining mint until just combined. Gently fold through remaining ingredients, season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir to combine. Serve crab, coconut and mint dip with cassava crackers passed separately. Best served on day of making.
Note
Cassava crackers are made from pounded cassava and sago flour flavoured with chilli, leeks and paprika, and are available from Pacific Island food stores. If unavailable, substitute prawn crackers or pappadams.
Cassava Crackers
Pellet Snacks Our Indonesian pellet snacks are made in a typical and traditional manner. We offer 2 types: extruded snacks and sheeted snacks. Both use Tapioca and/or fresh Cassava as main base ingredient.
Cassava, also known as yuca or maniok, is a root that grows in tropical regions of the world. Tapioca is the starch that is made from Cassava.
Extruded pellets
The (fresh) ingredients are mixed into a dough and then extruded into rods. The rods are cooked by steaming and then aged and hardened by cooling. The rods are then sliced into pellets and dried in hot air ovens. After careful selection and grading they are packed for immediate shipment to Europe.
Prawn Crackers are the main product. Originally used as a side dish with Indonesian or Chinese food, but gradually found their way into the snack markets as well. Fresh prawn meat is used and mixed with the tapioca dough. Prawn Crackers are also known as Krupuk.
Cassava crackers are made with using fresh cassava, resulting in a harder, more brittle texture. They are often mixed with fresh vegetables and spices. The inclusions are still visible in the finished product, giving them a very interesting and natural appeal. Cassava crackers are also known as Singkong.
Sheeted pellets
The ingredients are similar as with Cassava crackers. Instead of extrusion, the dough is sheeted and cut into required shapes. The texture is interesting and typical but even more brittle and hard then extruded Cassava crackers.
Tapioca Syrup
A food ingredient produced from the cassava tuber or yuca root as it is also known. The tuber provides the base to make Tapioca products, such as pellets (pearls), flour, flakes, or the Tapioca Syrup. High in starch, Tapioca Syrup is commonly used in the production of other foods or as a replacement for corn syrup in baked goods. Tapioca Syrup is used to add sweetness, binding or texture to beverages, baked goods, table syrups, frozen desserts, and candies. When used as a binding agent, Tapioca helps to keep foods such as meats from drying out after they are processed.
Tapioca pellets are commonly used as a thickening agent in pie and tart fillings or in soups, sauces and gravies. When cooking with Tapioca products, do not overcook any items with Tapioca as they become starchy and overly stickly.
Scrumptious of effort for Cassava Brownies
The cake beneficiaries of course has known better brownies, cake beloved taste chocolate. This food have time to become famous eating of cause there are having immeasurable it's processing model. Starts from brownies oven until steam.
Usually, brownies uses whole-wheat raw material. But when the price of wheat always rising like now, starts there is business is using cassava flour as component of main standard. Form and likely of course in a flash it makes no odds. Some people spells out members, the taste is thin difference, looks like brownies wheat. But, expense of its(the making far more economizes.
One other entrepreneur which has tried profit brownies cassava is Sri Murtiningsih. Since January then, she makes brownies cassava barium. Before all, Sri has done approximant testing during three years before getting formula that is snugly. " Formerly, I tried makes the cake just for exhibition", express owner of Hanah Cake having location in Pancoran Mas, Depok - Indonesia
May be spelled out members, although stripper has not tills brownies from cassava flour, but request of market is really promising. Its proof, Sri often kewalahan fulfills request. " Probably because it's material from cassava, people thus vexed and wish to try likely," express it.
Sri makes brownies in two forms. Firstly, brownies exiguus which she is lego at the price of Rp 1.300,- per cut. Second, brownies in box or box at the price of Rp 17.000,- finite of Rp 68.000,- per box. " Is buying box most middle circle upward," express it.
Every day, Sri can sell brownies cassava to a number of shops in area Depok and Jakarta. Something is sold with deposit system through via resaler or booth. " I am ordinary entrusted goods to booths and co-operation of student UI," it's flux. Type brownies which she entrusts usually is going to bits.
Besides, Sri also serves order. Comes it is of course overhang. Might possibly, very crowded certain months. But, sometime, full one months no admission order.
