FG to distribute 1,500 bundles of cassava stems to farmers

iyebiye olawuyi

June 29, 2017 2:11 PM

Justus Kachikwu, Chairman of the Association disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Asaba.

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The Federal Government will distribute 1,500 bundles of cassava stems to 300 farmers in Delta on Friday, the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Delta Chapter, has disclosed.

Justus Kachikwu, Chairman of the Association disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Asaba.

Kachikwu said that government partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in providing the improved stems for distribution to the farmers.

He said that farmers from the three senatorial districts of the state would benefit from the free cassava stems.

According to him, each of the senatorial districts would receive 500 bundles of the cassava stems.

Names of 100 farmers were randomly compiled to benefit from the gesture in each senatorial district.

According to Kachikwu, IITA in partnership with the Federal Government produced the stems with boundless Yellow (vitamin A) for distribution to cassava farmers in the state.

“Farmers from the three senatorial districts will benefit and each district will receive 500 bundles of cassava stems with each farmer taking home 5 bundles of cassava stems for planting."

“There is no condition attached; the qualification as beneficiary is that you own a parcel of land prepared for cultivating cassava."

“To benefit, you must be present at the distribution centre to collect the stems,’’ Kachikwu told NAN.

He said the association was committed to improving cassava production in the state with a view to creating jobs and providing raw materials for the agro-based industries.

He assured the farmers of a ready market for their cassava tubers at the end of harvest.

According to him, there are several proposals from various agro-based industries, demanding for cassava.

“We need more people to go into cassava cultivation in the state because we have ready markets for it."

“This is why we are calling on serious farmers to go into cassava cultivation,’’ he said.

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