A one day symposium on World Cassava Day has been held at the banquet hall, State House, Abuja with a call on cassava producers in the country to work hard at ensuring the availability of the product at all times.
The event which was anchored on Cassava industrialization, youth innovation, import substitution and export competitiveness brought together diverse mix of stakeholders, including sector actors, young innovators, entrepreneurs and students alike.
The event showcased exhibitions, networking and dialogue with a strong focus on youth- led solutions.
The landmark event which celebrates Nigeria’s position as the world’s largest producer of Cassava also featured cassava changemakers pitch competition where promising innovations across the Cassava value chain was presented.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima, who declared the event opened urged Cassava producers to work assiduously towards ensuring the country maintains its position as the largest producer of the product in the world.
Highlighting the importance of cassava to the nation’s economy, Vice President Shetima noted that Cassava contributes significantly to the Agricultural GDP and serving as a major source of income for rural households.
In a remark, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kogi Enterprise Development Agency, (KEDA), Alhaji Muhammed Kadiri Okeji who also represented the state at the event in Abuja said Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava globally, with annual production exceeding 34 million tonnes.
According to him, beyond food, cassava is a versatile crop used in various industries and has the potential to generate substantial revenue through domestic value addition and exports.
He advised cassava farmers across the state to intensify effort in the cultivation and sale of the product to improve on the economy of the state as well as making themselves economically bouyant at all times.
Joseph Adama
Information Officer
Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA)
