Cassava, specially as flour, represents one of the most important sources of income for farmers in the state of Ceara. The irregularity of precipitation , characteristicly of that region, gives rise to oscillations in cassava production, influencing the price of cassava flour and, consequently, farmers' incomes. Besides, the low quality of the product and low processing technology, contribute to the establishment of commercialization systems into which the farmers usually sell their products for prices lower than production costs. Based on the above considerations, the agencies of research and extension started a program aimed at the establishment of alternative markets for cassava products, that enabled the farmers to sell cassava products other than flour. The alternative market identified was the dry cassava chips for animal feeding.
Brazil is one of the largest beef producers in the world.
Beef and pig production is lower in North and Northeast areas than in the rest of the country. Beef and pig production remained relatively stable over the 1980-90 period. On the other hand, poultry meat presented a very dynamic increase during the same period. Up to the 1960's, the animal feed industry in Brazil was relatively small in scale and it was directed mainly to dairy cattle. In the early sixties, the use of balanced feed rations for pig production started to grow, stimulating a fast development of the animal feed industry.