Nwankwo, O.O., Nwajiuba C.U., C.C. Eze C.C.
Abstract
Qualities of industrial cassava flour, gari and starch from Southeast were studied. Southeast is one of the major
cassava producing zones in Nigeria. The suitability of the products for export based on moisture content (MC) and
hydrogen cyanide (HCN) content was assessed. Purposively three of the five states and seven processing firms in
Southeast Zone were sampled. From the lists obtained from relevant agencies, the firms were sampled based on extent of
mechanization. Data were collected for three months using questionnaire. Laboratory analysis showed that National
Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) obtained the best MC (6.0%) and HCN (6.5mg/kg) for flour, best MC (7.3%) and HCN
(8.2mg/kg) for gari, while Ngor obtained best MC (7.8%) and Nigerian Starch Mill (NSM) best HCN (6.0mg/kg) for starch.
The MC and HCN levels were within export ranges. Using Anova test, significant difference was established in mean MC
and HCN levels of all products except for HCN of starch. Poor power supply, bad road network, and processing local
cassava varieties constrained products' qualities. The study concludes that the products from Southeast are suitable
for export, and that alleviation of identified problems will further improve products' qualities.
Key words:
Cassava products; traditional products; industrial products; extent of mechanization; assessment; quality; marketing;
export, moisture content (MC); hydrogen cyanide (HCN) content; flour; gari and starch