Cassava program : annual report 1981

This report highlights biological and agronomic research conducted by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) toward this end. The report covers the following areas of cassava research: (1) physiology; (2) soil and plant nutrition; (3) the use of mycorrhiza for plant nutrition; (4) entomology; (5) pathology; (6) tissue culture; (7) germplasm development; (8) varietal improvement; (9) cultural practices; (10) regional trials; (11) economics; (12) and cassava utilization. Progress in specific international research programs is also reviewed. The authors conclude that small farmers can use production technologies developed by CIAT to increase yields, making cassava competitive in several markets. However, research results have only slowly affected small farmer production due to the long time required to test and multiply new genotypes. To increase the speed of germplasm transfer, more training in cassava tissue culture is needed. Finally, any program to increase production of cassava for use as animal feedstock must be integrated with far-reaching drying, processing, utilization, and commercialization activities, particularly in Latin America.