A boy fries cassava grains in a tray on a locally made firewood stove in Ikarama village on the outskirts of the Bayelsa state capital, Yenagoa, in Nigeria's delta region October 8, 2015. Tensions are building in the swampland of the Niger Delta as an amnesty that aimed to bring stability to Nigeria's volatile southern region is due to expire at the end of the year. While the region's towns and cities are mostly calm, local residents say kidnappings and armed robberies are on the increase in the mangrove swamps, where most oil wells are located. Former military ruler and Muslim northerner President Muhammadu Buhari said in his inauguration speech in May that he might "streamline" the amnesty, implemented in 2009 by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian like most of the Delta population. The deal aimed to pacify militants fighting for a greater share of oil revenues in Africa's biggest crude producer. At risk are payouts worth $300 million a year to 30,000 youths, money designed to discourage them from blowing up pipelines or kidnapping oil workers in a region where basic services are almost non-existent. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye PICTURE 9 OF 24 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "TENSIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA". SEARCH " DELTA TENSION" FOR ALL IMAGES. 

Women peel cassava pods outside a local kitchen in Yeneka village on the outskirts of the Bayelsa state capital, Yenagoa, in Nigeria's delta region October 8, 2015. Tensions are building in the swampland of the Niger Delta as an amnesty that aimed to bring stability to Nigeria's volatile southern region is due to expire at the end of the year. While the region's towns and cities are mostly calm, local residents say kidnappings and armed robberies are on the increase in the mangrove swamps, where most oil wells are located. Former military ruler and Muslim northerner President Muhammadu Buhari said in his inauguration speech in May that he might "streamline" the amnesty, implemented in 2009 by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian like most of the Delta population. The deal aimed to pacify militants fighting for a greater share of oil revenues in Africa's biggest crude producer. At risk are payouts worth $300 million a year to 30,000 youths, money designed to discourage them from blowing up pipelines or kidnapping oil workers in a region where basic services are almost non-existent. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye PICTURE 10 OF 24 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "TENSIONS IN THE NIGER DELTA". SEARCH "DELTA TENSION" FOR ALL IMAGES.

Deep-fried yucas are served at a McDonald's restaurant in Caracas January 6, 2015. Venezuelan fast-food lovers are mourning the disappearance of McDonald's golden staple: the french fry. A recent shortage at the U.S. fast food chain comes as socialist Venezuela grapples with shortfalls of basic goods ranging from medicines to flour due to strict currency controls that stymie imports. McDonald's restaurants are coping by replacing the spuds with salad or local fare such as fried yuca or "arepa" corn pancakes - but Golden Arches fans are none too happy about the new meal. REUTERS/Jorge Silva (VENEZUELA - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS FOOD) 

Guarani Ava Indian children have a lunch of peanuts and chica, a drink made from cassava, at their home on the edge of their ancestral land they call Tekoha Yvoh'y, where they are living while awaiting a court's decision on the eviction of farmers occupying the land, in Guaira, Parana state, near the border with Paraguay, August 2, 2013. The Guarani tribe is immersed in a bloody conflict with farmers over possession of their ancestral land that has characteristics of a territorial war, in spite of Brazil's indigenous policy being considered one of the most progressive in the world. The conflict highlights the risks being run by an agricultural superpower whose leftist government is trying to sort out centuries of ethnic disputes over ownership of the land from which much of the nation's wealth sprouts. Picture taken August 2, 2013. REUTERS/Lunae Parracho (BRAZIL - Tags: POLITICS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST FOOD)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 21 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'BRAZIL'S ANCESTRAL LAND WAR'. TO FIND ALL IMAGES SEARCH 'GUARANI TRIBE' 

A woman works on cassava in Soko, around 7 km (4.3 miles) away from the border with Ghana July 3, 2013. REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon (IVORY COAST - Tags: SOCIETY FOOD) 

A girl cuts cassava for drying at the Rovieng District in Preah Vihear province February 10, 2013. The remote district of Rovieng was once a battleground between Cambodian government troops and Pol Pot's genocidal Khmer Rouge. Unexploded bombs still lurk in its fields and forests. So does something more desirable - iron ore - and supposedly in such huge quantities two Chinese companies have an $11-billion plan to extract it. Their proposal - a steel plant and seaport linked by a 404-km (251-mile) railroad - has alarmed environmentalists, mystified mining and transport experts, and bolstered Cambodia's reputation as an agent for Chinese expansionism in a region where the United States is increasingly competing for influence. Picture taken February 10, 2013. To match Insight CAMBODIA-CHINA/ REUTERS/Samrang Pring (CAMBODIA - Tags: SOCIETY FOOD BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A boy sells Cassava leaves at a market in the Democratic Republic of Congo town of Bunagana, an area under the control of M23 rebels fighting government forces, in eastern Congo, near the border of Uganda October 19, 2012. REUTERS/James Akena (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - Tags: SOCIETY CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) 

