RSSDA Acquires 4,000 Hectares For Pilot Farms

 The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) has acquired 4,000 hectares of land in the 23 Local Government Areas for Cassava demonstration and pilot farms.

The Executive Dirctor of the agency, Mr Noble Pepple, who said this during the ground breaking ceremony of the DADTCO-Rivers Cassava flour processing plant at Afam in the Oyigbo Local Government Area, disclosed that the agency had, in collaboration with small holders owners, established a 500-hectare cassava farm at Kaa and Owale all in the Khana Local Government Area.

The RSSDA executive Director also said that the agency was working with the International Fertiliser Development Corporation (IFDC) and urged farmers to take advantage of this opportunity.

He said that the processing plant is a public-private partnership intervention involving the Rivers State Government represented by the RSSDA, the Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company (DADTCO), International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFFC) and Stanbic IBTC.

According to him, the initiative was to promote the transformation of cassava cultivation and value addition in Rivers State by enhancing the capacity of local cassava farmers to access opportunities to increase their income.

“The objective is to help thousands of small holders cassava farmers to double their yield. The other major objective is to help bridge the distance between the farms and processing facilities,” he said.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands Mr Bert J. Ronhaar called on the authorities to review the prices of floor in the country.

Speaking during the ceremony, Ambassador Ronhaur who is also a permanent representative to the ECOWAS commission said that the cost of cassava flour was too high, adding that its future in the country was at stake if the price is not reviewed. He said, “When the plant commences production, it will add value to the lives of cassava farmers in the state.”