ABSTRACT
Yam (Dioscorea spp.) and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) are major food crops for millions of people in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Yam tubers are a source of carbohydrate. They are also high in amino acids and rich in minerals. The crop is especially important in the yam zone of West Africa, stretching from Cote d’lvoire to Cameroon. The storage roots of cassava form the basic carbohydrate source in Africa and Latin America. Cassava leaves, rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins, are consumed as leafy vegetables in many parts of Africa. Cassava storage roots are also used as animal feed, and raw materials for alcohol production, food and starch industries.