Farmers harvest cassava on a field in Hoa Binh province, outside Hanoi February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: AGRICULTURE COMMODITIES EMPLOYMENT) 

A farmer dries cassava while harvesting on a field in Hoa Binh province, outside Hanoi February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: BUSINESS AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT) 

Farmers cut cassava to dry while harvesting on a field in Hoa Binh province, outside Hanoi February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: BUSINESS AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT) 

Farmers cut cassava to dry while harvesting on a field in Hoa Binh province, outside Hanoi February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: BUSINESS AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT) 

Farmers cut cassava to dry during harvest season in Hoa Binh province, outside Hanoi February 24, 2012. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: BUSINESS AGRICULTURE EMPLOYMENT) 

A farmer pulls out yuca roots from his field on the outskirts of Havana August 20, 2011. Yuca, also called cassava and manioc, is a starchy tuberous root very rich in carbohydrates and one of the food staples in Cuba. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CUBA - Tags: AGRICULTURE SOCIETY) 

A farmer pulls out yuca roots from his field on the outskirts of Havana August 20, 2011. Yuca, also called cassava and manioc, is a starchy tuberous root very rich in carbohydrates and one of the food staples in Cuba. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CUBA - Tags: AGRICULTURE SOCIETY) 

A farmer pulls out yuca roots from his field on the outskirts of Havana August 20, 2011. Yuca, also called cassava and manioc, is a starchy tuberous root very rich in carbohydrates and one of the food staples in Cuba. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CUBA - Tags: SOCIETY AGRICULTURE BUSINESS) 

Residents pack mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

Residents pack mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

A man transports mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, for sale at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

A woman carries dried mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, back home after drying at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

Residents transport mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, back home after drying at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

Residents transport mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, back home after drying at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD SOCIETY) 

A man throws mien, or vermicelli made of cassava, on the ground after drying, at Huu Hoa village outside Hanoi April 19, 2011. Mien is used in several popular dishes containing chicken, beef, pork or seafood. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: FOOD BUSINESS SOCIETY) 

Women work in a cassava grinding mill in the Oru-ijebu community, southwestern Nigeria, November 19, 2009. Nigeria is the world's largest cassava producer, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA AGRICULTURE SOCIETY) 

Women work in a cassava grinding mill in the Oru-ijebu community, southwestern Nigeria, November 19, 2009. Nigeria is the world's largest cassava producer, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA AGRICULTURE SOCIETY) 

Women work in a cassava grinding mill in the Oru-ijebu community, southwestern Nigeria, November 19, 2009. Nigeria is the world's largest cassava producer, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA AGRICULTURE SOCIETY) 

A scientist displays a young cassava plant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) laboratories in Seibersdorf, some 50 kilometres (some 31 miles) southeast of Vienna, October 14, 2009. Better varieties of under-utilized food and industrial crops are developed by use of modern biotechnologies and radioactive mutation at the Plant Breeding Unit of the IAEA. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA SCI TECH) 

A laboratory assistant displays a young cassava plant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) laboratories in Seibersdorf, some 50 kilometres (some 31 miles) southeast of Vienna, October 14, 2009. Better varieties of under-utilized food and industrial crops are developed by use of modern biotechnologies and radioactive mutation at the Plant Breeding Unit of the IAEA.
REUTERS/Herwig Prammer (AUSTRIA SCI TECH) 

Former rebels gather cassava for the preparation of attieke at a factory in the rebels stronghold of Bouake May 27,2009. Ten female ex-rebels formed an association called "Soutra" (help) after their demobilisation and sell attieke, a basic food in the Ivory Coast which is made with cassava, in the city of Bouake and the neighbouring country of Burkina Faso. They make approximately $800 a month from sales and hope to expand their business to Europe. REUTERS/Luc Gnago (IVORY COAST SOCIETY FOOD) 

