Association Demands 120,000 Improved Stems

Chairman of the Delta State Chapter of the Cassava Growers
Association, Mr. Justus kachikwu says the association members need about
120,000 bundles of improved cassava stems for the farming season.

Kachikwu made the statement in an interview with our
correspondent  in Asaba on Sunday.

He said he had made a formal application to the state’s
ministry of agriculture to assist the association with the supply of the
cassava stems.

The chairman said that improved stems, although late in
arriving, would be used for the late planting season.

‘’Those of us who are involved in cassava planting for
commercial purposes had planted earlier in the year.

‘’But we have made formal application to the state’s
ministry of agriculture to help us facilitate the release of the 120,000
bundles of the improved cassava stems for the late plating season,” he said.

Kachikwu said that he was hopeful that the association would
receive the stems.

He said that when received, the stems would be distributed to
more than 600 cassava farmers across the state.

The farmer said that the association had set up monitoring
teams in all the 25 LGAs in the state to ensure that the stems got to those who
needed them and who would utilise them effectively.

‘’Our target is to distribute the stems to members of our
association and this will encourage other farmers who do not believe in the
Federal Government Growth Enhancement Scheme to come and register,’’ Kachikwu
said.

It would be recalled
that the state governor on August 7, at Oleh in Isoko South Local Government
Area, flagged off the free distribution of the Federal Government Growth
Enhancing Cassava Stems to farmers.