What root crop is the dietary staple of millions of people in tropical South America and Africa?

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CASSAVA is the staple food of around 500 million people. It tolerates drought and low fertility and is primarily grown and eaten by small-scale farmers in areas with poor soils or unfavourable climates. Its starchy roots produce more calories per unit of land than any other crop in the world, except perhaps sugar cane. The leaves of the plants provide vitamins and proteins when eaten as a a vegetable - a common practice in Africa. The leaves are often fed to livestock too. This strange looking tropical crop originated in Central America and was taken to West Africa in the sixteenth century. The Spanish also introduced it to the Philippines and it is now grown in large areas of Africa, Asia and Central America. It can be processed into different forms for a wide variety of end uses, and much of this processing can be carried out locally, providing jobs and income in rural areas. It can be made into food products, such as tapioca, used as animal feed, and processed into starch. Many of the 'crisps' bought in these parts of the world are made from cassava. Cassava has its problems. It is full of carbohydrate but nothing much else. Since it contains very little protein, people need to eat something in addition to it to ensure they get a balance of protein, vitamins and minerals. http://www.bath.ac.uk/Admin/Topics/topics22/cassava.htm Apr 07 01, 9:17 AM