Question

The staple tuber crop consumed in Africa is -

• A. Potato
• B. Radish
• C. Cassava
• D. Yam

Hint:

Raw cassava roots contain cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin), which can release toxic hydrogen cyanide if not processed correctly.
Traditional African processing methods—such as grating, fermenting, and sun-drying (to make 'garri' or 'fufu')—are essential to detoxify the roots before consumption.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Root and tuber crops serve as primary dietary staples in tropical and subtropical regions due to their high starch content and resilience to drought and poor soil conditions.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Cassava (Manihot esculenta, also known as manioc or yuca) is the most extensively cultivated and consumed staple root/tuber crop in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It serves as the primary dietary source of carbohydrates for over 500 million people in Africa.
- While Yam (Dioscorea species) is also a major staple crop in West Africa, Cassava has a much wider cultivation footprint and total consumption volume across the African continent due to its extreme drought tolerance.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The dominant staple tuber/root crop consumed in Africa is Cassava, which corresponds to option (C).