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Ohimain et al

Greener Journal of  Environment Management and Public Safety Vol. 2 (1), pp.051-059, January 2013

ISSN: 2354-2276

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 112712294

Biowastes Generation by Small Scale Cassava Processing Centres in Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

*Elijah I. Ohimain, Daniel I. Silas-Olu, and Joy T. Zipamoh

Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: eohimain @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

In Nigeria, about 70% of harvested cassava tubers are processed into gari, a toasted granule. Gari production in Nigeria is dominated by smallholders who use simple implements for cassava processing. Nigeria is the largest cassava producing nation in the world. It is suspected that significant amounts of wastes are generated during cassava processing. Hence, the study was designed to assess the amount of cassava processing wastes generated during the traditional processing of cassava to gari. Field study was embarked upon in December 2010. Triplicate samples were measured in eleven cassava processing centres in Wilberforce Island. Results show that for a given unit of raw cassava, gari yield is about 34% while generating 30%, 19.8% and 16.2% of solid, gaseous and liquid wastes respectively. The environmental impacts of cassava processing wastes were discussed. We therefore conclude that the traditional processing of cassava to gari generates several waste streams that could be converted to other useful products to prevent environmental impacts.

Key words: Biowastes, cassava processing, environmental impacts, gari, smallholder, waste streams.

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Journal Name : citation_journal : Greener Journal of  Environment Management and Public Safety 

Publication Status/Date : usp_status_date : January 2013