Expected economic benefits of meeting nutritional needs through biofortified cassava in Nigeria and Kenya

Abigail Nguema, George Norton, Martin Fregene, Richard Sayre and Mark Manary

African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2011, vol. 06, issue 01, 17

Abstract: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are a significant health problem in much of the developing world, causing illness, disability, mortality and reduced productivity. Biofortification of staple food crops has been proposed as a cost-effective solution. This paper calculates disabilityadjusted life years (DALYs) and economic surplus in order to analyze the potential health and economic benefits of cassava varieties developed to reduce vitamin A and iron deficiency in Nigeria and Kenya. Potential benefits from biofortification with vitamin A alone are estimated at $1,100 to $1,400 million in Nigeria and $67 to $81 million in Kenya, and from biofortification with both vitamin A and iron at $1,200 to $1,600 million in Nigeria and $105 to $110 million in Kenya. Costs per DALY saved are estimated at $4 to $6 for Nigeria, which compares very favorably with the costs for alternative methods such as fortification and supplementation. The estimated cost per DALY saved for Kenya is $56 to $87, which is similar to that for fortification and supplementation.

Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Food Security and Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:afjare:156956

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.156956

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