Stakeholders brainstorm on improved garri revolution in Nigeria
NAN-AE-2
Garri
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Oct.4, 2016 (NAN) Local and international stakeholders in agriculture are brainstorming at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, on roadmap to efficient garri production in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme titled ‘garri revolution workshop roadmap to an efficient and equitable garri processing system’, began on Tuesday and would end on Oct. 6.
The workshop featured representatives from Global Cassava Partnership, IITA, Natural Resources Institute, Research Programme on Roots, Tubers and Banana (RTB), among others.
The Director of Research Programme on RTB, Dr Graham Thiele, said the purpose of the workshop was to identify strategies to greatly improve garri processing in quantity, quality and livelihood of those involved.
He said it would build on the process of results based management led by RTB with IITA and other partners for small and medium scale cassava processing in Nigeria.
“The objectives of the workshop are to identify key trends in demand for garri, describe current state of knowledge and critical gaps in garri processing.
“Prepare draft roadmap for next steps to improve gari processing and livelihoods, identify elements of a multi-institutional R&D project to put the roadmap at work in the real world.
“We need to bring together a lot of people to brainstorm on how to improve garri production; we have seen a lot of inefficiencies and wastage in the course of the production.
“We want to see how we can improve the technology in terms of garri frying, milling, etc and enhance them.
“We saw the need to improve the hygiene, environment, safety and make cassava wastes, peels to wealth, because the peels can be used for high quality livestock feed,” Thiele said.
He further emphasised that the strategy for an efficient and equitable garri processing system would also be extended to other countries, especially in Africa. (NAN)
CC/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha