Cassava can generate N8.5trn yearly -NCGA president

Segun Adewumi, national president of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), has called on the government at all levels to invest massively in agriculture, especially in cassava production, which is capable of generating about N8.5trillion annually to the nations revenue.

He lamented the neglect of agriculture and the dwindling revenue of the federal government which can be spore up if the government focuses on agriculture and cassava in particular where the nation has comparative advantage.

According to him, cassava farmers in the country have put Nigeria on the world map as the largest producer of cassava in the world placing the Caribbean’s and Brazil in 2nd and 3rd position respectively.

The national president, who was represented by Augustine Oqua, chairman, NCGA Cross River State chapter, disclosed this at a two day stakeholder’s workshop on ‘Business Enhancement Initiative’ (Cassava Cluster Scheme in collaboration with Unicem a member of Larfargeholcim Associates, Larfarge Africa Plc for its host communities).

“We are currently in talks with e-debit, a UK financial institution to set up an ethanol refinery and co- generation power plant in the country. The project is being undertaking under the auspices of the emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) the body sponsoring the refinery project with  Union Bank of Nigeria Plc providing N2.5billion loan facility for land clearing and cultivation for each of the participating states” the president said.

Adewumi stated that the discussions are at advanced stage with Brazilian experts and industrialists to establish cassava related cottage for both medium and large scale industries to process 60,000HA of farmland for industrial starch in ten states in the country.

Also, the United Cement Company Nigerian Limited (Unicem) an associate of Lafarge Africa Plc and member of the LafargeHolcim group, launched a community Business Enhancement Initiative tagged “ Cassava cluster Scheme “ This initiative which will complement the small holding farming. This is part of the corporate social responsibilities of the organisation, aimed at contributing to the socio-economic growth of its host communities and the economy of cross river state and Nigeria at large.

The Scheme aims to equipped participants with agricultural best practice, in line with international standards, which will culminate in the use of modern technologies for high yields, quality assurance, improved processing methods, and information on market linkages and export.   

Inyang Bassey, state relation manager, Unicem  said, “ We believe that this initiative will create the much needed employment for members of our host communities, support government diversification drive and promote cassava value chain in the state.” 

Bassey said the two day workshop organised by Unicem in partnership. With the Notragolio Nigeria Limited is to prepare the host community leaders and their cooperative societies for this scheme on a pilot basis.

“For now we are focusing on three local governmet areas of Akpabuyo, Akamkpa, and Calabar Municipality, who are within our operations. These LGAs have cooperatives societies who would drive the scheme for the benefits of the entire community.

“This event I must say could not have come at a better time than now. It is even more crucial as all attention in the country now is gravitating towards the President Mohammadu Buhari change agenda of shifting the nation’s over dependence on oil to the dependable agricultural production, that made Nigeria thick in the 60,s and early 70’s,” Rosemary Achibong, Cross River State Commissioner for Information said in her goodwill message.

MIKE ABANG

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