By John Odyek
President Yoweri Museveni has tipped the people of Oyam District to focus on cassava growing. A new starch factory is planned in Northern Uganda, where cassava grows in abundance. The starch factory in Lira District collapsed many years ago leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of cassava growers.
The country’s entrepreneurs have not dared to risk their money in the valuable starch production venture. They are waiting for government to reduce risks and costs of getting into the lucrative starch production value chain.
Museveni said that during the recent by election in Oyam District, he drove for 27kms, from the late state minister for labour Col. Charles Engola’s home to Icheme and to Otwal, looking at the different sides of the road.
“I only saw some little patches of Muhogo (cassava) and maize. That is why at Otwal, I asked the question: “Cente (sente), tye kwene?”- “From where do you get money?” What has Operation Wealth Creation been doing in that area? No coffee, no fruits, no poultry, no piggery, no dairy and no fish farming. In otherwords, no Parish Development Model.
Museveni told the Oyam People that he was going back in August to get an answer to that question. “The chairman, told me about watermelons and soya beans. Those are not part of the activities for PDM. What is the cura (Kibaro)? I also noticed some irresponsible people encroaching on the wetlands. They must get out. We need the swamps as dero (granary, store of water) for irrigation; not for rice and crops. Crops are for the dry land,” Museveni said.
According to economic and agriculture starch is being used in the Textile industry to strengthen linen and is used in making medical tablets. Researchers have identified cassava as one of the commodities with a greater comparative advantage in poverty eradication in the greater north regions.
Besides, cassava has a strategic role in ensuring resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. There are great opportunities for cassava to contribute to increased household income and poverty reduction.
Massive commercialization of cassava will also attract several investments along the cassava value chain within the Sub-region thereby increasing production and productivity, ensuring food and nutrition security, creating employment, increasing household incomes and overall poverty eradication.
Important to note first is that cassava is one of the most important sources of carbohydrates. It is used to make tapioca, animal feed, and even laundry starch. Starch and starch products are used in many food and non-food industries and as chemical raw material for many other products.
Non-food use of starches – such as coating, sizings, and adhesives – accounts for about 75 percent of the output of the commercial starch industry. In the food industry, Scientists argue that cassava can be used to substitute wheat almost 100%.
Empirical scientific studies have also shown that cassava is relevant in boosting immunity and regulate digestion. The root of the plant is rich in Vitamin C while the leaves contain beta – carotene, lysine and other compounds beneficial to the skin and metabolism.
Cassava starch is used in biscuit making, to increase volume and crispness. It is also used in sweetened and unsweetened biscuits and cream sandwiches at the rate of 5-10 percent to soften zyes texture and make it non-sticky.
The use of dextrose in some kinds of yeast-raised bread and bakery products has certain advantages as it is readily available to the yeast and the resulting fermentation is quick and complete. Starch is being used in the Textile industry to strengthen linen. Cassava is widely used in most tropical areas for feeding pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry. Dried peels of cassava roots are fed to sheep and goats, and raw or boiled roots are mixed into a mash with protein concentrates such as maize, sorghum, groundnut or oil-palm kernel meals and mineral salts for livestock feeding. Much of the promise for cassava remain plans, with the crop being a paradox of poverty amidst plentiful blessing.
