CASSAVA, also called Manihot Esculanta, is a woody shrub (plant) native to most parts of African communities, and largely in West African. It is also greatly found in South America of the Spurge family, Euphorbiaceae
Cultivation
It is extensively cultivated as an annual Crop in the tropical and subtropical regions for it's edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.
As Source of Food
It is one of the three largest source of food in the tropics, besides rice and yam. In Western Africa and Nigeria in particular, it is processed for eating in the names called fufu, tapioca, and garri. There is also bread that contains about 20% of cassava and there is plan to increase it to 40% and above.
As major staple food in the developing countries (South South Region) it is a basic diet consumed by at least half a billion people.
The Inherent Danger
However, some cassava can produce Cyanide a deadly Compound when consumed.
Therefore while processing the flour
it is expedient to remove the poison which is a danger to the consumers. If the flour is consumed untreated the following effect can occur:-
dizziness, headache, vomiting, diarrhea
and console which is a permanent paralysis
of the legs.
It is therefore very necessary to eat poison free cassava flour to avoid the illnesses listed above.
Steps taken to remove the poison are:-
- Take the quantity of flour that you want to.
cook - Put the flour in a pan or basin
- Smooth out the surface of the flour and
then mark the height with a point of a
knife - Add clean water little by little stiring until
the flour is wet and the level is the same
as that of the dry flour as previously
marker - Spreed the flour on a seeve mart or any
clean flat surface using a spoon or similar
object so that the thickness of the flour is
not higher than a finger nail - Dry the flour either by leaving it in a hot
sun for 2hours or in the shade for hours - Put the water in a pan, boil it and add the
treated flour until you get the right
consistency
(You can use less water because the water left
in the treats flour also counts).
Conclusion
Health is wealth says the sage of wellness.
Having seen the danger while consuming cassava flour, It is therefore crucially important to ensure that you adhere to the rules enumerated so that your family does not fall prey to poisoning or paralysis there from.
This is a typical example of a healthy family