The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to direct the Bank of Agriculture, the Bank of Industry and other relevant financial institutions to provide easy access to short-term loans in favour of cassava farmers in the country.
The House also asked the Government to immediately reconstitute the defunct Presidential Committee on the Cassava Initiative Programme, known as “Composite Cassava Flour of 2002”, with the aim of improving the welfare of cassava peasant farmers in the country.
In a resolution following a motion sponsored by Canice Moore Chukwuugozie Nwachhukwu, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to embark on massive value chain training of peasant farmers on cassava production, processing and packaging.
Moving the motion, Nwachhukwu said Cassava production in Nigeria is developing as an organised agricultural crop with locally established processing techniques for food products and livestock feeds.
He disclosed that cassava is produced in almost all the 36 States of the Federation, including the FCT while the peels have a high level of Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), particularly in bitter cassava varieties, which are common in Nigeria and used as an energy supplement in cattle, which can partly replace 30% of total Dry Matter Intake (DMI) energy concentrates, with no influence on the intake, digestibility, microbial efficiency and nitrogen retention and act as an antidote to many cattle diseases.
He disclosed that there are four planting seasons across the country’s six geopolitical zones and is therefore available all year round;
Also aware that cassava processing machines and short-term loans, if provided, will make the effective and hygienic transformation of cassava into garri and fufu possible.
According to him, this will give the farmers access to a better market share with good selling prices, which will ultimately increase their income while contributing their quota in feeding the nation and increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that diversification of the Nigerian economy could be achieved by using cassava as an alternative to crude oil to earn substantial amounts of foreign exchange through massive cultivation both for local consumption and export.
Nwachhukwu said further that cassava displays an exceptional ability to adapt to climate change, with tolerance to low soil fertility and resistance drought conditions, pests, and diseases, while the use of fertilisers is limited, and it is also sown on fallow lands.
He said cassava, which is rich in starch in the form of carbohydrate, has multiple uses and is consumed in many processed forms and also serves as livestock feed for cattle and other animals, while it’s tubers are made into flours, garri or fufu, which are some of our staple foods.
He said “Its other products include dry extraction of starch, glue or adhesives and modified starch for use in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly through its utilisation as starch in drug formulations. As an expert in tablet manufacturing and a capsule filling agent, cassava starch offers valuable functionalities that enhance the efficacy, stability, and affordability of pharmaceutical products.
“With more than 40 cassava varieties in use, 90% of producers in Nigeria are small-scale farmers with limited or no access to modern processing machines or working capital in order to be selfreliant.
“Nigeria, being one of the major producers of cassava in Africa, processes about 90% of the root plant into finished products and consumes it locally. Processing is mainly done at a cottage level by women using low-level technology due to an inappropriate packaging system and difficulty in acquiring appropriate technical equipment and finances.”
He expressed dismayed that the hygiene condition is very poor and these small-scale farmers are facing serious production and profit losses along the local value chain lines.
ADVERTISEMENTS
