By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA FCT – Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari on Thursday met with the management of Biosources and Technologies Ltd, to discuss strategies aimed at enhancing cassava production and its value chain in Nigeria.
The discussion also took into consideration, the regional consumption patterns and food security, according to the statement released by the minister on his X account.
Sen Kyari further stated that there is need to examine the entire cassava value chain to maximize its potential, in tandem with Thailand’s $6 billion cassava processing industry. Adding that only 40% of Nigeria’s 63 million tons of cassava production is used for food, with significant portions wasted or inefficiently used.
He also highlighted that Chinese companies are interested in Nigerian cassava due to local market challenges.
Not left out in their discussion is the high transportation costs and the financial struggles of farmers, which hinder profitability and production and ways to support these farmers to bolster productivity.
Senator Kyari statement reads in full:
I had a meeting with the management of Biosources and Technologies Ltd, the conversation revolved around strategies to enhance cassava production and its value chain in Nigeria, considering regional consumption patterns and food security.
There’s the need to examine the entire cassava value chain to maximize its potential, lets refer to Thailand’s $6 billion cassava processing industry. Only 40% of Nigeria’s 63 million tons of cassava production is used for food, with significant portions wasted or inefficiently used. Chinese companies are interested in Nigerian cassava due to local market challenges.
We also discussed high transportation costs and the financial struggles of farmers, which hinder profitability and production and ways to support these farmers to bolster productivity.
