The document discusses the promotion of cassava (Manihot esculenta) as a resilient root crop suitable for harsher climates brought on by climate change. It outlines the methodology used to evaluate different cassava cultivars, including their agronomic traits, starch content, and potential industrial applications. The authors recommend increased consumption and production of cassava in Jamaica, along with educational initiatives and research to leverage its potential.

1. Promoting Cassava (Manihot esculenta) as
the Most Resilient Root Crop for Increasingly
Harsher Climates –
A survey of the cassava germplasm at Bodles
Research Station, St. Catherine
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St.
Catherine. Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm
Michael P.I. Williams and Collin Scantlebury

2. Issues
• The climate change reality (harsher, hotter, dryer
climates, associated pests and diseases)
• Search for crops that can survive and cope in these
conditions
• Cassava – the most resilient available (CIAT and
CGIAR’s, 2012)
• Grossly under-rated and under-developed crop
• Need to increase/promote production and
consumption of cassava
• Different types of cassava available to suit a range of
consumer requirements
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

3. Methodology
• Over several years collected and conserved 20 accessions of
cassava - both local and imported:
 Maintained duplicate/redundant collections at different locations
• Periodically characterize and evaluate the different cassava
cultivars:
 Three months, Six and Nine months characterisation
 Leaf Retention and Prominence of foliar leaf scars
• Post harvest characteristics: - DM, starch, HCN
 Dry Matter Adapted from ASTM D2974(1995)
 Anthone Method of Extraction for Starch
 Colorimetric method for free and Potential Cyanide
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St.
Catherine. Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

4. Results
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

5. Results
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

6. Results
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
meandrymatter(DM)content(%)
accessions
Dry matter content of selected cassava cultivars (mean ± st dev.)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St.
Catherine. Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

7. Results
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
cassavatuberstarchconc.(mg/g)
accession
Starch content of selected cassava cultivars (mean ± st dev.)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

8. Results
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6meanHCN(mg/ml)
accession
HCN content of selected cassava cultivars (mean ± st dev.)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

9. Lessons learnt
• There is variability in agronomic traits between the
cultivars
• All the cultivars in the Bodles Research Station
collection are sweet and not bitter
• The collection contains high starch cultivars that are
suitable for many industrial applications
• Cassava has been underutilized and there is great
potential for research
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

10. Recommendations
• Greater use of cassava in Jamaicans diet, and
as feed stock for animals substituting corn and
sorghum
• Increased utilization of marginal lands with
aim of bioremediation
• Exploit cultivars that can be grown both as
ornamentals and food crops in landscaped
environments (Edible Garden)
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

11. The Way Forward
• More educational program for children about the
benefits of eating cassava
• More research- scientific and marketing research
• Looking to use Cassava as a substitute crop for
Wheat, Barley, Corn and Sorghum because of
lower cost of production and high yield
• Creating a demand in the diaspora and local
market for cassava products which will increase
farmers income.
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St.
Catherine. Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

12. THE END
• THANK YOU
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division; Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O., St. Catherine.
Tel: (876) 983 2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: bodlesresarch@moa.gov.jm; Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm

13. MINISTRY OF IDUSTRY, COMMERCE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
BODLES RESEARCH STATION
OLD HARBOUR P.O., ST CATHERINE
JAMAICA
Tel: (876) 983-2267, 983-2281, 983-2842, Fax: 983-2822
E-mail:bodlesresearch@moa.gov.jm
Website: http//:www.moa.gov.jm
Ministry of Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture, & Fisheries, Research Division;
Bodles Research Station , Old Harbour P.O.,
St. Catherine. Tel: (876) 983
2267/2281/2842 Fax: 983-2822; E-mail: