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New Machines and Improved Efficiency Help Cassava Farmers in the Congo

For Maman Genevieve and thousands of smallholder producers in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kwilu Province, the magic of cassava means new opportunities. By adopting improved planting, cultivation and processing techniques for her cassava crops, Maman Geneviève is making more money, creating better opportunities for her family, and finding a sustainable path to adapt to the wide-scale impacts of climate change.

In short, the magic of cassava means Maman Geneviève can build a brighter future. Not just for her family or her village, but for generations to come.

Cassava is also highly adaptable to changes in climate. Among the major food crops of Africa (including maize, sorghum, millet, beans, potatoes and bananas), cassava is the least sensitive to the climate conditions predicted by 2030. It's drought resistant, can grow almost anywhere, and is not easily destroyed by heavy rains.

"In the end, cassava feeds some 200 million Africans when other crops fail, making it a climate change super-crop that may just save lives and build long-term resilience to the uncertainties posed by changing weather and climate patterns," says Clotilde Goeman, a UNDP Regional Technical Advisor that supports climate change adaptation projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Melissa Reichwage

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