Speaking with AgroNigeria correspondent, the Faculty of Agriculture 2014/2015 internship chairman, Ebube Ezenwa Geoben, asserted that Provita Flour is good for diabetic patients because of its low starch level and added nutritive value of high β-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. He called on the government to invest more in universities by establishing laboratories to promote the evolvement of similar breakthroughs in other areas of agriculture. “The exhibition which is organized at the instance of the 2014/2015 internship students of the faculty is a podium for the promotion of high quality processed provitamin A cassava flour”, he surmised.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta), a native of South America was introduced into the southern part of Nigeria in the period of slave trade proliferated by Portuguese explorers in the sixteenth century. Over time, this tropical root crop has become a major economic sustenance crop as well as a cash crop of great importance in Nigeria, the world’s largest producer of cassava producing approximately 45 million tonnes, almost 19% of total world production.
Nigeria made history with the formal launch of three varieties of provitamin A cassava or beta carotene (β-carotene) cassava commonly referred to as yellow cassava as opposed to the white flesh of regular cassava roots. These varieties were jointly developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan and National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike.
While speaking at the launch of the cassava varieties at NRCRI Umudike, Abia State three years back, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, erstwhile minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and current president of African Development Bank (AfDB) remarked that Nigeria loses over 1.5 billion dollars in GDP annually to vitamin and mineral deficiencies as many staple foods are low in essential micronutrients. Independent research shows that almost 20% of pregnant women and 30% of children under the age of five suffer from vitamin A deficiency resulting in stunting in children, predisposition to sicknesses such as diarrhea and measles and even premature death. In pregnant women, vitamin A deficiency results in night blindness and increases the risk of mortality.
According to UNICEF, 43 % of under five children in Nigeria are stunted compared to 39% for all developing countries. In the Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria ranks 158th out of 182 countries with life expectancy of 48 years, risk of maternal death of 1 in 18 and under five mortality rate of 186 per 1,000 live births. With the highest absolute number of children who are stunted and with 41% of children under the age of five stunted, Nigeria’s stunting prevalence puts it as the 32nd highest out of 136 countries- this is not a compliment! The grave necessity for apposite health and nutrition improvement to combat vitamin A deficiency remains most apparent.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that in the past three decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Dr Adesina, therefore, lauded the launch of provitamin A cassava which has lower percentage starch content as ‘‘a revolution for nutrition and health in Nigeria’’. According to the former minister, provitamin A cassava will go a long way in correcting the nutritional and dietary deficiencies of the poor and vulnerable as well as individual and household vitamin A deficiency.
Obong, Joy Ime of the Department of Animal Science and an exhibition planning committee member said the exhibition was to showcase the product, Provita Flour made from provitamin A cassava. She outlined the uniqueness of Provita Flour to include high vitamin A content which makes it good for the eyes and skin, low starch content which makes it the baker’s choice and diabetics’ appeal, bio fortified product with lower cyanide content, ease of multiplication and propagation which makes it more economical in comparison with regular cassava cuttings. Enhanced awareness on the nutritive and economic values of the product will give it an edge over others, she added. She therefore called on relevant stakeholders to stimulate the expansion of market opportunities for provitamin A cassava and its products in Nigeria.
The students’ performance during the internship year particularly at Domita Farms Uyo, Vika Farms Uyo and Songhai Farm Port Harcourt, as appraised by the internship coordinator, Dr. Unyime Robson Etuk of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, was outstanding. This was collaborated by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Iniobong Akpabio, who sent his goodwill message through the internship coordinator expressing his delight at his students’ drive towards modernized agriculture.
The exhibition brought together two chieftains and stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom agro business space who have so distinguished themselves as acclaimed achievers in agriculture under the names Domita Farms and Vika Farms. One year internship/field experience is a window that introduces students of agriculture to the real world of agriculture with myriads of challenges imploring for solutions, the chairman of the occasion, Head of Soil Science Department, Akwa Ibom State University and the owner of Domita Farms, the largest farm in Uyo, Dr Dominic Udoh posited. Currently a part time lecturer in the University of Uyo, Dr Udoh also doubled as the representative of the Head of Department, Soil Science and Land Resource Management, University of Uyo. The one time commissioner for agriculture applauded the students’ initiative and contribution towards the promotion of agriculture appreciation by the citizenry.
Students of agriculture with their innovative and enterprising minds should continue in the noble profession that bequeaths self-sufficiency, dignity and prestige. This was the position of Dr (Mrs) Asikpo Essienibok of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment who also doubled as the representative of Vika Farms Limited, Uyo. “Agriculture contributes the second largest percent to the country’s GDP and so we agriculturists do not take ourselves for granted”, remarked Jimmy Maxwell of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension.
The exhibition which also marked the end of the 2014/2015 internship year witnessed the award of certificates and agricultural souvenirs, a runway show, music performance and poem rendition as well as a paper presentation by Ms. Abasikpongke Willie, a student of Saints College Uyo -the younger generation of agriculturists.
Provita Flour, a product of the Faculty of Agriculture, made from provitamin A cassava is a high quality cassava flour best for consumption as fufu and excellent for bakery. In the words of Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, “…as you choose provitamin A bread, you are choosing improved health and nutrition”.
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