Capacity Building on Circular Economy, Resource and Energy Efficiency for Productivity and Sustainability of Cassava Chain to High Value Products: Cassava Root, Native Starch and Biogas in Mekong Countries

Cassava is an economically important crop for the countries in the Mekong region. Considerable trade in cassava and cassava products occurs between these countries. As it is usually grown on a small scale, many farming family’s livelihood depending upon this crop. The value of cassava exports for both Vietnam and Thailand in 2017 were roughly US$1 billion each.

The gaps exist in the cassava value chain in the region consists of the lack of knowledge, modern technology, awareness to suatainability production and capacity building on cassava cultivation, native starch production and waste utilization and management. Generally, cassava is grown largely by traditional methods in CLMV countries. Most of the cassava cultivation still lacks modern technology and techniques. Meanwhile, the farmer is not maximizing potential gains due to lack of knowledge of new cultivation methods, disease and access to improved varieties. In the CLMV, there has been little investment in cassava and value-added products research. This effectively means that the starch and its derivative factories are not obtaining the best quality feedstock to produce a quality end product. Further, the process operators in these factories are working based on their on-the-job experience and lack knowledge of modern innovation/technical improvements as well as the owners and plant managers operate their factory in a traditional management style with little regard for innovative technology or human resource development, resulting in the factories facing frequent production process shut downs, with frequent repetition of the problems. Furthermore, cassava starch factories generate wastewater containing high strength organics that affect humans as well as other living organisms if they are not properly treated before disposal. In order to address these important issues, there is an urgent need to improve productivity and overall efficiency of cassava value chain. Renewable energy production and utilization (biogas unit), as well as improved energy efficiency, are positive steps to enhance the overall competitiveness of cassava value chain in CLMV. The capacity building via development training modules and programs for increased cassava yield and quality, starch and value added product as well as waste management need to be implemented. Read more...