(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/akinwunmi-adesina1-300x224.jpg) The Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina on 17 July, 2013 during the opening of the Staple Crop Processing Zone in Agbadu, Kabba in Kogi State has expressed Nigerian Government's resolve to create markets for farmers, in order to make the country the largest producer and processor of cassava in the world.
Akinwumi Adesina represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Adetunji Oredipe further said that the opening ceremony which was combined with the activities marking the 2013 Growth Enhancement Support in Agbadu was an indication of the commitment of the Nigerian Government as well as the Kogi State Government to the new infrastructural policy in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. "The staple crop processing project which is collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Kogi State Government covers an expanse of 250, 000 hectares of land provided by the Kogi State Government. The Federal Government undertook clearing of the land, provided all the inputs and planting needs as well as assistance in terms of technical oversight", he stated.
According to the Minister, the project is meant to support the planting of new varieties of cassava and provide modern machinery to make farming easy for youths in the area. He lamented that Nigeria as the largest producer of cassava in the world, with a total production of 40 million metric tonnes has contributed close to zero in terms of global value added to trade in cassava-based products.
To raise the level of production of cassava to meet competing needs, the Minister revealed that twenty four million stems of improved cassava varieties have been distributed free to farmers while an additional 65 million stems would be distributed in 2013-2014 for the cultivation of 21,000Ha of cassava.
Rating Kogi State as the second largest cassava producer in the country, he bided the farmers to increase their production, saying there would be constant markets for the product.
"In order to add value to cassava, the Government has introduced 20% inclusion of cassava flour in bread and exported 2.2 million metric tonnes of cassava chips to China in 2012. Agbadu has been used as a exhibition scheme. We are increasing the efficiency of production by bringing the best possible method and a Brazilian farmer has been invited to conduct the processes since Nigeria has a lot in common with Brazil in terms of land, soil and climate"; the Minister said.
Akinwumi indicated that the Agbadu Project would accommodate key processing industries responsible for the processing of cassava into starch and sweeteners to reduce the importation of these commodities.
While speaking on the Growth Enhancement Support (GES), Adesina noted that in the present year, the Ministry is improving on the cassava GES programme through a variety of support schemes introduced for different categories of farmers.
The Minister explained that Year 2013 promises better prospects for Nigeria's agriculture, saying Nigeria's President has agreed to consider the ministry's request for ten billion naira cassava fund to enable higher exploration in the cassava industry.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Kogi State's Commissioner for Agriculture, Olufemi Bolarinwa mentioned that the adoption of mechanised agriculture has attracted graduates from diverse fields into farming in search of self-reliance, thereby reducing unemployment. He noted that the State Government has provided large spaces in three senatorial districts to engage youths in agriculture.
The Cassava Value Chain Team leader, Martin Fregene, while briefing the press said that the Agbadu inauguration serves as fulfilment of some of the promises made by the Minister of Agriculture to Nigerians on imminent transformation of the agricultural sector; adding that the project is only the beginning of the process.
The 2013 GES plan was unfolded by the Minister with farm inputs comprising fifteen bundles of high yielding TG 419 cassava stems offered free to farmers.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
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