Pioneer national president of the Nigeria Cassava Processors and Marketers Association, HRH Eze Philip Ajomiwe, has said the country can meet the global demand for cassava but lacks the capacity.
The traditional ruler of Oriendu autonomous community in Umuahia North local government area of Abia State made the assertion while speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday at his palace yesterday.
He noted with dissatisfaction that despite being a leading global producer of the commodity, the country lags behind in the cassava value chain addition.
“Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia, which are among the minors are far ahead of Nigeria in value chain addition and this calls for great concern,” he said.
“The gaps cannot be filled by self-subsistence or smallholding farming system as obtained at present or else we’re going nowhere and will continue to run round in circles,” he added.
He argued that the only way out of both challenges is mechanised farming with active federal government support, encouragement, and provision of enabling condition.
“Through mechanised system,” he noted,” we will not only meet the demand, but also address the issue of food insecurity, youth unemployment, and other social issues.
“If the government gives cassava farming and other areas of agriculture the level of attention it is giving to the oil and gas industry, the economy will be far better off than it is now,” he said.
He added that he was very convinced of this because, cassava plant, like the palm tree, is all money right from its leaves, which serves as animal feed, the stem, through the root.”
