Association laments lack of market for cassava production


The Chairman, Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria (CGAN), Osun branch, Mr Ganiyu Musefiu, said cassava farmers in state have been reduced to subsistence farmers due to lack of market for their produce.
Musefiu made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, on the many challenges faced by cassava farmers.
Musefiu called on the government at all levels to come to the aid of farmers by assisting them in terms of buying their farm produce to ease the challenges of finding market for their produce.
He said the Federal Government started the 'cassava flour initiative' to assist farmers in expanding their businesses and increase production.
The chairman said that lack of patronage from cassava processors had forced them to revert to the local planting and production system.
He said the cassava flour initiative was to help boost commercialise cassava production.
He added that cassava processing companies, who were the major player in the process, did not buy cassava from the local farmers.
"Just the way government gave grants to farmers for the programme, cassava flour processors were equally given grants for the chain of production to help the production flow accordingly.
"The implementation did not, however, work because it seems the processors just collected the grant and diverted the money, whereby abandoning the project.
"We have now turned to the local markets as cassava processing companies (processors) that are buying cassava from farmer were buying it at unfavourable prices, which could cause bankruptcy for the farmers.
"This is what causes farmers to revert to their subsistence farming system and that is why we chose to sell to local markets, garri, and fufu producers," he said.
Musefiu said cassava farmers basically now sell their produce to the local markets because that is the only way they can keep their operation and livelihood going.
He said farmers also face difficulties in obtaining loans and financial support for their farming operations, adding that some farmers do default in the payment.
The chairman said in spite of making the local market their point of sale terminal, they still find it difficult to sell their produce.
He said it would be difficult for them to pay back loans because of their inability to sell their produce after harvest.
The chairman, however, called on the government to assist the farmers in buying their farm produce after harvest.

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