An expert in crop genetics, Dr. Paul Ilona, has given insight into why cassava had been chosen for bio-fortification with Vitamin A in Nigeria, highlighting the crop's easy accessibility to resource-poor farmers as a major reason.
Ilona, who spoke in a statement on how fast the Pro-Vitamin A cassava varieties are being accepted across Africa, said besides, other factors such as food preferences, the number of people consuming cassava and cassava-based products, and the size of the population of those in need of vitamin A were also considered in the selection of cassava and Nigeria as a pioneer country.

Source: http://www.ereporter.com.ng/index.php/national-news/item/1192-vitamin-a-bio-fortification-why-cassava-was-chosen