FUTURE-PROSPECTS FOR CASSAVA ROOT YIELD IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Primary data collected over a wide area in Africa show that average ca ssava root yield is not declining as the population increases because the land is being cultivated more intensively in response to demograph ic pressures, Although fallow periods are becoming shorter, organic ma nuring, improved market infrastructures and the use of purchased input s such as labour compensate for this, The yields of improved cassava v arieties in Nigeria show that technology can be relied upon to raise p roduction in future, provided that the conditions necessary for the wi despread adoption of improved varieties prevail in most African countr ies.