By Pastor Gbenga Olagunju-Nigeria
Kaduna,
Nigeria
Introduction
The federal government of Nigeria has priority toward self-sufficiency in
agricultural production and for export to earn more foreign exchange for the
country.
Agricultural sector is an engine room for sustainable growth of Nigeria
economics.
It is hoped that through the adoption of new programme, national special
programme for food security (nspfs) and the presidential initiative, focusing on
cassava, rice, tree crops and other commodities-Nigeria farmers would now have
value for their effort.
The small holder cassava producer and their relevance is the major target of the
project. Nigeria is one of the leading producers of cassava in the world.
Dividends of cassava production to Nigeria farmers, would be realized by small
holder initiative on cassava improvement and developments which is what I refer
to as a goldmine to cassava farmer. Cassava is now referred to in Nigeria as a
magic crop because of its ability to be processed or used in many ways to the
benefit of mankind.
Government support
To assist the
farmers to optimize production and ensure sustainability, the federal government
is currently encouraging formation of farmers associations to benefit from the
large scale cassava production for industrial utilization and for export.
The international institute of tropical agriculture (IITA) have also been
mandated by the Government to support farmers with improved cassava planting
materials and according to Taye Babaleye, Head of Public Affairs Unit as
published in the National Daily said that about 40 new varieties have
been developed by IITA for these purposes. These new varieties/genotypes will be
used to mitigate the impact of cassava mosaic disease and prevent its spread
throughout Nigeria.
These genotypes will also replace susceptible varieties currently grown in the
country and double the present cassava yields, provide raw materials, create
employment for Nigerians, earn more money through export of cassava products and
also improve rural livelihood.
One National Daily also reported that the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Shell Petroleum Development Company and IITA have
signed an agreement to support the Cassava Enterprises Development Project (CEDP).
This is a
presidential initiative funded by IITA, the Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger
Delta Development Commission, major oil producing companies and 12 states in
southern Nigeria. It is aimed at boosting agricultural production toward self
sufficiency in food production, for industrial utilization and for export to
earn foreign exchange for the country.
There is also a study tour by presidential committees on cassava export to many
countries including Thailand and Brazil who are major cassava exporter.
It is worth noting that Nigeria has also entered trade agreements with China, South Africa and Botswana as targets for her cassava export.
According to Chief (Mrs.) G.M Sasore, MD, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Export Matters, Nigeria produces 120,000 tons of cassava annually out of which 5,000 tons have been billed for export to China. From this the country hopes to realize 5 billion Naira (about 38 million dollars) from cassava export.
Local demand is also competing with cassava export. Take for example the Federal Government policy on 10 percent composite on cassava flour to be added to wheat flour in bread making in Nigeria. This alone has placed cassava demand very high locally.
Another daily paper reported in April 2005 that Nigeria has, through its recent policy on cassava, started massive export of about 500 tons of cassava chips to China. Some people say some of our locally made foods from cassava, especially Garri, are no longer a poor man’s food.
Also speaking
recently in a seminar on "Emerging opportunities in the Globalmarkets" organized
by the Export Gazette Magazine in Lagos a team of scientists from
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, advised cassava
farmers not to limit themselves to export of cassava chips alone but also to
avail themselves to several opportunities and potentials in cassava and
diversify to other productive areas such as cassava leaves for animal feeds,
glucose syrup, Ethanol, modified starches for textile and paper industries,
adhesives and several pharmaceutical products.
In a paper jointly presented by Drs. Richardson, Okechukwu, Lateef Sanni, Chuma
Ezedinma and Mr. Pual Ilona, the scientists say that Nigeria exporters should
concentrate on products where Nigeria cassava has relative advantages. According
to them premium price was being offered at domestic markets to meet the demand
for cassava starch, 130,000 tons per annum cassava starch, 200,000 tons per year
high quality cassava flour, 80 million liters per year ethanol.
