Cassava Project: Firm Promises 250,000 Jobs

The Linland Group, an Agricultural Consulting Firm, says it will provide 250,000 jobs in Ebonyi State through an integrated cassava project.

Mr Obi Ezenwa, the spokesperson for the firm, said this yesterday in Abakaliki when its management paid a courtesy call on Gov. Martin Elechi.

Ezenwa said that the investment would build a strong  private cassava sector to ethanol enterprise with an integrated value-chain approach.

“The project would cost around N70 billion and would require the state providing 15,000 hectares for massive cassava cultivation.”

According to him, the process will ensure the production of 50 million litres of ethanol per annum for industrial purposes.

“We have inaugurated the Afro beverage company in Aba, Abia, through this process, with accompanying success stories.

“The company, which produces wines, spirits and fruit juice drinks among others, has 12 production lines and has provided 1,500 jobs.”

He noted that Ebonyi was the 16th largest cassava producing state in the country and said that the project had the potential of adding N7.9 billion to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We would involve indigenous farmers in the cultivation and other processes as we seek access to Federal Government’s incentives through the state government.

“We would work with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other agencies responsible for the production of disease-free cassava species,” Ezenwa said.

Elechi, represented by his Deputy, Chief Dave Umahi, noted that such project, would be of interest to the state despite its huge financial commitment.

“I hereby direct the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to constitute a committee that would travel to Aba to inspect the Afro Beverages factory and report back to the state government.

“We are happy to hear that the required 15,000 hectares would be scattered across the state, to ensure a smooth implementation of the project.”

In his remark, Chief Romanus Nwasum, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said that the conducive environment provided for investors by the state government, had made them throng the state in droves.