Okitipupa (Ondo) – The Ministry of Niger Delta has commissioned a Catalytic Model Factory for Cassava Processing at Oke-Idebi, Igbotako/Okitipupa local government areas of Ondo State.
The plant, which was launched by the Minister of State, Prof. Claudius Daramola, and other senior officials of the ministry on Thursday, aims to bring rapid industrialisation to cassava-growing communities in Ondo state.
Daramola said the plant had the capacity to process cassava into high quality cassava flour, odourless fufu powder, industrial starch and high quality gari at three tonnes per day.
According to him, agriculture is the way forward especially in the face of dwindling oil prices.
“This project is an offshoot of the Cluster Project of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs that seeks to promote rapid industrialisation using indigenous agricultural raw materials of relative advantage in the region’’, he said
The minister said the plant had processing machines, bore-hole with over-head water tanks and solely dependent of a 40KVA generator which was also installed along with the plant.
He urged the community to guard the plant jealously and ensure its effective use.
Daramola said the processing plants will ensure that cassava was hygienically processed to high quality standard for both local and foreign consumption.
He said it will stimulate the cultivation of more cassava farms, provide additional income to farmers, and reduce drudgery and wastage.
He added that the plant was capable of generating thousands of employment.
Director of Economic Empowerment of the ministry, Mr Ibrahim Akanya, said the plant would promote massive industrialisation and revolutionise the entire local processes of cassava production.
“If they were able to produce gari locally, they may not be able to produce more than 50kg in one day, but we are talking of a plant that can produce up to 10 bags of gari in a day.
“The gari produced by the plant has a moisture content of 10 per cent which can make it last for a minimum of one year so that even if one wants to export, the quality is guaranteed”, he said.
Akanya said the project was bound to create mass employment for youths in the host community and the entire Niger Delta.
“If youths know that they can bring cassava there to be processed into gari, odourless fufu, starch, or flour, for a fee, more and more of them will come.
“By so doing more youths will have means of selling and can then begin to raise funds on their own”, he said.
The ceremony attracted chiefs, Obas, community leaders and youth groups.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian produces the largest quantity of cassava in the world; a third more than production in Brazil and almost double the production of Indonesia and Thailand.
Cassava production in other African countries- Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda appears small in comparison to Nigeria’s output.
The ministry has two cassava processing plants in Imo State.
The facilities will be equipped to process cassava into garri, chips, fufu, cassava flour and starch. Each plant will cost N17 million. (NAN)