The Director-General of the Pan-African Organisation for Small and Medium Industries, Dr. Henry Emejuo, emphasized the pivotal role of cassava in Africa’s food security and industrial development during the recent Africa Cassava Conference in Abuja.
Speaking on the sidelines of the three-day conference, Dr. Emejuo highlighted cassava’s economic significance and its status as a daily staple across the continent. He emphasized the crop’s versatility, stating that cassava-based products like garri and tapioca are consumed almost daily in Nigerian and African homes.
Furthermore, Dr. Emejuo underscored cassava’s industrial value in producing materials such as ethanol, high-quality cassava flour, sorbitol, and sweeteners used in various manufacturing sectors. He noted that the conference provided a crucial platform for policymakers, scientists, and industrialists to align strategies for maximizing cassava utilization and unlocking its economic potential.
Mustafa Bakano, the National President of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, highlighted the conference’s focus on addressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including access to finance and industrial standards. The presence of financial institutions like the Bank of Industry offered stakeholders the opportunity to develop practical solutions for presentation to governments.
Prof. Michael Kento from the University of Juba, South Sudan, expressed his country’s keenness to learn from Nigeria’s leadership in cassava production and explore collaborations to enhance food security and industrial growth. Similarly, Prof. Emmanuel Bobobee of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, emphasized the importance of mechanized cassava production in driving Africa’s industrial development.
The conference, which brought together stakeholders from seven African countries, concluded with a dinner and the presentation of awards to notable players and partners in the cassava sector. The event underscored the rising continental interest in cassava and the potential for the crop to drive Africa’s industrial evolution.
In closing, Dr. Henry Emejuo’s assertion that cassava is central to Africa’s economic development resonated throughout the conference, setting the stage for enhanced collaboration and innovation in the cassava value chain.
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