Dissertation Research: Productivity and Socio-Economic Uses of Manioc as Food by Colombian Indians

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9408739 Dufour This research involves a graduate student in anthropology from the University of Colorado studying how Colombian Indians use different varieties of manioc. This food plant is a staple in many tropical places, and grows in a "bitter" (i.e., poisonous) and "sweet" variety. The bitter varieties are often planted even though they require a long procedure of food processing in order to extract the poisons. The student will study the productivity of the plants, their disease resistance, how the people treat them and why they prefer some varieties to others, using a series of techniques including chemical analysis of the plants and cognitive tests of the farmer's perceptions of differences in the plants. Yields and damages to roots will be measured for sweet and bitter manioc in 20 family gardens and one control garden. This research will enhance our understanding of human adaptation to tropical rain forests, particularly to black water river systems. The knowledge to be gained will be valuable for agricultural planners and economic development advisers in all tropical areas where manioc is an important food plant.