(TVC News) One of the manufacturers in Nigeria who specialised in the use of cassava for the production of Ethanol has said that the country is losing billions of naira due to a shortfall in Cassava supply.
He noted that the country needs a minimum of four hundred million litres of Ethanol, yet it can only produce about nine million locally due to poor supply of cassava, the main raw material.
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But unfortunately, majority of Nigerians farmers still rely on cutlasses and hoes to farm. This is one of the reasons supply of cassava cannot meet demand in the market, because aside from those who need cassava for production of foods, there are several others who need it for industrial purposes.
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In an attempt to bridge the demand and supply gap, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, with the support of the United Kingdom Agency for International Development has introduced Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-processing project (CAMAP) to encourage mechanised farming in the country.
Currently, the project is in full operation in many states, including Kwara, Osun, Benue, Oyo, Kogi, Delta and Ogun.
Under the project, the only thing required from farmers or intending farmers is the land.
The foundation has been supporting them with access to financing, ploughing, application of fertilisers and herbicides, planting, harvesting and linking of farmers to the off takers who are ready to buy their produce at higher rates. READ MORE
