OUR MISSION
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Nigeria Cassava Grower Association is saddled with mobilization of farmers for mass production of cassava
tubers. Presently, Nigeria as the largest producer is producing about 36 million metric tons
annually but only 4% of that quantity usually get to the world market.
Not only that, Cassava products are still very expensive in Nigeria
because the supply is far below the demand. For Nigeria
to maintain her leadership NCGA wants production to drastically increase to not less than 200 million metric tons per annum.
Nigeria is endowed with all necessary favourable condition for mass product, fertile farmland, Isoyet of about 8 months’ rainfall per annum,
cheap labour force majority of who receives less than two American dollar per
and the democratic system of government now headed by a farmer.
Even,
with 36 million metric tons that is being produced, We are sometimes faced with problem
of sustenance of our level of production while we wish to avoid the usual vicious cycle of glut and abandonment of production resulting in economic losses and impoverishment of our people due to non
diversification of processing.
Presently,
cassava tubers are yet to be processed into various value added products that can be got. It has been realized that about
240 textile mills are operating in the country
and the supply of Nigeria starch
to the mills is less than 5% of their demands.
NCGA has been preparing and helping their members in increasing
the tonnage of cassava from the current 36 million tons per annum to 200million tons per annum. The association’s anticipated
target with respect to production., given an average population of 5 million cassava farmers in Nigeria, and each farmer cultivating
2 hectare, it would give conservatively 200 million metric tons. Mathematically, 2 x 20 x 5m = 200 million metric tons. This
is our target for the next 2 years.
With the discovery and introduction of improved cassava
cultivars are capable of producing 20-30 metric tons per hectare. The association
thus sure of regular supply (quantity and quality) to cassava based industries, processors,
and household food. Security programmes of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
NCGA as an association, has taken it upon herself to distribute
to its members newly improved cassava cultivars that are high yielding with early maturity, pests, diseases and draught resistant.
Cassava cultivars that are now introduced. The new Tropical Manioc Selection (TMS) cassava from a low yielding famine reserve
crop to a high yielding cash crop that is prepared and consumed us a dry cereal (gari).
NCGA is intensifying effort on getting capital loan for
acquisition of new tractors, equipment, farm tools e. t c. could be given at reasonable interest rate “(single digit)
and good condition to alleviate their poverty the more. Farm inputs such as insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers
are necessary tools of production. Direct flow of this input from manufacturer (negotiation allowed) to our Association would
remove unnecessary bottle necks and middle men. We want the effect to bring more food at reduced cost of production.
NCGA wants her members to be fully trained in processing,
packaging and mini storage of cassava tubers and its products. Our members usually have cyclical glut of their products, the
effect is abstinence from farm and discouragement of our members. Their economic power is also eroded leading to poverty.
Agricultural products are perishable and have short life span. The association wants to acquire machinery necessary to transform
our tubers into (finished or semi-finished) marketable products that are beyond the reach of the farmers. Also, the various
products to which cassava can be put are project of semi or industrial lines that are capital intensive. When some products
are made from cassava, packaging are obvious problems us well as warehousing. Good packaging and standard ware-housing will
improve the shelf-life of our products while awaiting customers both locally
(few days) and export (weeks/months). NCGA is focusing more on processing, packaging and specialty foods , feed manufacture
could be of immense benefit to the economic strength of the members and economic
growth of the country . It is sadden to know that just 10% of cassava utilities is being exhibited. Devoting time and resources
in processing cassava tubers will be of great improvement and reduce the poverty level of the farmers.
In respect to marketing, our local market cannot consume
all our products, if we maximize our production. In the areas of link, our foreign partners needs could not be ascertained
both in quality, quantity and timing. With the array of information technology in Agric-business, these partners in business,
stand to benefit from our products. In feed manufacture, we want transformation of cassava tubers into chips and peels, our
cassava tubers are not to be left out in the production of Ethanol and gasohol for the transport industries.
With intending improvement in marketing, the beverage industries
are to benefit from carbondioxide production while cassava starch in pure forms
are of high utility in the pharmaceutical companies. The Association is developing and wants developing of international business
alliance that will be of mutual relationship.
Generally, farmers are believed to be poor men, what brings
about this erroneous impression is lack of good training. Therefore, NCGA has decided to organize workshops, symposia, seminars,
field days, film shows , exchange visit among our members and countries that plant cassava and trips (local & foreign)
for the farmers. Gone are the days when farmers are seen as poor people. Agricultural sector accounts for the 70% of total
workforce of the population while cassava farmers constitute about 70% of the
said sector. Thus, if these people are well trained well informed because we believe information brings transformation, their
earning rate from cassava production will drastically increased. We are working to achieve those points mentioned
above and your assistance is also required
