Cassava production:Japan signs MoU with Nigeria institutions,

Japan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, to improve cassava production and processing for Nigerian farmers. The Japanese Embassy in Nigeria said the partnership was to help farmers in the country, particularly those in Ekiti State, address the challenges associated with the processing and production of cassava. With respect to the MoU, Japan, according to a statement made by IITA, will provide two cassava processing centres for the farmers, while ABUAD will provide monitoring/training services. The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, said the provision of cassava processing centres was part of efforts to support the agricultural transformation agenda of the Federal Government. He thanked IITA for its contribution to the success of the project, adding that the initiative would alleviate poverty and enhance food security. The IITA, on its part, said it would provide the Ekiti State chapter of Agbekoya Farmers Association 600 bundles of improved cassava cuttings. "In addition, IITA will provide 30 Agbekoya farmers with trainings in the operation/use of cassava processing machines and 10 Agbekoya farmers with training in the maintenance of cassava processing machines," the statement added. The Deputy Director-General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, expressed optimism that the collaboration would contribute to improving the livelihoods of cassava farmers, especially women and youths, who played a pivotal role in cassava processing. Explaining how the collaboration came about, Dashiell said the partnership to help farmers was an outcome of an earlier meeting between the Director-General, IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, and the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria. "In that meeting, the two leaders agreed to join efforts in alleviating poverty in Africa," the statement added. Dashiell noted that the development of cassava along the value chain was critical for Africa to unleash the potential of the root crop. "To make cassava work for the poor, we need to produce and also process it into products such as gari, fufu, high quality cassava flour etc. We believe that value addition through processing is an important aspect for us to advance the potential of cassava," he was quoted as saying. According to him, the project will contribute to job creation, improve incomes, open new markets for farmers and boost the Nigerian economy. The President-General, Agbekoya Farmers Association, Mr. Kamorudeen Okikiola, commended IITA, the Japanese Embassy and ABUAD for their support to farmers and called on other development and research
organisations in the country to emulate the intervention. On his part, the Vice Chancellor, ABUAD, Prof. Sidi Osho, called on farmers to participate in the project and ensure that the efforts by the three organisations yielded positive results.