Sustainable Rivers’ Cassava Processing Firm

The Rivers State Cassava Processing Company located at Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area, newly inaugurated by the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, comes across as another huge milestone in the life of the present administration in the state. When fully operational, the firm will engage no fewer than 4,500 youths and help address Nigeria’s current food crisis. 
At the inauguration of the plant, Wike assured that seed money had been set aside by his administration to encourage mass cultivation of cassava throughout the state. The Governor expressed the readiness of his government to motivate proper cultivation of the vast fallow land accessible in all local government areas to ensure that the processing plant did not lack raw materials. This is an essential intervention not only to guarantee a continuous supply of cassava to the plant, but to also aid destitute farmers with the product.
It is heartening to see that the project, started by the previous government in 2012 but abandoned, is finished. We applaud the Governor for discerning the usefulness of the venture when he took office and mobilised funds for its completion. The cassava processing plant has the potential to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers by offering them a favourable environment for selling their cassava fibres. It is significant to note that this project is the first of its kind in all of sub-Saharan Africa. 
Government’s exhibition of a good business sense by reducing the initial 70 per cent equity in the company in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria to a paltry 10 per cent is worthy of mention. It will ensure that the business operates well without interference or control. Experience has shown that the acquisition of considerable equity by government often results in excessive domination of enterprises, leading to their eventual destruction. 
Cassava is one of the most valuable crops cultivated in Nigeria. It has a well-developed system of farming and production. The nation produces up to 59 million tons, making it the largest producer of the product globally. Cassava processing is a means of converting cassava tubers into starch, garri or fufu, and this can be done locally or by using a mechanised system.
Unfortunately, the mechanised process is not fully harnessed in Nigeria even though it can earn additional income, provide employment opportunities and act as a backup food in times of shortage. Cassava is drought tolerant, easy to cultivate and harvest. All parts of the manioc plant are invaluable. 
While the leaves can be used to make soup or feed livestock, the stems can be utilised to plant more cassava, produce mushrooms, or fuelwood. It can be cooked and consumed fresh or processed into flour. Cassava can also meet industrial requirements such as producing biofuels and starch for the paper and pharmaceutical industries.
Processing methods of the product in Nigeria include cooking or drying depending on what is desired. However, most people who produce the commodity process it using local means or methods. To sustain the business and guarantee its viability, mechanization is advised. A mechanized cassava processing plant will generate better revenue as well as create massive employment.
The Afam integrated cassava plant is required to absorb some cassava fibres from about 3,000 farmers and process them into flour, starch and other value-added products. Businesses could be established to explore the value chains and employ additional hands. This is yet an opportunity to engage bakers on the need for import substitution of wheat and flour by incorporating at least 10 per cent of cassava flour in their baking activities, and the Rivers State cassava processing plant is now available to satisfy that need. 
Experts have said that the local value-addition to cassava via local manufacturing and processing could potentially unlock about $16 million in taxes to the government. Therefore, with the Rivers Cassava Processing Company Limited coming on stream, Rivers people may earn much more revenue from the cassava value chain if the company utilises leading technology to process and create more added value from this crop.
Most manufacturing companies operating in Nigeria that today import glucose, starch or any other cassava by-product would be captivated to source from this new plant. Companies such as Nestlé, which import starch and glucose, can now start sourcing raw materials from Rivers State to conserve foreign exchange.
In Nigeria, cassava plays a major role in economic restructuring through local imports substitution for wheat used in baking bread. There is also large importation of processed starch which are sold by various supermarkets, as well as ethanol and other cassava derivatives. These are opportunities the cassava processing plant in Rivers State can utilise for local investments.
Now is the time to act, because there is an enormous demand gap that is not being addressed at the moment. So, taking advantage of this opening will require creating the enabling atmosphere for investments in production and processing to meet the local demand-supply gap as well as take advantage of the export market. Since the state government may not be able to do it alone, the private sector will need to stimulate investment and growth in the sector.
Similarly, the company can effectively partner with bodies like the National Cassava Research Institute for support in the area of research and development to boost the efforts of the farmers and processors by furnishing them with timely and relevant information, while cassava industry associations could possibly assist with the creation of proper interlinkages between value chain actors to avoid shortage of raw materials for processors and wastage of output for farmers.