We can’t feed our new cassava plant alone – C/Rivers farmers

Despite becoming a major cassava producer in the country, Cross River State will still be sourcing for quantities of cassava for its processing plant which is being installed in Obubra LGA of the state. Chairman of Cassava Growers Association in the state, Venerable Augustine Oqua, said the plant will gulp as much as 240 metric tons per day. Excerpts

How is your association planning to cope with the demands for cassava and its by-products in the country?

There is a cassava processing plant that the state government is installing in Obubra Local Government Area of the state. That plant will gulp 240 metric tons of cassava daily. This amounts to 12 trailer loads. Where will we get such on a daily basis? Despite that, we are the biggest producer of cassava, yet we do not have enough to meet the requirement of that plant. 

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In Obubra, we have 450 hectares of land for cassava. Two trailer loads of cassava cuttings were moved into the vast land but the youths in Ochon community rose against the cultivation. They claimed the state government is owing them compensation for the land. Despite appeals that it is even for their benefit, they blocked the efforts. So where shall we get enough cassava to feed the machine?

Will you look beyond the state to source for cassava for the factory?

Sincerely, all the neighbouring states feed from us. From Odukpani junction in Odukpani LGA, several mini trucks leave the state daily with loads of processed cassava and fufu to six neighbouring states. They are therefore not in a position to supply us with the quantities that we want. What we should do is to open up more lands to cultivate cassava. We can sell the finished products to them.

What types of cassava varieties do you have in the state?

There are many varieties. But we concentrate mostly on the vitaminised cassava in the state. The improved Vitamin A has nutrient value. There are technologies that have been added to cassava based on its advantages and disadvantages because of the signet contents. We have four major varieties in the state, including the TMS419 and TMS 555 varieties. These ones have high starch contents.

Does Cross River have any policy on cassava?

There is yet no laid down policy on cassava. But a document is being drawn up in that regard. Knowing that cassava is the major crop in the state, there is the need to know how much or what the state plans for it. The state produces rice but we have comparative advantage in cassava over other crops. Therefore, there must be a policy to promote it and properly harness it through modern agricultural methods. Cassava can be a major money spinner for the state because it has arrays of byproducts such garri, starch, ethanol. 

If lots of garri and fufu leave the state daily, why is it not affordable, particularly in the state?

This is because residents prefer to buy in small quantities whereas off-takers will come and buy in hundreds of bags to other states. Market forces and demand and supply may make it possible that it would be cheaper outside the state. Producers will prefer to sell to those buying in larger quantities. Market regulation can handle that.

How can your association help to improve the value chain?

Apart from the ongoing installation of the processing machines in Obubra, there is yet no organised arrangement to have the value chain. Our association has spent N17.1m to establish cassava farm and processing machines which is yet to be installed. We have built the factory but roofing is not yet completed so that we can move in the machines. We are looking for N3.5m and investors to partner us so that we can start off. The machine can produce four tons of garri daily. We project to employ 50 hands to move the value chain.

We will have by-products like the starch. Where will we have markets for it? The peels are another revenue. There will be need to set up piggery so that they can consume the peels. We can get cooking gas from the peels. It can be combined with the hit, wastes and water from soak away to produce blue flame gas.

What are your challenges?

Our major challenge is in the area of land. The state is the highest producer of cassava in Nigeria, and I dare say the entire world. This is because we have the enabling environment, including arable land, favourable climate etc. But we have not gotten to that level due to poor intervention by government. Cassava cultivation requires massive land. It is a tree crop that needs every aspect of the land to be utilized. 

Is there cassava mechanization in the state?

We do not have enough mechanization. All we see is peasant farmers—who use their bare hands to do manual works. The very few numbers of those that cultivate cassava and produce the byproduct of garri is grossly inadequate to feed the staggering population of consumers in the state and country. 

We need government to open up land for cassava growers. We need to graduate into cassava mechanisation. Important, too, is the issue of tractors. We do not have tractors in the state. I doubt that we have up to three tractors that are functional. Cassava production needs lots of technical know-how.