NAN-ND-4
Cassava
By Azubuike Okeh
Port Harcourt, May 28, 2017 (NAN) More farmers are now involved in cultivation of cassava in the Ikwere area of Rivers following the rise in the price of gari, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
NAN survey showed that the farmers are now cultivating cassava more than other crops this planting season.
They farmers said that cassava farming had become more lucrative.
According to Mrs Rose Jeremiah from Ibaa community, the new interest in cultivating cassava is because it promises more financial reward.
“In the past four months, the price of gari has steadily been on the increase; farmers are now making more money from it.
“We don’t see the price dropping soon and that is the reason for the renewed interest in cultivating cassava’’, she said.
Another farmer from Obelle community, Mr John Lazarus, told NAN that he had cultivated cassava in a large scale this planting season because he expected it would earn him more income.
“Gari is now paying more; so we have shifted to cassava farming and no farmer wants to be left out’’, he said.
Also, Mrs Amanda Nna, from Omuanwa, said cassava farmers now had better chances of earning more money than those that planted other crops.
“Farmers are looking for money and cassava cultivation seems to be providing a big opportunity for them to make it. That is why we are planting cassava more than other crops’’, she said.
NAN reports that a basin of gari which was sold for N 3,700 four months ago, now sells for 7,000 while a smaller basin which went for N 2,000 now goes for N 4,500.
A big bowl of it which was sold for N1,500 in the past is now sold for N 3,200 while the small bowl of the commodity previously sold for N 700 is now N 1, 500. (NAN)
AZU/EMO/IEA
Edited by Ejike Obeta/Idahosa Asowata