Nutritional importance of cassava and perspectives as a staple food in Senegal. A review. Cassava is one of the main plants and starchy roots grown in the world. In 2008, the total yield of cassava in West Africa represented 29% of the world production. However, in many West African countries such as Senegal, cassava is not used as a staple food. In fact, the processing techniques used for cassava are poorly known. In addition, the chemical composition of local cassava varieties has not yet been determined, nor has their toxicity been assessed. In 2004, showing an aggressive agricultural policy and revived interest, the Senegalese government launched a major program for intensifying the production of cassava for food security purposes. Cass...