An ex post economic evaluation of a project to reduce the hydrogen cyanide potential in cassava cultivars in Africa

Abstract

This paper discusses an economic assessment of a research project, which added to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's cassava germplasm bank cultivars low in hydrogen cyanide potential. The human capital approach is used to estimate human health benefits from the introduction of low cyanide cassava varieties in Africa. The adoption of these cultivars is likely to reduce the incidence of konzo and tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) in Africa. A conservative estimate of the monetary value of the associated human health benefits, over a 30-year period is about $A0.9 million. Taking into account the research costs, this translates into an internal rate of return of about 12.8%.