Cassava in the Philippines

Algerico M. Mariscal and Jose L. Bacusmo

IntroductionCassava is one of important source of food, feed and starch among FilipinosKnown to perform well even under unfavorable growing condition such as drought and poor soilsThough less government support, cassava contributes around 2% of gross value added in agricultureThis crop is endowed with especial capacity to contribute to the development of food security and poverty alleviation in the country

Production Trends of CassavaTable 1. Area, yield and production of cassava in Asia, 1999

45,767,70016,930,0001,783,4003,650,9036,000,00014,728,2921,786,710

13.614.77.715.921.012.28.5

3,366,3981,150,000231,700230,065250,000

1,205,330210,000

ASIAThailandVietnamChinaIndiaIndonesiaPhilippines

Production(tons)

Yield (t/ha)

Area (ha)Country

Table 2. Projected growth rates in production of cassava (average annual percent) in Asia

0.941.001.95

0.731.001.74

1.370.461.83

AreaYieldProduction

1993-2020B

1993-2020A

1983-96Category

A Baseline scenarioB High growth scenario

Cassava Utilization in the Philippines

Food75%

Starch20%

Feed5%

FoodStarchFeed

Cassava for FoodConsumption of cassava is highest in Sulu Archipelago and Muslim population in LanaoNew food product from cassava provide additional demandLeaves of cassava are also widely used as vegetable in Southern part of MindanaoSome islands in the Visayas and Mindanao with narrow coastal plains largely subsist on cassava

Table 3. Projected per capita supply and consumption of root andtuber crops in the Philippines, 1990-2020

0.560.660.560.58

10.409.361.0328.25

7.827.060.7821.39

8.976.990.8823.58

SweetpotatoCassavaIrish potatoRoot and tubers

Income Elasticity

Projected per capita consumption 2011-

2020

Projected per capita consumption 2000-

2010

Per capita consumption1990-1999

Crop

Cassava for FeedsAround 190,000 metric tons of cassava each year are utilized as feedsNo less than 30,000 metric tons of dried cassava chips are traded annually for domestic commercial feed formulationMajor commercial feed brand in the country are now using cassava meal.Volume utilized for feeds increased steadily in the past 5 years due to chronic shortage of domestic corn-the traditional source of energy in formulated feed.

Table 4. Projected per capita consumption of meatin the Philippines (kg/year)

5.8217.187.26

3.6313.816.08

BeefPorkPoultry

2011-20202001-2010Source

Cassava for Starch IndustryStarch mills are operating between 10-25% of their capacityStarch price and supply of raw materials are highly unstableTariff on imported cassava starch is lower than that of other cassava producing countries in AsiaSince 1978 seven of ten mills have ceased operation

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

ChinaThailandIndonesiaIndiaVietnamPhilippineMalaysia

Fig. 1. Cassava starch production in 1994 (MT)

Table 5. Tariff rates, import volume and production of cassava starch in the Philippines, 1993-1999.

978,802916,445606,950574,292437,500409,868

1,232,500

2,470370

15,10216,834

520,000

40353025202015

1993199419951996199719981999

Domestic production(bag)

Import vol(50kg bags)

Rate of duty (%)

Year

Growth Projection of CassavaLa Tondena Distillers Incorporated has turned into cassava as alternative raw materials for alcohol.This private company is targetting 30,000 hectares of cassava for alcohol.Demand of cassava for feed depends on the relative prices and supply of corn.It is projected that from 1993-2020 use of cassava for feeds in developing countries will increase annually.Use of cassava in the manufacture of starch is projected to grow if the economy improves.

Table 6. Projected growth rate in domestic use ofcassava (average annual percent) in developing countries.

2.241.722.15

1.991.621.93

2.101.662.49

Food demandFeed demandTotal use

1993-2020B

1993-2020A

1983-1996Category

A – Baseline ScenarioB – High Growth Scenario

ConclusionCassava in the Philippines play an important role in food security, equity and poverty alleviation.Demand of cassava for food is expected to increase with increase in population.Local cassava starch production is expected to decrease though actual domestic use may increase unless uneven tariff is addressed.Use of cassava for feeds will be the main sector of growth for the local cassava industry.Intervention of private sector in the use of cassava is very important in creating demand.

Thank you very much