From South America to the World
Cassava’s journey began over 4,000 years ago in the Amazon basin of South America, where Indigenous people first cultivated it. It spread globally after the Columbian Exchange, becoming a vital crop in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Cassava thrived because it could grow in poor, drought-prone soils — environments where other crops failed.
Its resilience and high yield (up to 6 tons per hectare) make it one of the most efficient crops for feeding populations in arid regions. Nigeria, for example, now produces more cassava than Brazil, the plant’s native country.
