20 tons of cassava planned to strengthen food security

7 tons of cassava were already harvested on Thursday, July 24, from a one-hectare plot in Fomboni. This harvest is the result of six months of work by the Wami Ndekina cooperative and its manager, agricultural entrepreneur Fayçal Bianrif.

The cooperative currently operates 14 plots of land on the island. Another hectare remains to be harvested, with an estimated 12.2 tons of cassava and 35,974 mini-cuttings. In total, total production could reach approximately 20 tons of cassava and 58,974 mini-cuttings.

This project is part of the Separef program, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the FAO. The main objective is to structure a sustainable cassava seed sector, while strengthening food security in the Comoros.

The produce is being sold at the Fomboni center. This symbolic location was chosen to mark the Comoros’ 50th anniversary of independence. A kilo of cassava is being sold there for 400 francs (USD 0.94) instead of the usual price of 500 francs, to ensure that all families can benefit.

Many locals have come to make their purchases. According to one expert, “this harvest season demonstrates the efforts made to promote modern, accessible agriculture geared toward food self-sufficiency. The approach taken by the Wami Ndekina cooperative shows that a well-organized local agricultural model can contribute to the country’s development.”