Ogun State - Cassava Farmers In Ogun Assured Of Ready Market

[OgunState]

 Cassava farmers in Ogun State need not entertain any fear of how and where to sell their products as there is a large presence of industrial concerns in the State which need cassava for their production.     For this reason, they have been called upon to increase their farm sizes and plant more of improved higher yielding, pest and disease resistant and early-maturing cassava varieties to take advantage of the opportunity abound.     Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun gave this assurance and challenge at the Agro-Service Corporation’s Farm Service Centre in Ijebu-Ife during the 2013 Roll-Out of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) for cassava.     Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu, Mrs. Sokefun disclosed that with over 50 percent of total installed cassava processing companies in Nigeria located in the State, farmers need not worry about the possibilities of cassava glut.     “It is our belief that Ogun State is moving in the right direction in diversifying revenue generation and achieving ultimate financial buoyancy and economic independence, with the present emphasis on agricultural production and productivity especially in the cassava sub-sector,” she said.     Sokefun explained that under the GES Roll-Out for cassava, farmers registered under the National Farmers’ Data Base will each get two bags of fertilizers 12-12-17 plus 2Mg at 50 percent subsidy with the difference in cost paid by both the Federal and State Governments at 25 percent, while 15 bundles of improved variety cassava stem would be given to them at no cost.     The Commissioner who highlighted various value chains of the crop to include High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), starch, sweeteners and ethanol enjoined the farmers to maximize the opportunity provided by the GES programme to ensure availability of raw materials for the use of existing processing factories and new ones that are soon to be installed in the State.     Earlier, the Chairman, Cassava Growers Association in the State, Mr. Sunday Soyoye solicited government’s assistance on loans for farmers at minimal interest rates to enhance their production. Mr. Soyoye added that if farmers are given necessary support, cassava has the potential of generating as much revenue as cocoa into government coffers.  

Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release