1. Breeding for Increased Vitamin A Content in Cassava: Progress and Perspectives Egesi C.N., D. Njoku, O.A. Olojede and P. Kulakow National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike

2.  Cassava is the engine Nigeria needs to drive its Agricultural Transformation.  In 2011, 3 pro-vitamin A cassava varieties were released – UMUCASS 36, 38 and 39.  In 2014, we released another set of 3 pro-vitamin A cassava varieties – UMUCASS 44,45 and 46.  Currently, over 600,000 Nigerian households received planting materials of varieties of vitamin A cassava.  These varieties provide 20 – 50% of RDA for vitamin A with 10 ppm.  Target is to hit the 15 ppm beta carotene in cassava roots before 2018. Introduction

3. Cassava bread will require more nutritious varieties Commercial bread 10-20% and pastries 40% Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties will contribute to meeting this need. Cassava Bread

4. Launching of Pro-vitamin A Cassava Varieties in 2012

5. Dissemination of Pro-vitamin A cassava in Abia State

6. Flag-off of dissemination in Abia State

8. Dissemination though Adopted Village and School Outreach (Youth Programmes)

9. Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties disseminated to Farmers by NRCRI Adopted Villages Unit – Women Groups

10. Community Outreaches

12. HARVESTPLUS CROP IMPROVEMENT

13. Total Carotene Content of Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in 8 locations in Nigeria VarietyUmudike Ibadan Ogoja Nsukka Zaria MokwaOtobi MeanSE TCC (µg/g) FW NR 07/220 10.58.88.78.3 9.6 10.88.2 9.3 1.3 TMS 07/0539 10.9 9.8 9.610.1 8.0 10.2 8.3 9.61.4 TMS 07/0593 9.3 10.4 8.59.8 8.8 11.4 8.0 9.51.3 TMS 30572 1.2 1 0.90.8 0.90.8 0.9 Mean 7.67.76.57.0 6.4 8.56.0 SE 1.51.41.31.6 1.2 1.71.3

14. Dry matter and starch contents and gari yield of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in 3 locations in Nigeria VarietyIbadanMokwaUmudike Dry matter (%)Starch (%) Gari yield (%) NR 07/022031.336.130.622.3 21.2 TMS 07/053931.431.133.321.8 23.1 TMS 07/059335.128.640.225.7 21.5 TMS 3057234.436.535.525.9 21.0

15. NR07/0220 UMUCASS 44

16. Nationally Coordinated Research Project on Cassava (NCRP) 2014-2016 10 LOCATIONS  Umudike  Otobi  Nsukka  Uyo  Iresi  Mokwa  Zaria  Ikenne  Ubiaja  Kubwa S/NoGenotype Root Colour 1NR1S1/131 Yellow 2NR1S1/205 Yellow 3NR1S1/059 Yellow 4NR1S1/200 Yellow 5NR1S1/096 Yellow 6NR07/240 Yellow 7IITA-TMS-IBA070557 Yellow 8IITA-TMS-IBA083739 Yellow 9IITA-TMS-IBA070708 Yellow 10IITA-TMS-IBA083724 Yellow 11IITA-TMS-IBA090091 Yellow 12TMS 01/1368 (Check) Yellow 13TMS 30572 (Check) White 14Local Best (Check) White

17.  More emphasis on breeding for increased vitamin A retention and bioavailabilty.  Smarter and more robust phenotyping or evaluation tools. Eg. Field determination of beta carotene for rapid screening.  Continued improvement of agronomic performance and potentials through increased genetic gains for yield, resistance to diseases and response to crop management.  Ensure that a significant proportion (<50%) of the cassava commercially produced in Nigeria is biofortified by 2018. Perspectives

18.  Biofortification of cassava has been mainstreamed at NRCRI and IITA.  Six varieties of pro-vitamin A cassava developed, released and being disseminated to 3 million Nigerians by end of 2015.  11 newly selected pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in multi- site trials in 10 locations in Nigeria in 2014 – 2016.  On-farm trials with 11 pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in 15 states of Nigeria in 2015 – 2016.  About 40,000 seedlings of pro-vitamin A cassava in cultivation at NRCRI in 2015 season.  Target of 15 ppm beta carotene in cassava roots is on course. Summary

19. Thank You!