Private Sector Support
With the recent development in cassava revolution that is imminent a Brazilian Conaconerate, Halotel Fadel did feasibility studies in year 2003 to establish cassava based industry to utilize about 300 tons of casava per day.
Another company, Nigeria Allied Atlantic, makers of alcoholic drinks in Lagos are interested in producing about 90million liters of alcohol annually. They would require about 140 tons of dry cassava chips or 560 tons of fresh tubers per day in addition to what is needed to be processed to human consumption in local preference.
Starch from cassava has been used as raw material in a host of industries. State and local governments in Nigeria have also been cooperative and associated with presidential initiative on cassava by planting a large acreage of land.
This is in anticipation that local and international investors will take advantage of potentials in cassava and invest cassava -based industry in their state/locality. They believe this would greatly reduce the rate of unemployment in our society.
One state in
Nigeria which has taken a giant stride in cassava development and its
utilization is Osun. The state commissioner of agriculture, in a statement in
Osogbo, the state capital, said that the state has already planted 100 hectares
of land of cassava this planting season alone, and is now waiting for investors
to come in for the resources provided for them in the state
The National Agricultural Research System (NARS) and the Nigeria Cassava Grower
Association, is also in high need of cassava for the research and industrial
uses.
In 2003 a statement from U.S consulate in Lagos stated that the Cassava
Enterprises Development Project (CEDP) target about 300,000 farmers households
to promote greater income to cassava farmers in 11 states of Nigeria.
The aim is
to improve technology transfer and to develop cassava process which in turn
will help to identify potential commercial market for cassava. It is also
expected to develop commercial market such as ethanol production, livestock
feed, in addition to its potential as staple food.
Oyo state farmers where IITA is located has been mandated to monitor
distribution of planting materials have been laughing their way to the bank from
the money they realize from the sale of planting materials.
They improve cutting stems and the farmers are now happy for having value for their labor. They are now happy that they make double money as they sell both the improved stems and the tuber to customers who need this to improve stems for multiplication of cassava revolution imminent in Nigeria.
It is now a good time for farmers to exploit this new area to make more money by multiplying improved cassava stem in different parts of the country. This view was expressed by Mr. Paul Ilona an agricultural expert and international trail manager of IITA in one of his papers presented at a seminar in Lagos.
Ilona said
he is even looking for a time when farmers or interested buyers will just walk
to a supermarket, or any agricultural deport and ask for package of improved
planting materials, stems of his or her choice and it would be supplied to
him/her on demand.
However, the reaction or feedback from few members of the public I interviewed
on the presidential initiative on cassava was that the initiative is a very good
one and they appreciate it. But they warned that as things used to be in
Nigeria, start up and end abruptly.
One farmer
says he prays for the president and his team for sustainability of the project.
He hopes we should not try not to export at low price and then suffer
insufficient supplies, which can lead to hunger in our country. Others think it
is a positive development for Nigeria but it would be great if the federal
government can educate us to the grassroots level on how to engage on export of
cassava as this may even reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in our
country.
It is worthy to note here however that what Nigeria expects most through the
presidential initiative on cassava is faithful implementation of aims and
objectives of the program. It is hoped that public enterprises and institutions
alike would strike the appropriate cord in agriculture and produce the desired
effects and subsequent realization of the development expectations,
long-ascribed to the agricultural industry.
Such expectation as self-sufficiency in domestic food requirements, adequate local production of agro-industrial raw materials, foreign exchange earnings through exports are assumed achievable in the long run through a careful implementation of the terms and prescriptions of National Special Programme for Food Security (NSPFS) and the presidential initiative, focusing on cassava, rice, tree crops and other commodities.
The practice whereby only 10 percent of Nigeria Foreign exchange earnings come from the non-oil sector cannot sustain us again.
Diversification of our economy and agricultural revolution is our best-bet
through the public-private partnership initiative aimed at economically
developing the capacity of small- holder farmers to enable them have value for
their labor and raise their standard of living and more importantly create more
employment in our society.