The Enugu State government has disclosed its readiness to improve cassava production to boost food security, create jobs, and grow the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) through industrialization and exportation of cassava by-products.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialization in the state, Mr. Patrick Ubru, made this known during an inspection tour of the cassava farmlands in Umulokpa, Uzo Uwani LGA, accompanied by the Chairman of the local government, Mr. Celestine Chukwudi Nnadozie.
The commissioner noted that the state is ready to get every facility to actualize the announcement made early by the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, about the collaboration of the state with the Federal Ministry of Finance, together with Bio-source Technology Limited, a private sector firm, to establish bioethanol plants in the state.
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He explained that cassava has about 34 products and over 200 by-products that could be used by different industries, especially pharmaceuticals. He assured that the government had concluded plans to boost cassava to bioethanol value chain development in the state.
“I am happy with what I have seen here today. I thank the people of Uzo Uwani for joining the state in Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to implement cassava-to-bioethanol value chain development in the state.
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According to Ubru, three local governments representing each of the three senatorial districts of the state were selected for the pilot scheme of the project, adding that the other two local governments include Nkanu East and Aninri, while promising that it would be extended to the others.
The Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government on his own pointed out that 200 hectares had already been cultivated in communities such as Umulokpa, Ukpata, and Uvuru, while Nimbo and Abbi were willing to assist in meeting the 500 hectare target.
