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Agricultural consulting firm Sahel Consulting said its cassava production programme will guarantee food security an contribute to availability of food resources in the country.
This was revealed by the firm’s programme analyst Mr. Emmanuel Ameh, on July 17, 2024, while highlighting the importance of showcasing high-quality cassava varieties to stakeholders and using DCT as an evidence-based tool for making informed decisions on the sustainability of cassava varieties, during the Farmers’ Field Day event at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Extreme weather and climate change have worsened Africa’s food insecurity, particularly in Nigeria, where oil dependency and other socio-economic factors further strain the food ecosystem. Transforming the agricultural sector is crucial to meeting these challenges, and the cassava value chain offers a viable solution for combating hunger, improving livelihoods, and sustaining the rural economy.
Cassava, a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, was first cultivated in South America and introduced to Nigeria in the sixteenth century. It has become a major staple food for millions globally. Despite Nigeria producing about 63 million tonnes in 2022 (FAO 2022), there remains a 24 million-tonne deficit in meeting domestic demand. Issues such as low farm yields, inadequate land management, poor storage and transportation, pests, diseases, and limited access to improved varieties hinder cassava production. Despite government efforts over the years, supply has not kept pace with growing demand.
To address these challenges, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and CEMUOA Limited have been collaborating since 2020 on the Building an Economically Sustainable and Integrated Cassava Seed System (BASICS II) project. As part of the program activities, Demand Creation Trials (DCT) have been set up in Akwa Ibom State to increase farmers’ and processors’ awareness of adopting high-quality cassava varieties to improve production, increase food security, and promote sustainability in Nigeria.
A critical success factor for this initiative is the active engagement and investment from private sector partners. Executive director of CEMUOA Limited, Mrs. Caroline Udom emphasised the success of this collaboration in providing smallholder farmers with improved cassava seedlings. “It has been a satisfying experience working with Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited. With better cassava varieties and superior seeds, CEMUOA Limited can achieve more. With what we’ve accomplished here, we’ll go back and multiply the seeds to ensure that our farmers have unimpeded access to high-quality and improved seeds over the next five to six farming seasons,” Udom stated.
Senior researcher supervisor of the cassava breeding Unit at IITA, Mr. Uche ThankGod Oche praised the DCT as a crucial tool for integrating cassava breeding into Nigeria’s seed system activities. He emphasised the importance of strategic innovation and collaboration for food sustainability in Nigeria. “Feeding Nigeria’s constantly expanding population is one of the country’s most urgent issues. Adopting the DCT approach in cassava production and processing is therefore revolutionary. Collaboration with regional processors, such as CEMUOA Limited in Uyo, was essential to proving the effectiveness of the many cassava varieties used in the BASICS II (DCT) initiative,” Oche noted.
President of Women Link Agro International Commission, Mrs. Theresa Akpan shared how the DCT project has transformed cassava farming for women in Uyo. She reported that since the group’s founding in 2018, they have never seen such success. The introduction of high-yield varieties like ‘Ayaya’ and ‘Baba 70’ has increased cassava yield and allowed women farmers to better support their families and communities.
The demand creation trials are raising awareness and adoption of high-quality cassava varieties, serving as a vital decision tool for breeders, seed producers and farmers. Sahel Consulting is dedicated to transforming Nigeria’s agriculture and nutrition landscape, ensuring food security and sustainable development for all.