Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

OcaOxalis tuberosa (Oxalidaceae or wood sorrel family). White, yellow or red

smooth skinned cylindrical tubers about 10 cm long with grooves and bulges, with

long deep eyes. Staple food in high altitude parts of the South American Andes, also

cultivated in Mexico and New Zealand. The tubers are nutritionally equivalent to

potatoes, and they are both cooked in similar ways. Some varieties contain calcium

oxalate crystals, which can be removed by drying in the sun.

UllucoUllucus tuberosus (Basellaceae family). Endemic in the Andes, very frost

resistant. 2–15 cm long tubers are yellow or pale magenta, red or purple and either

small and round or long and curved. The fresh tubers contain about 14% starch and

sugars, 1–2% protein, 23 mg/100 g Vitamin C. Prepared and eaten like potatoes, or

dried and stored. The leaves are also eaten.

Manihot esculenta (Syn. M. utilissima, M. aipi, M. dulcis, M. palmata)

Cassava was probably first cultivated by the Maya in Yucatán, Mexico and is now

the most important of all the tropical root crops in terms of global production. FAO

estimated the global production in 2004 was 101 million MT.

produce tubers that can remain in the ground for up to three years. Its root tubers

often serve as a famine reserve crop for subsistence farmers. Compared with other

tropical staple crops, only yams produce more carbohydrate per hectare. Raw tubers

contain about 35% starch but only about 1–3% protein.

grown in the lowland tropics. Cassava is a member of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge)

Poinsetia.

repeatedly harvesting the leaves at 2–3 month intervals. The roots are not harvested

but serve as a nutrient reserve to support the forage regrowth.

Nigeria maintains a germplasm collection for Africa. IITA is one of 16 research

centres that come under the auspices of the CGIAR—the Consultative Group on

International Agricultural Research.

Agriculture (CIAT), in Cali, Colombia, and the largest national collection is in

Brazil, under the direction of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Network

(EMBRAPA). All three institutions have breeding programmes.

T he plant is a short-lived perennial shrub, 1–5metres tall; it is normally

R ecent research has involved managing cassava as a perennial forage crop,

T he plant can grow in the poorest, most infertile soils, and many varieties

I ITA (the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture) in Ibadan,

family, which also includes the Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) and the

T he largest germplasm collection is at the International Centre for Tropical

205

Cassava/Manioc

Brazilian Arrowroot, Cassata, Mandioc(a), Imanoka, Katela boodin, Maniba, Manioc,
Muk shue, Shushu, Yuca, Tapioca. Manioc (French); Manioc (German); YMCA
{Brava}, Mandioca, Guacomote (Spanish); Mandioca, Maniçoba, Aipim (Portuguese);
Utombo, Ombuta, Okambuta (Angola); Muhogo (Kiswahili); Omuwogo (Luganda);
Aypu, Boniato (Caribbean).

GROWING FOOD – THE FOOD PRODUCTION HANDBOOK