Cassava output seen to increase in 2010

Cassava production posted a 7% increase in the first quarter to 434,320 metric tons (MT), a Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) official said. The increase was attributed to additional areas planted to cassava in Central Mindanao, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental. “Production will increase further due to additional hectares of land planted with cassava and the increasing demand for cassava,” Candido B. Damo, cassava project leader under the agency’s Ginuntuang Masaganang Ani Corn Program, told BusinessWorld. Damo said that for 2010, they have projected local demand for cassava to reach five million MT, while for 2014, local demand is seen to reach 10 million MT. (June 7, 2010)