Path to maximizing cassava value chain in Nigeria

Published Aug 7, 2021

Tridge summary

Nigeria, the world's largest cassava producer, is struggling to enhance the sector's position in regional and international markets, despite Central Bank interventions and significant government investment. The challenges include inadequate funding, insecurity, and climate change impacts on production. The Central Bank's initiatives, such as the Anchor Borrowers' Programme and the Cassava Processing Companies Support programme, are aimed at boosting production and creating a sustainable agribusiness economy. Despite these challenges, there is potential for the sector to contribute significantly to Nigeria's GDP and employment if holistic policies are implemented, focusing on local content, increased private sector investment, and supportive institutional reforms. The article emphasizes the need for policies that stimulate the cassava value chain, including the production of high-quality cassava flour, starch, and ethanol, and the establishment of targeted support infrastructures to enhance competitiveness and reduce transaction costs.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Although Nigeria has attained the status of largest producer of cassava in the world with its production accounting for 21 per cent of total production of the crop globally, thanks to recent interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the agro sector, there are indications that concerted efforts are still required to effectively position the country’s cassava in regional and international markets to ensure sustainable development of the sector. These efforts will equally lead to increasing the contribution of cassava to economic transformation through key stakeholders’ involvement and building an agribusiness economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity for food security, exports promotion, sustainable income and job growth. CBN’s intervention in the sector effectively began in November 2019 when its Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, announced some measures towards addressing the challenges bedevilling the cassava industry in spite of huge investment and government ...

Source: Guardian