NAN-AE-6
Cassava
By Benson Ezugwu
Calabar, June 16, 2017 (NAN) Dr Martina Ubi, Programme Manager, Cross River Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), says that the state produces 44 million metric tonnes of Cassava annually.
Ubi said this on Friday in Calabar during a presentation on `cassava value chain,’ at a one-day sensitisation workshop for FADAMA cassava farmers in the state.
She said that with the enormous potential, there was the need for the state to diversify into other uses of cassava.
“Cross River’s annual cassava production is 44 million metric tons and the Niger Delta region as a whole, produces 80 per cent of cassava in Nigeria.
“Therefore, it is imperative to think of how to diversify the uses of cassava to achieve optimal utilisation, ‘’ she said.
According to her, cassava can serve as basic pharmaceutical industries and also source for the production of bread, biscuits, Flour, Paint, ethanol and fructose for soft drinks.
She added that cassava can be grown anywhere but yields better when the right farming practices are applied before cultivation.
The manager assured that cassava farmers in the state would be trained on the best cassava cultivation practices.
According to her, these include land preparations; weed control; farm mechanisation; observance of hygienic practices during cassava processing and avoidance of indiscriminate use of Agro Chemicals.
She said that indiscriminate use of agro chemicals could cause residues on the cassava tubers and reduce yield.
Ubi warned cassava farmers against the use of mud for the fermentation of `garri’ as consumers of such produce can be exposed to major health risk.
She advised farmers to always access facilities through ADP, adding that this would help them expand their production.
The workshop was organised to educate members of the Federation of FADAMA Cooperative Associations (SFFCA) on how to diversify uses of cassava.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Unimniake Ugbe, described cassava as one of the most vital crops in the world.
He said that the training was appropriate and important to expose participants to various ways of cassava processing to meet International Standards.
Ugbe urged farmers to be more committed and dedicated to cassava cultivation and production, adding that cassava farmers and farmers in general, would gain greater influence across the World.
Mr Chris Eriom, a guest speaker, stressed the need for the establishment of small scale industries to enable students in higher institutions have access to necessary training as future independent entrepreneurs. (NAN)
BEN/JPE/EAL
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Ekemini Ladejobi