A leading agribusiness and subsidiary of Cavista Holdings, Agbeyewa Farms yesterday, hosted renowned Brazilian cassava experts, Pascoal D’Andrea Filho and Liviston Teles Sena, on a technical visit to its large-scale cassava estates across Ipao, Gede, and Iyemero communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
The high-level visit comes shortly after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, where both countries deepened bilateral cooperation in agriculture, energy, and technology transfer.
During their tour, the Brazilian delegation—both veterans of large-scale cassava farming, processing, and mechanisation—commended Agbeyewa’s vision and scale.
“This is impressive. We came to Nigeria to meet Agbeyewa Farms, and it’s an incredible project. We have never seen so many cassavas planted in one extension area as we saw today—fields upon fields of cassava. It’s fantastic, and we must thank John for the vision and the courage to do something of this magnitude,” said Pascoal, commending Agbeyewa’s chairman, Niyi John Olajide.
“The future of cassava in Nigeria lies in replicating the revolution Agbeyewa is pioneering,” he added, urging increased support through partnerships, financing, and policy backing.
Speaking on the visit, Niyi John Olajide, chairman of Agbeyewa Farms and Cavista Holdings, said: “Nigeria can be a global leader in cassava production and processing. Partnerships like this accelerate our ability to bring in world-class expertise, technology, and practices that empower our farmers, strengthen our communities, and contribute to economic growth. This is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.”
On his part, Agbeyewa’s managing director/CEO, Oska Seyi Aiyeleso, described the visit as a vital platform for knowledge exchange:
“It is my pleasure to host our friends from Brazil, who are global leaders in cassava farming.
We have much to learn from their experience, and this engagement strengthens our vision to scale cassava production and deliver transformative impact across the value chain.”
Cassava is a versatile, gluten-free staple crop feeding hundreds of millions in Africa, Asia, and South America, while its starch and flour derivatives are used in food and industrial products across the world. As demand rises globally, Nigeria—already the world’s largest producer—holds enormous potential to transform cassava into a driver of food security, job creation, and export diversification.
