The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has commissioned a 450 metric tons of cassava plant at Afam , Oyigbo Local government area of Rivers State. Nanono in a press statement signed by the chief information officer of the ministry, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna said that the processing plant would address the challenges of value addition into other derivatives towards more economic earnings and import mitigation.
Alhaji Nanono yesterday at the ceremony noted that the plant would promote the adoption and use of 10% high quality cassava flour (HQCF) in bread and other confectionery to reduce wheat importation and conserved foreign exchange earnings for other purpose.
Nanono stressed that ‘’ this factory when it is fully operational will be fed with output from 3,000 farmers within the farming communities and neighbours around as well as other farmers far and wide from neighbouring communities"
He further saying "the processing plant will also cultivate thousands of hectares of cassava to ensure uninterrupted supplies of raw materials. In all these arrangements, massive jobs will be created and over 20,000 farm families will earn income for enhanced livelihood and improved standard of living ".
He emphasized that the continued use of this processing plant would lead to income increase on livelihood, ensure healthy cassava food processing activities and serve as a new page to achieve the desired result of 10% cassava flour inclusion policy as well as food and nutrition security, just as he commended the activities of Rivers State Government under the leadership of the Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
In his remarks, the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesome Wike stated that" the primary focus of his administration is to diversify the economy of the state from oil and gas to agricultural development by providing financial support and inputs to the Smallholder farmers in the State.
The Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike assured the people that state government would provide financial grants, seeds and inputs to the cassava farmers towards increasing production for more revenue generation.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele said that the apex bank is committed to providing grants that would fast track growth in the agricultural sector, which is in line with President Mohammad Buhari 's led administration.
During his welcome address, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Rivers State, Dr. Fred Kpakoi said that the State Government has invested massively in the agricultural development of the State adding that the Cassava Plant would create job for the teeming Youths, ensure food security and increase the internally generated revenue in cassava value chain.
In his presentation, the Managing Director, Rivers State Cassava Processing Plant, Ruben Giesen, said the company would provide jobs for over 3,000 smallholder farmers at the crop value chain to provide quality cassava. He appreciated the Governor for his policies in the sector.
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