Cassava Productivity: Government, Association pally on meeting demand

 * CACOPMAN launches Kogi Chapter

The Kogi State government and Cassava Cottage Processing And Marketing Association of Nigeria ( CACOPMAN) have agreed on the need to increase local cassava production to meet demand for different derivatives of the produce.

This unanimous decision was suggested during a stakeholders meeting between the Kogi State government and CACOPMAN where the state chapter of the Association was launched with Mr. Ufana Husseini as the pioneer chairman.

Speaking on the occasion, the Kogi State Commissioner for Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( MAFS) Mr. Timothy Omojo stressed the need for farmers' support towards increase in local cassava production in order to meet the demand of the processing private companies, emphasizing that each company should have its own organized farmers to enhance increase productions.

The commissioner added the Government support for farmers through value chains operational systems with effective collaboration between the government agencies and farmers must be upheld towards food security adding that processing local companies also must support local production.

Omojo said that "Our priority is to ensure that all processing companies in the state, particularly those involved in cassava processing, engage in extensive cassava production to meet their raw materials need. By doing so, they will source cassava from their own farms, reducing the pressure on physical farmers and ensuring adequate supply for farming activities and programs"

Reverend Olusegun Ilori, President, CACOPMAN underscored the importance of price control measures to stabilize the market towards ensuring fair returns for farmers, just as he highlighted the potential of cassava as a versatile crop with numerous derivative products.

He added that backward integration of cassava would checkmate conflicting demand for food cassava and industrial ones which had led many private companies to start purchasing from local farmers thereby leading to scarcity and price inflation.

According to Ilori “It's crucial to revisit the concept of backward integration within the cassava production cycle. By incorporating processing and marketing along the value chain, we can effectively reduce the cost of cassava products. Currently, the high prices of cassava are attributed to a conflict between cassava designated for food security and that earmarked for industrial use"

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the new Kogi chapter of CACOPMAM saw the appointment of Mr. Ufana Husseini as the State Chairman while Agada Paul became the Vice.

 Pastor Salifu Matthew, State Secretary, Mrs. Audu Esther as the state women leader and Shaibu Mercy  as the state Treasurer. The leadership team is tasked with driving initiatives to support cassava farmers and promote agricultural development in the state.

The new state chairman of CACOPMAN Mr. Ufana promised that the new leadership will ensure that cassava is processed into more derivatives to increase the nations and Kogi states GDP.