Genomic Designing for Abiotic Stress-Resistant Cassava

Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding

“…In Nigeria, farmers have been responding to the impacts of climate variability by planting improved cassava varieties with resilient traits against extreme weather [9][10][11]. The cassava traits related to resilience, which are preferred by both male and female farmers, include its adaptability to different ecosystems and soil types, its tolerance to extreme stress conditions and its ability to act as a substitute for crops more sensitive to climate stress, such as potatoes, rice and maize [12][13][14]. Cassava is often prioritized over other starchy crops, especially among female farmers because it can be cultivated in relatively poor soils using low levels of labor, capital and time, and is often harvested piecemeal to meet women's immediate food and monetary needs [12,[15][16][17][18].…”

“…The cassava traits related to resilience, which are preferred by both male and female farmers, include its adaptability to different ecosystems and soil types, its tolerance to extreme stress conditions and its ability to act as a substitute for crops more sensitive to climate stress, such as potatoes, rice and maize [12][13][14]. Cassava is often prioritized over other starchy crops, especially among female farmers because it can be cultivated in relatively poor soils using low levels of labor, capital and time, and is often harvested piecemeal to meet women's immediate food and monetary needs [12,[15][16][17][18]. Women process different cassava products that add substantial value to the crop, and enable it to be stored and used during times of food shortages [19].…”

“…Prior studies in and outside of Nigeria have identified different cassava traits that women and men prefer to enhance adoption and utilization [3,15,16,[23][24][25][26][27]. Attempts to respond to the preferences and needs of different users have been made in the recent past to inform the development of cassava varieties that are high yielding [28], suppress weeds [29], require less drudgery during processing, result in a high food-product yield, have quality traits that consumers prefer [30,31], address social equity concerns [15,16], and mitigate vagaries of climatic change and increase stress tolerance [12]. However, studies reporting the interaction and multiple effects of the social and CC stressors in Nigeria are emerging but they are yet to consider the differential resilience capacities and cassava trait preferences that will enable male and female VC actors to better respond and adapt to stressors [32][33][34][35].…”