By Aliyu Muhammed
The Zamfara State Government has expressed its commitment to collaborate with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to accelerate the development of the cassava value chain in the state.
This pledge was made on July 17, 2025, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the RMRDC Zamfara State Coordinating Office to the Commissioner of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Alhaji Abdulrahman Muhammad Tumbido, at the J.B. Yakubu Secretariat in Gusau.
The RMRDC team, led by Mr. A.D. Muhammed was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Aminu Guraguri Shinkafi. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and enhance synergies between the council and the state ministry, particularly in areas relating to agro and mineral raw material development.
In his briefing, Mr. Muhammed emphasized the strategic importance of Zamfara’s abundant natural resources, both agricultural and mineral to Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation. He noted that despite the state’s production of key crops such as cassava, millet, sorghum, and maize, and minerals including gold, lead, zinc, and copper, limited value addition and industrial processing continue to restrict economic benefits to local farmers and communities.
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To address these gaps, he highlighted the RMRDC’s promotion of the 30% Value Addition Bill, recently passed by the Nigerian Senate on July 2, 2025. The bill mandates that no less than 30% of all raw materials, especially agricultural and mineral products, be processed locally before being exported. This landmark policy is designed to stimulate domestic manufacturing, empower farmers and miners, create jobs, and enhance Nigeria’s industrial base.
Mr. Muhammed assured the Commissioner of RMRDC’s readiness to support the state in developing its agro-raw materials sector, with a particular focus on cassava processing and commercialization.
In response, Commissioner Tumbido praised RMRDC’s longstanding efforts in promoting agricultural and mineral development across the country. He expressed Zamfara State’s readiness to partner with the Council in areas such as research and development, capacity building for farmers, modern farming practices, processing and value addition, and market development. These efforts, he noted, are critical to unlocking the full potential of cassava and other crops in the state.
Further highlighting the economic potential of cassava, Tumbido stated that cassava remains one of Nigeria’s most versatile crops, with uses ranging from food staples such as garri, flour, fufu, lafun, and cassava paste, to industrial applications in producing high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) and other derivatives.
He noted that Zamfara’s vast cassava production capacity, coupled with growing domestic and international demand for cassava-based products, provides a strong foundation for both import substitution and export growth. He added that the presence of organized farmer networks supplying tubers to processors presents a viable entry point for investment and sustained value chain development.
The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding of the need to fast-track collaborative initiatives that will drive industrial growth and enhance the state’s economic resilience through local raw materials development.
