THEGUARDIAN, Thesda)(January 31.2012
J6IBUSINESS
FG, Gndo State sign MoU on cassava production r,.. ..... ~Abuji
A S part of measures to
I'lbciOst
Federal
Government Programme
on production of high quality c.usava, the Ministry of Agrlrnlture has signed iii Memofilndum of Understanding with Oodo State government 1:1 order to boost its vaJuMhaln in
cassava product ion
.
The partnership agreement took place d'lrlng a
COUrtesy visit by the state
Governor, O\ ·lsegun Mlmlko to the minister at
wl!rbnd In Ab'lja. He said, .. the agrl!C.rnem
thl!'
would facilirau! market oullet for I million tons of cassava harvl!sn:d from 71, 000 hectart'S of Ian lin the nate, to be used In produc· Ing dry chips. gaIT'. lawn,
[ur",
eth,;mol, s Ll n.: h and
sweetener. He said the 14 million
Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world producing 34 million metric tons of cassava per year but in terms value added globally, we account for zero per cent. Take a look at other countries like Thailand that account for only 10 per cent of production and 80 per cent of global value. metric tons of yearly cana· va production has placed the country as the largest producer of GlSSilva In th~ world but accounted for zero per cent In terms of value added. Adeslna oiIffirmed that the federal Government would be p;trtnering with States on a particular value-chaio to tum ca.SsaVoil Into money making crop ror fanners. He said the government would take advantage of the comparative advan· age thilt Ondo State has In
the production of the crop production. His words, Mwe are work· Ing with th~ states on a panlcuJar value-chaln. where the state has com-p;trative advantage. In the phase of cassava. Ondo Stat~ has huge advanage. It Is on~ of the 10 larg~st producers of cassava in the country. Mit produces vim metric tons of cassava roots. It Is also the hom~ of thr~e Large ca5sava firrru In tbh country. They also have II SMEs produdng lilfge cas-
sava processes. . "Nigeria Is the largest producer of cassava In the world prodUCing 34 mil· lion meDic rons of cassava per yUl" but In terms value added globally. we account for zero per cenL Take a look at other countries lik~ nlailand that account for only 10 percent of produc· tlon ,md 80 per cent of global value.. Earlier In his remark, Mlmlko said th~re was need for the partnership because the Ondo Stilt~ ha~ enonnous potential ca.pa.
ble of reviving agriculture
In the state. He said the government
has deviCl: measures to reposition agriculture. pursue food security, 'lI.S wrll as, providing sustainable raw materials for th~ sector. . The governor add~d that tht': statt': was abl~ lO pr<>vide employment oppor· tunlty for over 1,000 grad. uates through Its Agriculrure Business City aimed towards reviving the agricultural hector In the state. H~ said, -for us In Dndo State, we have always have this agenda and we have put effortS on ground to revlv~ the agricultural sec· tor. We have the right prin· dpl~ and with your pas· sian, we hope to have a good agree.ment with you:
UTCNigeria commissions food court in Lagos 9)' Wolto,.n.o.
T 1fC Nigeria Pic, at the U w~ekend. opened iI NIOO million confectlon~ry and ml"ilt outlet ilt Victoria Island. Lagos.The food court was th~ second of such out· lets designed to selllndlg..... nously processed foods. Explaining the new can· cept. lITC Chid EJIC'cullve Officer, Mrs. Folusho Olanlyan said lhat lhe Indigenous company was bringing its manufacturing ann !.hat produces confec· tioneries and processed meat closer to the consumers through the sall"S shop and caf~ She said. -this food court houses the ml"at shop, confectionery store and th~ bar where we serve only healthy food. We ar~ the only Indigenous company that does confectionery, as well as, meat. We do more of healthy foods, morl" of vegetables, lean mu ts and white m~ats. We try nOI to give to people what we think wlll hann their heahh. "We want to Increase pe0ple, who will belong to the healthy food brigade. Bet:ause If you ecat heal!.hy, productivity Improves in th~ country generally and ;1\ lhesametimethe mortality rate drops with a heahhy population. This rl"tail hann is going to sdl confectionery, meat and then healthy lifestyle," she said. Olanlyan. with about lh~ decades of experience in the food Indusuy added that UTC would soon be launching the cassava bread brand sho ruy, In response to the Federal Government's Initiative. Corporate Affairs Manager, 010tu Ibru said that th~ plan was to have 10 of such outlet.s ultimately, eight around Lagos and two In the Federal (.apllai Temtory (KT). The new outlet has meeting rooms, boardroom, private dining room, WI-FI arena and playing room for children and staff strength currently at 17. "The Idea Is to have lhe total lifestyle and entertainment under one roof," Ibtu said. Retail Operation Mangl"r, Ffimds Nnando said further that the Idea w.u to go dos· er to customers and give ·confidence In OUf products that we have been doing since 1932."We are not running an ~atery, or just a confec· tionery but a shop that Is J1v1n~ everyone comfort. It IS a big umbrl!'lIa that takl!'s ~YE'ryDody-- . "What w~ off~r here ilre products processw by us. Our prices all! cheape[ very competitive and affordable. OUr major focus StartS with th~ production of bo,h