By Precious Mbaramah
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting value addition and the utilisation of local raw materials following an industrial visit to Moonrise Agro Farms Limited, a cassava processing company in Irete, Imo State.
The visit, conducted by the Imo State Coordinating Office of the Council on June 24, forms part of efforts to support indigenous agro-processing enterprises and strengthen Nigeria’s raw materials value chains.
Speaking during the visit, the Imo State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mr. David Enemuo, said the Council remains committed to supporting local industries through research, technology transfer, market linkages and enterprise development initiatives.
He explained that industrial visits enable the Council to assess production activities, identify operational challenges and provide technical guidance that can improve productivity and competitiveness.
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The proprietors of Moonrise Agro Farms Limited, Elder Ruben Anuforo and Evangelist Maureen Anuforo, said the enterprise commenced operations in May 2026 and currently produces organic garri and odourless cassava flour from its multiple cassava farms in the state.
They identified limited market access, low consumer awareness of organic products, inadequate knowledge of cassava by-product utilisation and poor branding as major challenges facing the business.
During a tour of the facility, the RMRDC team inspected various stages of cassava processing and observed the use of locally fabricated equipment sourced from Aba and Ibadan.
Responding to the challenges raised, Enemuo assured the company of the Council’s support in facilitating linkages with equipment fabricators, potential off-takers and relevant institutions, including the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
He also advised the company to improve product branding and packaging, document its production activities and explore value-addition opportunities in cassava by-products such as starch and peels.
The visit highlighted opportunities for collaboration between RMRDC and Moonrise Agro Farms Limited in cassava value chain development, market access and enterprise capacity building, with the Council reiterating its commitment to promoting sustainable economic growth through the utilisation of locally available raw materials.
