17th August, 2012
The Federal Government has distributed 25,000 cassava sticks to crop farmers in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, as part of the national cassava value chain programme.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, flagged off the distribution of the cassava sticks to crop farmers at the Lagos State Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe.
The flag-off was the second in the series of the intervention under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme.
The Federal Government has earmarked N460 million for the implementation of the national cassava value chain programme aimed at maximizing cassava industrial potential in the country.
Lawal, described the intervention as a welcome development at the right time, saying; “This occasion is another effort of the state to revamp the agricultural sector with the Strategic Programme for Accelerated Agricultural Growth, SPAAG, which has the six “INS”, Incentives, Inputs, Innovation, Information, Infrastructure and Institutions, as its major thrust.
“The intervention will lead to investment opportunities that will ensure sustainable growth of agriculture and create more jobs in the state.”
He said that with various potential of cassava, it was necessary to increase the cassava yield beyond 12 tonnes per hectare that the state presently produce to more than 25 tonnes per hectare, and “that would make our production competitive with the other producing nations.”
The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, represented by Dr. Odeyemi Julius, a Regional Director, South West, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the exercise, which was done in collaboration with other states of the federation was aimed at enhancing the yield of various crops in which the nation has comparative advantage and ultimately their production.
He said: “N460 million has been earmarked for the implementation of the programme and attention is being given to the whole value chain of the various enterprises with cassava as a major focal point.”
Adeshina stated that the various transformation plans of the ministry are to stop all importation of agricultural produce that could be produced locally.
He disclosed that about N635 billion was spent on the importation of wheat into the country yearly.
“This present administration is poised to improve the efficiency of willing farmers towards enhancing food production as well as ensure food security.
“Importation is a challenge to the economy, food security, job creation and national security. Therefore, there is no going back on ensuring food security in the country.”
Speaking on behalf of cassava farmers, Evangelist Azeez Michael, expressed the readiness of farmers to rise up to the occasion by surpassing the cassava value chain, pleading for governments’ intervention in the provision funds and farm implements, such as tractors for better performance.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga