Plateau To Establish Cassava Industry

The Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture Mr Steven
Barko, has said that the State Government will establish a cassava processing
industry in the southern zone of the state.

He said the Southern zone of the state was producing huge
quantities of cassava, but they have not been getting value for their
investment.

According to him, the decision to establish the industry was
to encourage commercial cultivation of cassava as part of efforts to boost
agricultural activities in the state.

Barko made this known while inspecting equipment for value
addition sent to the state by the national coordinating office of the
AFDB-assisted FADAMA II project.

The commissioner added that the government was making
efforts to make Plateau  State the hub of
agriculture in the country.

He said that plans had been concluded for the fabrication
and shipping of necessary machines for the industry from Brazil.

He said when established, the industry would have the
capacity to produce 50 tonnes of starch per day.

“To meet up this target, we will need to ensure the constant
supply of 500 tonnes of cassava every day or else the industry will become idle
and redundant.

“This means that there will be a ready market for cassava
farmers.’’

He called on farmers in the state to organise themselves
into cooperative societies to enable the government to reach out to them,
adding that Plateau had the best agricultural policy in the country.

“Once you organise yourselves into cooperatives, the State
Government will support you with everything that will make you to succeed.

“Until you organise yourselves to optimise your production
and control the market, you will never break even.’’