Ogun partners IFAD to boost cassava production for industries, export

As part of efforts to boost cassava production to meet industrial use and export, Ogun State government has finished a working agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government on massive cultivation, production and processing of the produce.

The working agreement was undertaken in line with Federal Government’s quest to wean the country of oil-based revenue and use the produce as one of non-oil alternatives for desired economic growth and development, hence, there is need for effective modalities that bring about immediate cultivation and production of cassava, majorly for industrial use.

Speaking at a recent cassava farmers and other stakeholders meeting held in Abeokuta, Yetunde Onanuga, Ogun State Deputy Governor, declared that the state considers cassava as one of produce that can change the rhythm of Nigerian economy for better, saying Ogun is in partnership with the IFAD and African Agricultural Technology Foundation as part of strategies to increase cassava production.

The deputy governor, who doubles as commissioner for rural development, noted that the state government had mobilised all local government and local council development areas to key into the programme by cultivating land for cassava production and processing, adding that ten contractors had already been distributed to them for massive land clearing and cultivation.

Represented by Dele Olugbebi, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, said that the target was to use the cassava produce as panacea to African economic challenges and woes, explaining that grassroots development, robust value chain, market linkages and capacity building are the main areas of concentration for wealth creation and jobs opportunities.

She however stated that government is aware of challenges faced by farmers and is working towards ensuring lasting solutions to various impediments that impede smooth agricultural production, processing and distribution as over 171 rural roads and 25 semi-urban roads are currently undergoing construction across the state, adding that 20 bulldozers had newly been procured for the Ministry on Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Also speaking, Soji Akinsola of Federal Ministry Agriculture, maintained that the Federal Government provides enabling environment for agriculture to thrive in Nigeria as 25 tractors were sent to Ogun state in a year, just as he added that the Federal Government also had subsidized seeds, seedlings, pesticide, chemicals and equipment for farmers.

Akinbode Adeneye, chairman, Nigerian Cassava Growers Association, Ogun State Chapter, stated that farmers and youths are ready to take up and invest in cassava production as serious business, but “this can only be achieved through mechanization.”

He however, called on government at every level of governance, “to come up with policies that could make condition of land acquisition for agricultural purpose easier, facilitate soft loans, mop up excess produce in time of glut as these will boost cassava production, processing and distribution.

 

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta