Post by Trade facilitator on May 14, 2012 23:06:48 GMT 1
Last week, the Director-General of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, cautioned the authorities and Nigerians, on the need to embrace the lucrative business of exporting cassava crop with caution. His advice was based on the need to avoid unbridled export of the crop in a way that will leave the country with nothing in the years to come as with previous and recent cases, and ensure that the nation’s economy gets most of the benefits that accrue from the crop.
The mass production and massive export of cassava are endeavours that have shown that with resolve and determination on the part of the authorities and the people, a lot can be achieved. A policy initiative of the former Obasanjo administration, the mass production of the cassava crop was embarked upon as a response to increased foreign demand, the compelling desire to diversify the economy, and to earn foreign exchange for the country.
In the case of cassava, the soil in Nigeria favours its cultivation. Nigeria is also the current world’s leading producer, while in China and a number of countries, the crop is in high demand because of its many uses, especially in manufacturing. Among the derivatives of cassava, aside its general and widespread use in Nigeria as staple food, are as flour for bread, starch for domestic and industrial use, animal feed and in extreme cases as a source of power!
For the past six years since its export value became manifest, Nigerians have produced so much cassava that at some point there was a glut in the market, and the farmers suffered! The issue of concern is that our foreign partners are so keen on Nigeria exporting the cassava in raw form after only the initial processing. This adds only a minimal value to the ubiquitously useful crop. At that level, experts in agriculture and export revenue, like the Director-General of the IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga feared that the country and the farmers who toil day and night to produce this crop would not get the best deal. The most likely thing is that much of the gain will go to our trading partners, who after thorough processing of the crop, will ship back the finished product to us at a much higher price, as is currently happening with crude oil, in the absence of functional refineries in Nigeria, and other agricultural crops in the absence of a well-articulated industrial policy.
The concern of the IITA Director-General is a timely one, and should be the concern of policy makers and patriotic Nigerians. The country should triple the cultivation and export of not only cassava, but other food and commercial crops, but should insist that our partners consider locating the processing and manufacturing plants here in Nigeria. Of course this would mean that the country should accelerate the provision of infrastructure and amenities that support production and manufacturing like water, power, good roads and a secure environment. If we can end up with a complete process of farming, harvesting, processing and manufacturing, involving cassava, and in the long run, other agricultural products, then we will be on the way to agricultural and industrial revolution.
The importance of this revolution is that our people will acquire the technology and know-how that will impact on agriculture, education, employment and transfer of technology. Second, other aspects of agriculture like poultry, fishery and animal husbandry will benefit, as waste products from cassava would be deployed as feeds and fertiliser to the former.
Source: blueprintng.com/?p=24765
Learn more about cassava export @ cassavaexport.tripod.com
The mass production and massive export of cassava are endeavours that have shown that with resolve and determination on the part of the authorities and the people, a lot can be achieved. A policy initiative of the former Obasanjo administration, the mass production of the cassava crop was embarked upon as a response to increased foreign demand, the compelling desire to diversify the economy, and to earn foreign exchange for the country.
In the case of cassava, the soil in Nigeria favours its cultivation. Nigeria is also the current world’s leading producer, while in China and a number of countries, the crop is in high demand because of its many uses, especially in manufacturing. Among the derivatives of cassava, aside its general and widespread use in Nigeria as staple food, are as flour for bread, starch for domestic and industrial use, animal feed and in extreme cases as a source of power!
For the past six years since its export value became manifest, Nigerians have produced so much cassava that at some point there was a glut in the market, and the farmers suffered! The issue of concern is that our foreign partners are so keen on Nigeria exporting the cassava in raw form after only the initial processing. This adds only a minimal value to the ubiquitously useful crop. At that level, experts in agriculture and export revenue, like the Director-General of the IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga feared that the country and the farmers who toil day and night to produce this crop would not get the best deal. The most likely thing is that much of the gain will go to our trading partners, who after thorough processing of the crop, will ship back the finished product to us at a much higher price, as is currently happening with crude oil, in the absence of functional refineries in Nigeria, and other agricultural crops in the absence of a well-articulated industrial policy.
The concern of the IITA Director-General is a timely one, and should be the concern of policy makers and patriotic Nigerians. The country should triple the cultivation and export of not only cassava, but other food and commercial crops, but should insist that our partners consider locating the processing and manufacturing plants here in Nigeria. Of course this would mean that the country should accelerate the provision of infrastructure and amenities that support production and manufacturing like water, power, good roads and a secure environment. If we can end up with a complete process of farming, harvesting, processing and manufacturing, involving cassava, and in the long run, other agricultural products, then we will be on the way to agricultural and industrial revolution.
The importance of this revolution is that our people will acquire the technology and know-how that will impact on agriculture, education, employment and transfer of technology. Second, other aspects of agriculture like poultry, fishery and animal husbandry will benefit, as waste products from cassava would be deployed as feeds and fertiliser to the former.
Source: blueprintng.com/?p=24765
Learn more about cassava export @ cassavaexport.tripod.com
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