Cassava can be used as an alternative to wheat
Thursday, 8 November 2007
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Nov 7: Cassava, a transformed root of cassava plant, may be successfully cultivated in Bangladesh and can be used as an alternative for wheat. In many African countries cassava a staple food.
Shirina Begum, director (in charge) of Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Rajshahi and scientist in Applied Botany, has been able to plant and harvest cassava in Bangladeshi climate. She also arranged a demonstration for the product through a press conference at BCSIR auditorium in Rajshahi where she mentioned that cassava could be used as an alternative for wheat and maize and a number of food products could be made from cassava. Cassava leaves are also used as fodder for 'andy' pests from whose cocoon 'andy' clothes are made.
Shirina Begum disclosed to the journalists that the plantation of cassava was possible with less hurdle in Bangladeshi land. Even fallow land, raised ground, 'ailes' (bund) of land can be used for cassava plantation which would require no or less irrigation and care. A slightly red coloured, consumable cassava root weighs five to six kilograms and five to six such roots are grown beneath a plant. It takes ten to twelve months to get cassava harvest.
She further said while a kilogram of wheat costs Taka 35 to 38, the production and processing of same quantity of cassava flour will cost about Taka 10 per kilogram. Soil of greater Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh is suitable for cassava production. She said, cassava flour is enriched with starch, protein, fat and minerals. It is more nutritious than wheat or maize, she claimed.
Cassava plants are seen to grow in abandoned land of Bangladesh and the people of 'adibashi' communities used to eat cassava root for a long time. But it has not been produced commercially. Cassava has multifarious use and other food products can also be prepared from it.
The press conference was attended and addressed, among others, by Chairman of BCSIR Chowdhury Mahud Hasan.
RAJSHAHI, Nov 7: Cassava, a transformed root of cassava plant, may be successfully cultivated in Bangladesh and can be used as an alternative for wheat. In many African countries cassava a staple food.
Shirina Begum, director (in charge) of Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Rajshahi and scientist in Applied Botany, has been able to plant and harvest cassava in Bangladeshi climate. She also arranged a demonstration for the product through a press conference at BCSIR auditorium in Rajshahi where she mentioned that cassava could be used as an alternative for wheat and maize and a number of food products could be made from cassava. Cassava leaves are also used as fodder for 'andy' pests from whose cocoon 'andy' clothes are made.
Shirina Begum disclosed to the journalists that the plantation of cassava was possible with less hurdle in Bangladeshi land. Even fallow land, raised ground, 'ailes' (bund) of land can be used for cassava plantation which would require no or less irrigation and care. A slightly red coloured, consumable cassava root weighs five to six kilograms and five to six such roots are grown beneath a plant. It takes ten to twelve months to get cassava harvest.
She further said while a kilogram of wheat costs Taka 35 to 38, the production and processing of same quantity of cassava flour will cost about Taka 10 per kilogram. Soil of greater Rajshahi, Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh is suitable for cassava production. She said, cassava flour is enriched with starch, protein, fat and minerals. It is more nutritious than wheat or maize, she claimed.
Cassava plants are seen to grow in abandoned land of Bangladesh and the people of 'adibashi' communities used to eat cassava root for a long time. But it has not been produced commercially. Cassava has multifarious use and other food products can also be prepared from it.
The press conference was attended and addressed, among others, by Chairman of BCSIR Chowdhury Mahud Hasan.