Cassava Production: Ogun Set to Empower Another 100 Farmers

Efforts of the Ogun State Government to increase cassava production has received yet another boost as it has secured a 50 hectare land at Imasai in Yewa North Local Government Area for the cultivation of hybrid cassava in partnership with a Kenyan based organisation, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)

 

It would be recalled that last October, the pilot stage of the State government/ AATF scheme partnership took off in Odogbolu Local Government Area where the hybrid was cultivated on a 20 hectare land and allocated to 50 farmers.

 

Speaking while conducting newsmen round the large expanse of Imasai land, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development, Mrs. Olayinka Kukoyi disclosed that the hybrid cassava sourced from Kenya would be planted on it, adding that at least 100 farmers in the community would be given allocation free of charge.

 

Kukoyi, who disclosed that planting would be done within next two weeks to meet up with the approaching raining season, added that the scheme would also empower the farmers, reduce manpower used and hard labour they go through during ploughing as a planter would do the planting.

 

“The initiative is to empower the farmers so that the hard labour they go through during ploughing would be reduced since a planter would do the planting, the hybrid cassava has a higher yielding capacity, it could generate 30 tonnes per hectare compared to the conventional system which produces just 15 tonnes “she affirmed.

 

Speaking on the mode of operations, Director for Extension Services in the State Agricultural Development Agency (OGADEP) Mrs. Taiwo Ayosanwo said the plots would be allocated to farmers living within the Imasai community, saying this was being done to ensure that the plantation is taken care of and the target set by the partners was achieved.

 

In a reaction, a buyer who later sells cassava to companies manufacturing ethanol, Alhaji Nojeem Onatade gave the thumbs up to the State government for the initiative, he assured that there would be no supply glut, saying he and others would be most willing to buy up the cassava expected to be produced massively.