More importantly, hence the region is drought prone, growing cassava is one of the best options," said Dr Pheneas Ntawuruhunga, IITA Cassava Breeder, who carried some studies in that region in collaboration with the national program Consumed by more than 600 million people in the developing countries mostly for its high carbohydrate content, cassava is resistant to drought and tolerant of biotic and abiotic stresses such as low soil fertility.