Nigeria has not achieved the US$5 billion revenue from the presidential initiative on cassava export due to unfavourable conditions dictated by the Chinese who dominate the market. This was said by the president of the Cassava Produce Promoters and Exporters Association of Nigeria (CASPEAN), Mr. Chet Magaji. In 2002 Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo set up an initiative to boost cassava production and to generate US$5 billion annually from its export.
"The accepted price of US$150 per metric tonne being offered by the Chinese was not encouraging, nor does it interest us to produce for government to export. Most government agents who go abroad to negotiate prefer to travel with 'political exporters' who know nothing about cassava, what is on the ground or the production capacity," said Magaji.
Magaji said even with its strategic location and potential to increase production capacity with the available land resources, Nigeria was still not a major player in the sector. He said that the country could not meet international market requirements because it produce small quantities and local farmers lacked knowledge on how to add value to cassava.
Magaji said that the national cassava programme had not made any positive impact, but was rather destroying the viability of small-scale farmers. To achieve the set target, he said that cassava cultivation should be mechanised, adequate equipment should be provided, local farmers should have adequate access to financial assistance, while the government should avoid using political exporters.
According to Magaji, the land-tenure system in Nigeria should be reviewed. He said Nigeria has 92.4 million hectares of land, out of which more than 70 million are suitable for agricultural activities. He recommended the establishment of an export expansion grant to encourage exporters, as well as the creation of free market opportunities at both domestic and international levels.
He said between 1.2 million and 1.5 million tonnes of cassava was required for animal and poultry feeds, while ethanol production required 1.2 million tonnes. He added that the policy requirement that flour contain 10 per cent cassava could generate additional demand of 380,000 tonnes annually.
APA News
To ease your site search, article categories are at bottom of page.
