Why cassava is gaining ground as East Africa’s climate insurance
By Mburu Kimani, Agriculture and Sustainable Business Correspondent
In East Africa’s evolving agricultural economy, cassava gains serious attention as a climate‑resilient crop with tangible commercial potential. Traditionally seen as a subsistence staple, cassava’s adaptability to drought, low input requirements and versatility across food, feed and industrial applications position it as a strategic asset for producers, policymakers and private capital. Certified data and expert testimony illustrate both the opportunities and structural barriers shaping cassava’s market potential in Kenya and the wider region.
Agronomic resilience and productivity realities
Cassava’s biological characteristics make it well suited to the region’s increasingly unpredictable climate. In many semi‑arid lands, cassava survives conditions that often devastate maize and other cereals. Dr Milcah Wambua, a lead researcher at Egerton University, states that “cassava is the climate‑smart champion for Kenya’s ASALs, resilient in drought, rich in nutrients and a reliable pillar against food insecurity. If we are serious about ending hunger and achieving climate‑resilient food systems, cassava is not just a crop it is a climate‑smart solution.”
Despite its robustness, actual yields in Kenya remain below agronomists’ expectations. Self Help Africa’s Head of Programmes, Peter Aluoch, observes that “in 2020 the country produces 898,110 metric tonnes of cassava from 61,754 hectares, translating to 14.54 tonnes per hectare. This is lower compared to 16 to 24 tonnes per hectare in China, Indonesia and Thailand.” He adds that “traditional production systems fail to address household food security and income,” citing weak seed systems and fragmented markets as core constraints.
Across East Africa, Kenya remains the smallest producer of cassava. Uganda produces approximately 4 million metric tonnes annually and Tanzania about 8 million metric tonnes, reinforcing Kenya’s comparative underperformance.
Demand outstripping supply
Domestic demand for cassava in Kenya grows rapidly, driven not only by food consumption but also by industrial and feed uses. Aluoch explains that local demand reaches roughly 3 million metric tonnes in 2022, more than double domestic production of about 946,076 tonnes. This creates a substantial deficit that Kenya seeks to fill through imports from neighbouring states. “The pent‑up usage links to the expansion of cassava utilisation beyond human consumption into animal feeds and starch for industries,” he states.
Paul Rono, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Crop Development and Agricultural Research, highlights the economic cost of this production gap. “We still import food despite fertile land and resources. We face challenges in food security and the commercialisation of the same.”
Processing and value‑chain transformation
Processing cassava into higher‑value products remains central to commercialising the crop. Small and medium enterprises begin to tap into flour, chips and starch markets, and communities gain direct economic benefit from aggregation and processing centres. A women’s group in Nambale and Butula reports earning around Ksh20,000 per week after establishing a cottage facility for cassava flour and snack production.
In industry forums, stakeholders flag systemic constraints. Harold Mate, Senior Technical Specialist at Farm Concern International, asserts that “involvement of village‑level seed entrepreneurs is the best approach to ensure farmers access clean planting materials with ease at a fair cost.” He notes that revenue per hectare from cassava can be substantially higher than for legumes such as green grams or cowpeas if markets and inputs are structured properly.
Professor Jasper Imungi of the University of Nairobi’s Department of Food, Science, Nutrition and Technology emphasises that “the cassava business must be sustainable by ensuring enough and continuous supply of cassava to processors throughout the year,” underlining the need for year‑round production and reliable logistics.
Academic research drives further innovation. At Egerton University, Professor Mulwa develops cassava varieties resistant to major diseases such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease. He also explores value‑added products such as biodegradable packaging derived from cassava polymers. “Cassava has a high production per hectare and performs well in drought conditions. It can help the country ease pressure on maize,” he notes.
Export prospects and regulatory barriers
Cassava’s export performance grows, showing early momentum. Pan‑African data indicate that African cassava exports increase to roughly 81,000 tonnes in 2024, generating about $20 million in export value, with Tanzania and Uganda leading volumes.
Trade specialists, including officials from the Kenya Export Promotion Agency, emphasise the importance of regulatory alignment. “Harmonising quality standards across the East African Community and investing in certification schemes remains essential,” one analyst explains.
Regulatory and technical barriers continue to constrain growth. FAO‑linked analyses highlight that inadequate post‑harvest handling and processing infrastructure can result in 25 to 40 per cent losses in sub‑Saharan value chains. These losses, coupled with varied international standards, complicate access to high‑value markets such as the European Union where cyanogenic glycoside limits and Novel Food Regulations require stringent compliance frameworks.
Policy challenges and ethical implications
For policymakers, cassava is more than a crop it represents a test of strategic agricultural transformation. High‑impact interventions such as seed system reform, investment in processing facilities and export standardisation shift cassava from subsistence status to a commercially viable and climate‑adapted commodity.
Development institutions already allocate capital for such shifts. The World Bank and other partners train more than half a million smallholder farmers in value‑addition techniques, focusing on food and nutritional security for women, youth and vulnerable groups.
For private investors, the under‑served processing segment offers an entry point for both financial returns and measurable social impact. Expanding cassava value chains aligns with SDG 2 on food security and SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth.
The real test for East Africa’s cassava market is not just whether it can grow more roots but whether it can build the infrastructure, institutions and market linkages to transform those roots into resilient, inclusive and profitable economic outcomes.
