FG to establish ethanol, starch industries

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to establish ethanol and starch processing industries in three cities across the country.

Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this known on Monday at the beginning of a three-day workshop at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

The workshop had as theme “Cassava Based Feed System in Africa: Roadmap to a Commercial Reality.’’

The minister, who was represented by Dr Martin Fregene, his Senior Technical Advisor, said President Goodluck Jonathan had finalised plans to create about 3.5 million jobs through the establishment of the industries by 2015.

“Instead of our women and children being exposed to poison by inhaling smoke while using firewood for cooking, ethanol derived from cassava would be used,’’ he said.

The minister also explained that about 1.2 million jobs would be created through the value chain of cassava production.

Participants at the workshop, who were drawn from international research institutions, discussed ways to combat viruses that attack cassava as well as means of boosting production of the crop.

An expert, Dr Okike Acho, said Nigeria imports $ 350 million worth of maize per year, adding, however, that cassava peels could be used to feed livestock and other animals.

Another expert, Dr Claude Fauquet, called for global alliance in the improvement of cassava, saying more than 105 countries were growing cassava.

He explained that about 12 million hectares of land were being used for cassava planting in Africa alone.

Fauquet also said Nigeria produces 50 per cent of the world’s cassava although poverty level in the country remained high when compared with Latin America and Asia.

Dr Kenton Dashiel, IITA’s Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, called on the global community to harness the potentials of cassava.

“ We need to seize this opportunity and harness the benefits of every part of the cassava crop for national development, income generation, nutrition enhancement, and poverty alleviation,’’ he said. (NAN)