Cassava farmers in Cross River partner stakeholders on ethanol production

Cassava

The Cross River chapter of the Nigerian Cassava Growers Association says it is collaborating with some stakeholders to produce ethanol from cassava to be used as an alternative to petrol.


The Chairman of association, Mr Augustine Oqua, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday that it was negotiating with the Cross River University of Technology and other research centres on how to facilitate the process.

Oqua noted that ethanol was useful in various ways and added that with Cross River as the largest producer of cassava in the country, the product would generate more revenue for the state.

``Ethanol is a finished product of cassava. It is used as an alternative to fuel in many advanced economies of the world.

``Cross River has a comparative advantage in cassava production and we are working on how we will be the first state in Nigeria to use ethanol to drive cars.

``Already, we are negotiating with the Cross River University of Technology and other research organisations to facilitate this process,’’ he said.

Oqua said that ethanol was also used as raw material for the manufacture of various products, including cough syrup.

The chairman stressed the need for the government to encourage cassava farmers by providing necessary inputs and soft loans to enable them to increase its production.

He described the state government’s proposal to establish a cassava processing plant at Obudu as a good idea and added that it would boost cassava production in the state. (NAN)