With a view to deriving maximum benefit from the cassava value chain, the federal government has reiterated commitment to continue to work towards promoting and developing cassava and its derivatives, leveraging on the country’s comparative advantage in the production of the commodity.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated this yesterday in Abuja at a press conference ahead of the Pan-African quality infrastructure—Africa Cassava conference scheduled for October 18 to 20, at the NAF conference center, Abuja.

He said, “Cassava is recognized as a staple crop and one of the major sources of carbohydrate for human consumption as well as other industrial uses, this is why the Ministry will continue to support the development of the commodity in Nigeria.”

The Minister, who was represented by Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Engr. Abdullahi Abubakar, pointed out that the theme of the Conference “Stimulating Africa’s industrialization through development of cassava-based products and assuring quality along cassava value chain”, is apt at this time when quality of the cassava product is a key for successful supplies and demand.

He added that a reasonably good and consistent quality is seen by operators as key element for keeping customers’ loyalty and assuring prices.

He mentioned that the onference organized by African Union Commission (AUC) in conjunction with Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) agenda, is aimed at boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives.

Kyari maintained that the Africa Cassava Conference was welcomed given the importance of ensuring standardization in derivatives of cassava products, saying that roviding good quality cassava derivatives will facilitate increase in local and export demand of the product leading to enhanced efficiency and production of the crop.

He was optimistic that the outcome of the conference will bring about increase in the average yields in cassava; promote the stakeholders’ revenues; incorporate quality control inspection and certification system; encourage appropriate technology for rapid multiplication of the cassava and create jobs and wealth for the Nigeria citizens.

The Chief of Staff to the Chairman, National Quality Council, Bola Fashina, explained that the Pan-African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI) is the continental platform for all matters related to standardization, metrology, accreditation and quality assurance created to strengthen the competitiveness of Africa’s goods and services.

It also facilitate removal of technical barriers to trade and contribute towards the industrialization of the continent and its sustainability, saying PAQI is currently collaborating with the AUC to implement the Cassava Value Chain project in different countries.

The Project Manager, Africa Cassava Conference – 2023, Heather Ronke-Akanni, stated that the Cassava Conference is organized by the African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, and the Pan African Quality Infrastructure, Kenya.

She added that with the declaration of State of Emergency on Food Security by Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda and considering what Nigeria stands for in the value chain Cassava remains the messiah crop.