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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Green Harvest Stuffs, Joshua Apeh, has stated that cassava and cassava products from Benue South Senatorial District will soon become Nigeria’s new “crude oil” to transform the nation’s economy and guarantee food security.
Mr Apeh stated this at his organization’s Farmers Awareness and Mobilisation Programme where he flagged off of the Green Harvest Cooperative Society in Benue South, Senatorial District.
He hailed the huge investment in cassava production and processing in Benue South saying it would accelerate job creation and economic transformation.
He noted that Idoma land produces the highest volume of cassava in the world, is ready to lead a new agro-industrial chapter for Nigeria, stressing that farmers, government and other stakeholders must take advantage of the region’s agricultural potential.
Apeh said Benue South had enormous cassava resources capable of supporting large-scale industries, but lamented that the absence of adequate processing facilities had prevented farmers from maximising the economic value of their produce.
“Our cassava is our crude oil. Just as crude oil transformed the fortunes of nations, cassava can transform the fortunes of our people if we are willing to invest in it, process it, add value to it and take it to the global market.
“This is a new dawn for the people of Idoma and for Nigeria. With the capacity we have here, we can end hunger in Nigeria and across West Africa, just as crude oil once changed the fortunes of this nation.
“Green Harvest Food Stuffs is strategically positioned to sustain millions of Nigerians and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Our region could become a major carbohydrate and renewable-energy hub if its agricultural resources were properly harnessed.”
He said cassava could be processed into food products and industrial materials, while also providing raw materials for bioethanol and biofuel production, thereby creating jobs and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel.
According to him, the cooperative, was established to create a reliable platform through which farmers could access inputs, financing, mechanisation and guaranteed markets for their produce.
“We want to create a new environment for farmers, where they have an already off-taking market. They don’t need to struggle to sell their products after harvesting. We also want to secure food security and reduce harvest losses,” he said.
He disclosed that about 3,000 farmers have already obtained registration forms to participate in the cooperative, with more expected to join following the mobilisation programme.
Apeh said members would benefit from loan facilities, improved cassava stems and seedlings, fertilisers, farm equipment and tractor services, among other interventions designed to increase production.
Apeh disclosed that Green Harvest currently had the capacity to produce about 250,000 kilogrammes of garri monthly and 300,000 kilogrammes of flour, while plans were underway to venture into livestock feed production and establish a major bioethanol plant.
He said the planned bioethanol facility would utilise the abundant cassava resources in the region to produce fuel that could support Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector.
He called on the government to support the Green Harvest model and replicate similar agricultural value-chain initiatives across Nigeria, saying such interventions could strengthen rural economies, empower farmers, create employment and reduce dependence on food imports.
A guest speaker at the event Mr. Gideon Oche, commended Green Harvest Stuffs for the initiative, calling on government and other stakeholders to emulate the company and setup similar cassava factory in other regions of the country.
Some of the Community leaders; Agara Uwoke, Adakole Onyilokwu, and Baba Acheme, all commended Green Harvest Foodstuffs for the support extended them, describing the initiative as an opportunity for Idoma people to “rewrite their story” and gain global recognition through cassava production.
Some of the beneficiaries of the intervention, Okpachu Ode, Comfort Okubi and James Adaka, commended Green Harvest, saying the initiative would would encourage more people to return to farming to expand production and help farmers get better returns from their agricultural investments.
