FG floats scheme to boost cassava production

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has said that it has concluded plans to revive the moribund Garri Processing Factory in Alapoti Village in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The ministry, in a statement, declared that the move was in recognition of the agricultural potential of the community, which is the second-largest farm settlement in Ogun State, and a key producer within the cassava value chain in South-West Nigeria.

According to the ministry, the intervention is deemed necessary because the community has immense potential to be a major supply source of cassava produce to Lagos, and the broader South-West region and other parts of Nigeria.

The traditional ruler of the town, Mattew Oluwaloni, thanked the ministry for the initiative, which he described as an answered prayer for the village.

He further highlighted the major challenges and impediments to the economic livelihood of the community, which include the long-standing reliance on manual and peasant methods for cassava processing due to the absence of a functional mechanised garri processing facility.

The limitation, according to the traditional ruler, has significantly hindered the community’s capacity to meet the high demand for staple food across major markets in the area and the southwest in general.

He also stated that the access road to the village had been in a deplorable condition for some years, posing serious challenges in sourcing raw materials and accessing markets for their products.

Responding to those challenges, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, said no effort should be spared towards giving necessary assistance to intervene in the community by establishing a modern cassava processing plant in the village.

She said, “We are dedicated to assisting in building a befitting cassava processing plant here in this community, including the provision of grants and support through cooperative groups, to enhance production capacity.”