The Ogun State Government in collaboration with Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), has intensified efforts to position cassava as a major driver of agribusiness and industrial development through a sustainable value chain initiative aimed at boosting production, processing, value addition and export opportunities for farmers as well as investors across the State.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, represented by Acting Programme Manager, OGADEP, Mrs. Abiola Adewole-Sobukola, disclosed this during a programme themed: ‘Sustainable Cassava Value Chains: Driving Agribusiness Growth in Ogun State’ at OGADEP Hall, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta said that the gathering was an avenue to discuss strategies for strengthening cassava production and processing.
Owotomo, noted that transition from primary production to an integrated cassava value chain represented a major shift from subsistence agriculture to industrial-scale production, adding that such transformation required infrastructure, investment and strong institutional support systems.
The Commissioner stressed that cassava remained one of Nigeria's major staple crops with lots of comparative advantages, especially in the South-West region, Ogun inclusive, where many farmers depended on cassava cultivation for livelihood, highlighting critical areas necessary for the success of the cassava value chain initiative, including farmer and processor sensitisation, adoption of improved high-starch cassava varieties, training on modern agronomic and post-harvest practices, establishment of structured aggregation systems and improved linkages among farmers, processors, financial institutions, aggregators and off-takers.
"I reaffirm government support and the Ministry of Agriculture to deploy its agricultural extension architecture and cassava production units to ensure that farmers and processors benefit directly from the initiative," he said.
He further underscored the State’s participation in the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, which was expected to significantly increase the export of cassava value-added products from the State, urging stakeholders to ensure that discussions at the forum produce practical frameworks, measurable timelines and actionable commitments capable of translating policies into tangible impacts for farmers and agribusiness operators.
Also speaking, Director General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), RMRDC, Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, represented by Director of State Industrial Extension Department (RMRDC), Dr. Edit Obi, described the ongoing cassava value chain initiative as a strategic platform for driving industrial growth, job creation and national prosperity in the Country, saying that the forum transcended beyond stakeholder engagement, it was a convergence of ideas, policies and partnerships, aimed at repositioning cassava as a major contributor to Nigeria’s industrial development agenda.
Prof. Ike-Muonso, explained that the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritised food security, industrial value addition and inclusive economic growth, adding that the council observed that although Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of cassava, accounting for nearly one-fifth of global output, the country still imports industrial derivatives such as starch, ethanol and high-quality cassava flour that could be produced locally, stressing the urgent need for Nigeria to move from being a producer of raw materials to a manufacturer of value-added industrial products.
He added that the full industrialisation of cassava had the potential to support multiple value chains and serve as a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth, stating that investing in cassava processing could represent both an economic opportunity and a national necessity, pointing out that domestic demand for high-quality cassava flour exceeded 500,000 metric tonnes annually, while industrial starch demand was estimated at about 6.3 million tonnes yearly as cassava derivatives were widely used across the food, pharmaceutical, textile and paper industries, while the expanding ethanol market also offers significant opportunities for local production and export.
The DG maintained that every investment in the cassava sector could strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base, conserve foreign exchange and create employment opportunities, which were the central goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to transforming research outcomes into practical industrial solutions capable of boosting investment opportunities and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Reacting, representatives of the participants at the forum, cassava producers and processors, Mr. Sunday Odu and Jelilat Alawode, said that the forum was apt, while appreciating the organisers, noted the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure sustainable implementation of the programme.