Osun cassava farmers demand more govt. financial support

The Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria (CGAN) has called for more financial support from the government in order to expand and increase cassava production in commercial quantity.

Mr Ganiyu Musefiu, the Chairman of the association in Osun, made the appeal on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Musefiu said cassava farmers could achieve maximum yield without support from the government, explaining that members in the state were merely practicing subsistence farming.

However, he noted the Federal Government was helping and encouraging cassava farmers through its ‘cassava flour project’ by providing them with grants in the form of provision of cassava stems, chemicals and tractors.

He said the advantage of the programme was that only practising farmers would benefit from the grant, but noted that it may not satisfy the desire of farmers who want to produce in commercial quantity.

According to the chairman the Federal Government provides N80,000 for a hectare while the farmer was expected repay N26,000 after harvest.

He said the facility was not significant to trigger expansion and boost cassava production, and therefore urged the government to do more since all farmers were not benefiting adequately from the grants.

Some farmers, he said, require more than what is made available.

NAN