The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has disclosed a strategic partnership with the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro- Industrialization aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector through providing technical support for the cassava value chain exploration. This was said during a consultative meeting of various stakeholders on the cassava value chain and bioethanol project organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture geared towards enhancing Cassava production and processing in the state.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Patrick Nwabueze said the partnership aims to improve the livelihoods of cassava farmers, increase food security, and boost the local economy. He encouraged the local government representatives to key into the project by liaising with the village heads and traditional rulers to release their lands to the government for Cassava cultivation. He observed that Enugu State is among the largest producers of Cassava in Nigeria. “The Bioethanol plant construction has started with the provision of a 500kwa transformer installed to ensure work is going on rapidly. The state is working towards all the value chain Cassava can bring to the state”, he said.
The Enugu State Coordinator Dr. Mrs. Pauline Obianuko who led the RMRDC’s team, said the Council will be willing to partner to provide technical expertise, research support, and access to modern technologies to enhance cassava cultivation, processing, and marketing.
She said the Director General, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso is committed to collaborations that are capable of transforming the economy of Nigeria especially as it concerns the development of Agro raw materials which is one of the core mandates of the Council. She added, “We will work together to develop sustainable cassava value chains, ensuring that Enugu State becomes a hub for cassava production and processing in Nigeria”
The Consultant Agronomist Biosources and Technologies Ltd, Prof Martin A.N. Anikwe while giving his speech, explained that Cassava Bioethanol is a Federal Govt project which started with 3 local government areas (Nkanu, Aninri, Uzo-Uwani), aiming at reaching all the other local government areas in the state. He said training will be conducted on the farmers as the project progresses on processing, production, and marketing. He added that inputs will be distributed to farmers by the Enugu State Government and the Ministry of Agriculture to further equip them.
You Might AlsoLike
“The project is expected to put two centers of Cassava cultivation and aggregation in every local government area, encourage good agricultural practice, cultivation of minimum a hundred thousand hectares before 2027”. He said.
The project managers representing the local government areas spoke on the many challenges they faced daily, such as mobility, insecurity, pests, etc, and urged the government to look into proffering solutions to these challenges.
The parties further discussed various strategies that should be activated to achieve the set goals and ensure Enugu State becomes the largest producer of different varieties of Cassava.