Wish to build brand
Sri actually non new player in cake business. Since 1993, she has struggled in this business. Initially, she only having capital Rp 25.000,- to make cake, brownies and cookies. " First time that, I sell x'self to station Depok," it's memory.
Hereinafter, effort for Sri always grows, although have ever fallen similar also. " Sometime small sale turnover, often also result of his(its is big fair to middling. But, nearing increase of fuel (BBM) yesterday, turnover went down again," express it beside evading mentions nominal of the existing business turnover.
In a month, Sri says can make 500 type cakes brownies, cake, and cookies. Still be added order with average of one to three orders per month. " If order cannot be average of the numbers," sharpness. From this business, each month, Sri net profit poke can more than 2 million rupiah.
If brownies had applied cassava flour, to make Cake and Cookies, Sri still using wheat as component of standard. " Slow, I would continuously test that can be changed with cassava flour altogether," express this berjilbab woman.
For Sri, step of using this cassava flour raw material inter alia to depress production fare that is increasingly expensive. " Cassava flour in marketing Rp 5.000,- per kilogram, while wheat is minimizing Rp 8.000,- per kilogram," sharpness.
Sri sees opportunity with tilling serious of brownies from this cassava. But is the existing, she still wish to setle formula at the same time introduces widely this product to public. " I am promotion by following bazaar, exhibition and propagates brochure. Hopefully that can increase order," express Sri.
Sri spells out members, wish to build brand as pioner cassava flour barium cake maker. He is sure, this business still bright of cause has not many competitors. Darling, Sri still be collided with capital.
Sri spells out members, as small industry perpetrator, s(he must be bright interrogates situation. He hopes there is care party side lifts business that is this prospective enough. " Hopefully care government. Thankss something will inculcate invesment by becoming father to lift this business," hopes it.
If we like to knew likely cassava Brownis in here :
Hanah Cake
Jl Citayam Raya, Gg. Bhakti RT 002 RW 02, No. 57 Pancoran Mas, Depok, Jawa Barat
Telepon (021) 30522110
Plants of the cassava eyed for needs SMC
Philippines, A farm area of at least 23 hectares is eyed for cassava planting in a partnership between the Central Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CVIARC) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for cassava’s use for feed and fuel.
The CVIARC in Ubay, Bohol, is seen to become a source of planting material for cassava, particularly the varieties KU50 or NSIC CV22 (from the National Seed Industry Council, a seed certification body).
"The target planting material production is good for 23 hectares with 3 to 4 meters with at least 4 to 6 nodes per meter stalk," according to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research which coordinates the cassava planting.
The propagation of planting material will help efforts provide cassava to SMC which a well-known user of cassava for its distillery, for fodder is, and potentially, for producing biofuel. Irrespective of the state university in Bohol, it Philippine research Rootcrops and the training centre (PRCRTC), which is established on the university of the state Visayas in Baybay, Leyte, technical and financial assistance for planting cassava to grant. The government supports spread planting cassava seen plans more washed which can be used as bioethanol raw material. Planting cassava, a plant which in marginal areas can survive become, is being piloted in Regions 2, 10, 7, and 12. After the pilot project, cassava it will plant 4A in areas, 4B, 5, 6, and are extended 8.
"These regions will purchase and obtain their initial planting materials from DA-CVIARC, giving the center an added income to support other RDE (research, development, and extension) activities," said BAR.
Two other crops—Asha peanuts and pigeon pea— are being further field-tested by BAR-affiliated agencies for their use for food, feed, and fuel.
The Bicol Integrated Agricultural Research Center and the Research Outreach Station in Sorsogon are experimenting on Asha peanut which yields high since the nut’s size is double the size of the local peanut.
Earlier field-tested in Cagayan and Isabela, Asha peanut yielded pod at 41 to 77 percent higher than farmers’ UPL Pn 10, Namnama, and BPI Pn9 varieties during the 2005 wet season.
Likewise, pigeon pea which is used as feed and as fresh vegetable and other processed foods, is being studied at the BAR-affiliated Isabela State University in an aim to increase food production in Region 2. A five-hectare technology demonstration farm will be established so farmers can easily adapt the technology on pigeon pea planting.
"The commercial production of these crops is a good alternative to increase farmer’s income as it will also transfer technologies on the processing of the crops into various by-products at the village level," said BAR.
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