Former rebels cut cassava for the preparation of attieke at a factory in the rebels stronghold of Bouake May 27,2009. Ten female ex-rebels formed an association called "Soutra" (help) after their demobilisation and sell attieke, a basic food in the Ivory Coast which is made with cassava, in the city of Bouake and the neighbouring country of Burkina Faso. They make approximately $800 a month from sales and hope to expand their business to Europe. REUTERS/Luc Gnago (IVORY COAST SOCIETY FOOD) 

A farm worker collects cassava at the expropriated and now redistributed farm of El Charcote in the central state of Cojedes March 25, 2009. Formerly owned by British meat producer Vestey, the El Charcote farm, a 32,000-acre (13,000-hectare) property, was one of the first properties targeted by the government of President Hugo Chavez in 2005 under a law allowing the state to seize farms judged as idle or without proper deeds. Chavez has put food and farms at the center of his socialist revolution, tightening the government's grip on supplies. Picture taken March 25, 2009.
REUTERS/Jorge Silva (VENEZUELA POLITICS AGRICULTURE BUSINESS) 

A man cuts cassava root on a farm in Pailin, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold, in western Cambodia's Battambang province February 14, 2009. On February 17 Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal will try the first of five Khmer Rouge leaders blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million people in the 1970s. REUTERS/Adrees Latif (CAMBODIA) 

Workers grind cassava flour with the help of a cow at a traditional mill in the village of Srandakan in Bandul district in Central Java June 19, 2007. Cassava flour is the main ingredient in locally made noodles. Picture taken June 19, 2007. REUTERS/Dwi Oblo (INDONESIA) 

A worker processes noodles made from cassava flour in a traditional mill in the village of Srandakan in Bantul district in Central Java, June 19, 2007. Cassava flour is the main ingredient in locally made noodles. REUTERS/Dwi Oblo (INDONESIA) 

A worker dries noodles made from cassava flour at a traditional mill in the village of Srandakan in Bantul district in Central Java June 19, 2007. Cassava flour is the main ingredient in locally made noodles. REUTERS/Dwi Oblo (INDONESIA) 

A worker carries cassava flour during the drying process at a cookie factory in Bogor December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA) 

A worker carries cassava flour during the drying process at a cookie factory in Bogor December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA) 

A worker carries cassava flour during the drying process at a cookie factory in Bogor December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA) 

A worker carries cassava flour during the drying process at a cookie factory in Bogor December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA) 

A worker holds a cassava during the drying process at a cookie factory in Bogor December 20, 2006. REUTERS/Beawiharta (INDONESIA) 

Glory Bassey, a cook, peels cassava roots outside her house at a slum settlement in Lagos, Nigeria June 10, 2006. Set under a towering electricity pylon on the shore of Lagos lagoon, the dilapidated, soot-stained corrugated iron sheds where Bassey and her workmates peel, soak and boil the hard, white, cassava root have no power or clean water. Picture taken June 10, 2006. To match feature WITNESS-NIGERIA REUTERS/George Esiri 

A Filipino farmer holds a fresh cassava root in a remote area in San Jose, Bohol province, central Philippines March 11, 2005. About 26 school children died and close to 80 remained in hospitals after eating fried cassava balls during a snack break in school. Philippine officials are investigating the cause of the food poisoning. 

A Filipino farmer holds a fresh cassava root in a remote area in San Jose, Bohol province in central Philippines. A Filipino farmer holds a fresh cassava root in a remote area in San Jose, Bohol province, central Philippines March 11, 2005. About 26 school children died and close to 80 remained in hospitals after eating fried cassava balls during a snack break in school. Philippine officials are investigating the cause of the food poisoning. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco 

An Indonesian villager dries cassavas in Yogyakarta in Indonesia's central Java September 30. Many Indonesian villagers have resorted to alternative food [such as sweet potato and corn as prices of essentials such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and milk have soared]. The economic crisis has seen the rupiah fall more than 80 percent against the U.S dollar since last year. 

An Indonesian villager dries cassavas in Yogyakarta in Indonesia's central Java September 30. Many Indonesian villagers have resorted to alternative food such as sweet potato and corn as prices of essentials such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and milk have soared. The economic crisis has seen the rupiah fall more than 80 percent against the U.S dollar since last year.

EN/TAN/ME 

A woman in Indonesia's Surabaya chops cassava, which is increasingly being used as a substitute for rice as the price of Indonesia's staple food spirals upwards. Increasing hunger, looting and rioting has been reported in several areas of Indonesia as food prices increase. Picture taken 10SEP98.

AW/KK/KC