Institute Trains 200 On Innovative Cassava Processing For Income Generation

As a way of increasing both internal and external revenue generation of the country, the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (I A R & T), Obafemi Awolowo University, Moor Plantation, Ibadan has empowered no fewer than 200 young men and women on innovative cassava processing for income generation.

 

Speaking at the training workshop, the Director of the Institute, Prof J.A Adediran who was represented by the Deputy Director in the Institute, Dr Ayodele Adegbite said the training was timely and a matter of necessity at this period when dwindling oil price is not favourable to Nigeria economy.

 

Also at a time the present administration is in the forefront  in diversifying her revenue generation source from oil dependent economy to agriculture.

 

Adediran noted that cassava form one of the staple crops in Nigeria with diversified uses, which provides various opportunities in cassava value chain, and as such, innovation in its processing into various products will not only provide just primary products but as well as secondary products, and job opportunities that could be tapped into self reliance and income generation.

 

He maintained that cassava processing has contributed to the Nigeria economy in terms of Gross Domestic Products (GDP), which with proper packaging through export has brought about foreign exchange generation to the economy.

 

The I A R & T boss then charged the participants that the knowledge imbibing from the workshop is expected to bring about reduction in malnutrition learning of how to process nutritious, healthy and diverse safe foods from cassava, as well reduction in unemployment through job and wealth creation, and better skill acquisition.

 

“Therefore, I will implore you to take advantage of a life time opportunity to achieve your vision of being self employed and care less of white collar job that is not forthcoming and be an employer of labour”.

 

Also speaking at the workshop, the head of Product Development Programme in the Institute, Prof Kayode Ashaye noted that cassava utilization has gained wide popularity within and outside the country.

 

He stressed that processing cassava into highly demanded valued added product would not only improve nutritional status of consumers but also create jobs as well as improving on the income generating activities of cassava processors, and country economy at large.