COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA, GHANA AND CAMEROON TOWARDS PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

Abstract

Cassava remains one of Africa’s most strategic staple crops due to its resilience to climate stress, versatility in consumption, and importance to rural livelihoods. This study critically compares cassava production systems in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon with a focus on their implications for food security and agro‑industrial development. Using the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) computations, for a quantitative comparative research design based on secondary data from FAO, FAOSTAT, World Bank, and national statistical agencies, the study examines production trends, productivity levels, value‑chain integration, and policy frameworks between 2020 and 2025. Findings reveal that although Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of cassava by volume, Ghana and Cameroon outperform Nigeria in yield efficiency and export orientation. Weak agro‑processing capacity, limited market integration, and infrastructural bottlenecks continue to constrain Nigeria’s cassava sector, thereby reducing its contribution to food security and trade competitiveness. The study concludes that productivity‑enhancing technologies, regional value‑chain integration, and targeted agro‑industrial policies are critical to transforming cassava from a subsistence crop into a food‑security and export‑led growth driver across West and Central Africa.

Keywords: Cassava production, food security, comparative agriculture, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon.