** Nigerian farmers happy over increased price of cassava- farmers’ leader


The price of cassava has more than doubled.

The increase in the price of cassava tubers has impacted positively on farmers, David Ogunsade, the Chairman of Cassava Growers Association in Osun, has said.

Mr. Ogunsade, who is also the Southwest Chairman of the association, said at Imesi-Ile in Obokun Local Government Area on Thursday, that the development had paved way for growers of the product to make impressive gains in six months.

He said the development had changed the fortunes of cassava farmers and allowed them access funds for the expansion of their farms; acquire inputs and other incentives for farm management. He said that farmers in the state sold no fewer than 35,000 tonnes of cassava tubers from January to date, adding that one tone of cassava tuber now goes for N25, 000 compared to N10, 000 in 2012.

“The greater demand for cassava tubers by local industries coupled with high demand for cassava chips outside the country is responsible for the price increase.

“What is happening now is an opportunity for able-bodied Nigerians, irrespective of status, to invest in the sector so as to increase production and meet both national and international demand.

“Investment in the sector is lucrative with no risk,” he said.

He further said that farmers had started receiving fertilisers at subsidised rate under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the Federal Government.

“Also, each of the registered farmers across the state has received 20 kg of treated maize and rice for planting freely under the scheme,” he said.

He appealed to beneficiaries to plant and maintain their farms properly, so as to have bumper harvest at the end of the season.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/139197-nigerian-farmers-happy-over-increased-price-of-cassava-farmers-leader.html

It's great to note that cassava farmer are benefiting immensely from their hard works, nonetheless the cassava 'boom' should aim to drive down price, not increase it. Otherwise, while the farmers smile to the banks, the poor will be unable to afford their simple cassava based meals - garri!

I suspected cassava tubers may have become goldmine when the price of garri doubled of recent.

The cassava bread and agricultural initiatives that are being mocked by imbeciles on this forum are already yielding positive results.

The consequence of this development is that our mostly rural farmers will have more reward for their hardwork, more money in their pockets, poverty will be reduced and more jobs will be created (more people will be encouraged to grow cassava). The only downside is that you and I will pay more for garri.

Obj remains a legend

Abagworo: Obj remains a legend

Obj introduced cassava bread?

PointB: It's great to note that cassava farmer are benefiting immensely from their hard works, nonetheless the cassava 'boom' should aim to drive down price, not increase it. Otherwise, while the farmers smile to the banks, the poor will be unable to afford their simple cassava based meals - garri!

It is the other way round. The farmers are mostly the poor and they benefit from better sales. In the long run, more people will cultivate more cassava to meet demand and this will reduce the price a bit.

But very low price of farm produce is ADVERSE to farmers and discourage more people from venturing into farming.

Therefore, the price has to be FAIR to both the farmer and consumer.

PointB:

Obj introduced cassava bread?

Yes, OBJ first started the policy of cassava bread but it failed. The GEJ govt only reintroduced the policy.

Sincere 9gerian:
Yes, OBJ first started the policy of cassava bread but it failed. The GEJ govt only reintroduced the policy.

I see.

Sincere 9gerian:
Yes, OBJ first started the policy of cassava bread but it failed. The GEJ govt only reintroduced the policy.

Just call it PDP policy and move on (if you don't want to credit OBJ for the initiative).

Obasanjo shares 40% cassava bread with African leaders

Former Nigeria’s President ,Olusegun Obasanjo, took the 40 percent cassava flour inclusion in bread to Tanzania recently as he urged the Tanzania President to promote the use of cassava in confectioneries in his country to transform agriculture.

He noted that the use of cassava flour in bread would stimulate the demand for the root crop, create jobs and, more importantly, make farmers proud.

Obasanjo who is the Goodwill Ambassador for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) was in Tanzania for the inauguration of the IITA Science Building in Dar es Salaam.

Former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo and the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency, Dr Mrisho Jakaya Kikwete, eat bread baked with 40 percent cassava flour to show their endorsement.

Former President Benjamin Mkapa of the United Republic of Tanzania also ate the bread for the first time. The leaders supported the innovation, noting that it would bring several benefits to the continent.

President Kikwete after eating the cassava bread commended IITA for the technology, saying that the bread had an “excellent” taste.

“There is no difference between this bread and the normal bread we are used to,” he added.

The 40 percent cassava bread was first developed by IITA in Nigeria, as part of efforts to boost the utilization of cassava and create market for farmers.

The Director General for IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga said today that the bread innovation is part of the cassava value chain, stressing that it complements breeding efforts.

In Nigeria, IITA Ambassador Obasanjo, in 2002 initiated a policy on 10 percent inclusion in bread under a program tagged “the Presidential Initiative on Cassava.” The program which was implemented by IITA and national partners, drove the demand for cassava, increased productivity by about 10million tons in 6 years, and made Nigeria the top world producer of cassava.

The IITA Ambassador urged African governments seeking genuine agricultural transformation to adopt the use of cassava in confectioneries, and institute policies that would make the continent food secure and cut import bills on food.

To facilitate the adoption of the technology across countries in Africa, IITA deployed a team of expert to train local bakers on the inclusion of cassava flour in bread in Tanzania.

Dr Victor Manyong, IITA Director for Eastern Africa noted that the adoption of the technology would improve the livelihoods of farmers, bakers and have a positive impact on the economy of Tanzania.

Consumed by more than 600 million people in the developing world, cassava has transformed from a food security crop to a cash crop with industrial uses in sectors such as brewery, pharmaceutical and confectionery industries. The crop is one of Africa’s major staples, with the continent cultivating about 50 percent of global production.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/obasanjo-shares-40-cassava-bread-with-african-leaders/

Sincere 9gerian:
It is the other way round. The farmers are mostly the poor and they benefit from better sales. In the long run, more people will cultivate more cassava to meet demand and this will reduce the price a bit.

But very low price of farm produce is ADVERSE to farmers and discourage more people from venturing into farming.

Therefore, the price has to be FAIR to both the farmer and consumer.

I disagree, most farmers, even the subsistence farmers are not generally classed under the very poor. The very poor have no land to boast of, let alone farm on them. They are the ones that will feel the brunt of the rise in garri price. I sincerely hope that a rice boom will annual the effect of this 'cassava boom' driven mostly by cassava bread!

PointB:

I disagree, most farmers, even the subsistence farmers are not generally classed under the very poor. The very poor have no land to boast of, let alone farm on them. They are the ones that will feel the brunt of the rise in garri price. I sincerely hope that a rice boom will annual the effect of this 'cassava boom' driven mostly by cassava bread!

Bros if you have no land, go to your village and ask, they will give you land to farm.

PointB:

I disagree, most farmers, even the subsistence farmers are not generally classed under the very poor. The very poor have no land to boast of, let alone farm on them. They are the ones that will feel the brunt of the rise in garri price. I sincerely hope that a rice boom will annual the effect of this 'cassava boom' driven mostly by cassava bread!

The cassava bread initiative and export of cassava chips was meant to increase DEMAND for cassava tubers. When demand increases, price must go up. Increased price will attract more people to cultivate cassava, thereby creating jobs. That will lead to increased SUPPLY which will eventually force down the price a bit. The same will happen to rice.

The fact today is that most of our farmers are old, poor and live in rural areas.

Rossikk: Bros if you have no land, go to your village and ask, they will give you land to farm.

My guy, what are you waiting for? The time you spent on various threads here, is enough to cultivate a thousand hectares of land. I sincerely believe you would be more productive as a farmer than whatever it is you do now.

Sincere 9gerian:
The cassava bread initiative and export of cassava chips was meant to increase DEMAND for cassava tubers. When demand increases, price must go up. Increased price will attract more people to cultivate cassava, thereby creating jobs. That will lead to increased SUPPLY which will eventually force down the price a bit. The same will happen to rice.

The fact today is that most of our farmers are old, poor and live in rural areas.

All you said is correct - 100%. But my argument remains that the increase in demand, which forced price up, will definitely affect the very poor in the short to medium term, and knowing the way things work in this country, in the long term too. Price generally rise faster than they fall.

The solution of course lies, not only in improved breeds (stem) but more importantly mechanized commercial cassava farming. Without this critical infrastructural/system the poor are in for a long brutal ride. I hope rice will not be used for bio-fuel soon, or rice bread!

Sincere 9gerian:
The cassava bread initiative and export of cassava chips was meant to increase DEMAND for cassava tubers. When demand increases, price must go up. Increased price will attract more people to cultivate cassava, thereby creating jobs. That will lead to increased SUPPLY which will eventually force down the price a bit. The same will happen to rice.

The fact today is that most of our farmers are old, poor and live in rural areas.

That's simplistic. Driving cassava initiative through the usual subsistence farming won't achieve much. Let's go for the gold. Let all the parasitic states in Nigeria cultivate cassava and let's set up ethanol refineries, formulate directives on cassava utilization in breweries and pharmaceutical companies (as source of sucrose). That ll reduce importation of so many stuffs. Besides, we can export too to earn forex.

I now remember many breweries in Nigeria were running trials with sucrose at a point in time when Dangote Sugar could not meet sucrose demand and was impacting negatively on beer availability especially in SW. That was as recent as 2011.The potential is huge and everyone should encourage it.

Sincere 9gerian:
Yes, OBJ first started the policy of cassava bread but it failed. The GEJ govt only reintroduced the policy.

and now it has passed

Prof Corruption:

Just call it PDP policy and move on (if you don't want to credit OBJ for the initiative).




http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/obasanjo-shares-40-cassava-bread-with-african-leaders/

What an irony. The same cassava bread that was mocked and ridiculed on this forum is now a shining star, so much so that the origin of the policy is now an issue. Whao!

Yes, I gave credit to OBJ for initiating the cassava bread policy. But the fact is that it failed. It failed to fly. If it did not fail the present govt would not be expending this much energy trying to push it off the ground- training of bakers on how to substitute cassava flour, increased tarrif on imported wheat flour, zero duty on equipments for making cassava flour, creation of cassava trust fund (not very sure of the name), promoting cassava bread at the Villa and other places,etc

Anyway, you'r obviously here to derail the thread with your silly argument of ownership of policy. I dont have time for back and forth silly argument

Sincere 9gerian: ** Nigerian farmers happy over increased price of cassava- farmers’ leader


The price of cassava has more than doubled.

The increase in the price of cassava tubers has impacted positively on farmers, David Ogunsade, the Chairman of Cassava Growers Association in Osun, has said.

Mr. Ogunsade, who is also the Southwest Chairman of the association, said at Imesi-Ile in Obokun Local Government Area on Thursday, that the development had paved way for growers of the product to make impressive gains in six months.

He said the development had changed the fortunes of cassava farmers and allowed them access funds for the expansion of their farms; acquire inputs and other incentives for farm management. He said that farmers in the state sold no fewer than 35,000 tonnes of cassava tubers from January to date, adding that one tone of cassava tuber now goes for N25, 000 compared to N10, 000 in 2012.

“The greater demand for cassava tubers by local industries coupled with high demand for cassava chips outside the country is responsible for the price increase.

“What is happening now is an opportunity for able-bodied Nigerians, irrespective of status, to invest in the sector so as to increase production and meet both national and international demand.

“Investment in the sector is lucrative with no risk,” he said.

He further said that farmers had started receiving fertilisers at subsidised rate under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) of the Federal Government.

“Also, each of the registered farmers across the state has received 20 kg of treated maize and rice for planting freely under the scheme,” he said.

He appealed to beneficiaries to plant and maintain their farms properly, so as to have bumper harvest at the end of the season.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/139197-nigerian-farmers-happy-over-increased-price-of-cassava-farmers-leader.html

When last did a Farmer's Association express with such enthusiasm the various happenings in the Agric sector? When last did this happen? The emboldened is esp note..... There is a Reason I regard d current Agric Minister, Mr Adesina, as d BEST Min in GEJ's cabinet, even where other performers like Transport, Finance, Trade and Industry, Aviation, Power, are. The man is overseeing a quiet Revolution in d Agric sector. Kudos to d team..

Prof Corruption:

That's simplistic. Driving cassava initiative through the usual subsistence farming won't achieve much. Let's go for the gold. Let all the parasitic states in Nigeria cultivate cassava and let's set up ethanol refineries, formulate directives on cassava utilization in breweries and pharmaceutical companies (as source of sucrose). That ll reduce importation of so many stuffs. Besides, we can export too to earn forex.

I now remember many breweries in Nigeria were running trials with sucrose at a point in time when Dangote Sugar could not meet sucrose demand and was impacting negatively on beer availability especially in SW. That was as recent as 2011.The potential is huge and everyone should encourage it.

A little less simplistic but simplistic still. Ethanol refineries ?? What are the long term prospects of ethanol. Really? The main driver of demand for ethanol is use in fuel blends and there is no business case for it really.It is driven by politics rather than REAL economic demand which means BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE. Not so long ago farmers listened to OBJ planted cassava and there was a GLUT ,no market.


Cassava growers will always be at the mercy of the market . Yes we should consider ways to add value to cassava but there are many others besides ethanol or even export based. We should find innovative ways to preserve,process and yes consume cassava products. It is a big myth that countries MUST export to survive. A country with huge natural resources can produce most of its needs and we should focus more on trading within Nigeria and with African countries rather than making products for Foreign FADS that will fade. With innovative thinking we can process cassava and produce enough cattle feed to stop nomadic life in our country and feed other livestock too http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/frg/AHPP95/95-99.pdf

Sincere 9gerian:
What an irony. The same cassava bread that was mocked and ridiculed on this forum is now a shining star, so much so that the origin of the policy is now an issue. Whao!

Yes, I gave credit to OBJ for initiating the cassava bread policy. But the fact is that it failed. It failed to fly. If it did not fail the present govt would not be expending this much energy trying to push it off the ground- training of bakers on how to substitute cassava flour, increased tarrif on imported wheat flour, zero duty on equipments for making cassava flour, creation of cassava trust fund (not very sure of the name), promoting cassava bread at the Villa and other places,etc

Anyway, you're obviously here to derail the thread with your silly argument of ownership of policy. I dont have time for back and forth silly argument

You don't have to attack me and you can't build something on nothing. Did OBJ formulate the presidential directive on Cassava? Yes or No? Did the initiative within five years increase the productivity of Cassava? Yes or No? You can't legislate a perfect model into existence. You build, improve and continue to improve until there is a model the world can learn from. It's a PDP policy started by OBJ now being expanded by GEJ. What's true about Cassava bread is equally true about Power Turbines now coming up all over the country.

One more question for you: would there have been a cassava bread for GEj to eat at Federal Executive Council meeting had there been no presidential initiative on cassava by OBJ?

0monnakoda:
A little less simplistic but simplistic still. Ethanol refineries ?? What are the long term prospects of ethanol. Really? The main driver of demand for ethanol is use in fuel blends and there is no business case for it really.It is driven by politics rather than REAL economic demand which means BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE. Not so long ago farmers listened to OBJ planted cassava and there was a GLUT ,no market.


Cassava growers will always be at the mercy of the market . Yes we should consider ways to add value to cassava but there are many others besides ethanol or even export based. We should find innovative ways to preserve,process and yes consume cassava products. It is a big myth that countries MUST export to survive. A country with huge natural resources can produce most of its needs and we should focus more on trading within Nigeria and with African countries rather than making products for Foreign FADS that will fade. With innovative thinking we can process cassava and produce enough cattle feed to stop nomadic life in our country and feed other livestock too http://www.fao.org/ag/aga/agap/frg/AHPP95/95-99.pdf

I got your point but at the moment there's no shortfall of cassava in Nigeria. We can use it to replace many stuffs and by so doing encourage the rest of the world to follow us. That opens a huge market for us with attendant employment opportunities.

Countries don't have to export to survive. After all, Malawi is surviving as well as Somalia. To be prosperous, exportation is key. Just look into an area where there is comparative advantage and key into it.

Prof Corruption:

You don't have to attack me and you can't build something on nothing. Did OBJ formulate the presidential directive on Cassava? Yes or No? Did the initiative within five years increase the productivity of Cassava? Yes or No? You can't legislate a perfect model into existence. You build, improve and continue to improve until there is a model the world can learn from. It's a PDP policy started by OBJ now being expanded by GEJ. What's true about Cassava bread is equally true about Power Turbines now coming up all over the country.

One more question for you: would there have been a cassava bread for GEj to eat at Federal Executive Council meeting had there been no presidential initiative on cassava by OBJ?

For the last time, I was the first to admit that OBJ initiated it but it DIED. Just like the NITEL privatised by OBJ died. There was NOTHING like cassava bread when GEJ came to power. Now, there is cassava bread, though the circulation has still not peaked.

For your information, churning out of policies and programmes has NEVER been a problem in the public sector. If you become a minister or commissioner today, you'll inherit thousands of proposals/ideas. The problem has always been IMPLEMENTATION and achieving RESULTS.

PointB:

Obj introduced cassava bread?

.

Prof Corruption:

I got your point but at the moment there's no shortfall of cassava in Nigeria. We can use it to replace many stuffs and by so doing encourage the rest of the world to follow us. That opens a huge market for us with attendant employment opportunities.

Countries don't have to export to survive. After all, Malawi is surviving as well as Somalia. To be prosperous, exportation is key. Just look into an area where there is comparative advantage and key into it.

The point with cassava is there is an opportunity cost to investing time and money in cassava production and if at the end of all that the price crashes the farmer is in trouble. I am not saying it is a bad thing but we should thing of it in the long term and be sure we are in control of the market not at its mercy. We should not be carried away by short term hype but study the future and ask "What is the scope for adding value" for now we are selling cassava as a commodity and that is just not smart.

Obasanjo got us all to grow cassava,” says Yusuf Tsunbuji, a Taraba farmer, “and we ended up using it as firewood.” http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21577113-if-only-nigeria-could-revamp-its-farms-feed-yourself

It is a myth that you must export goods to be prosperous. A big myth. Industrialization is the most important thing. If a nation is industrialized and big enough with a large well educated highly skilled population and key natural resources particularly energy exportation of goods is good but NOT key. In such a situation the only "export" may be services/huma resources NOT cassavoid produce.

Prof Corruption:

I got your point but at the moment there's no shortfall of cassava in Nigeria. We can use it to replace many stuffs and by so doing encourage the rest of the world to follow us. That opens a huge market for us with attendant employment opportunities.

Countries don't have to export to survive. After all, Malawi is surviving as well as Somalia. To be prosperous, exportation is key. Just look into an area where there is comparative advantage and key into it.

The point with cassava is there is an opportunity cost to investing time and money in cassava production and if at the end of all that the price crashes the farmer is in trouble. I am not saying it is a bad thing but we should think of it in the long term and be sure we are in control of the market not at its mercy. We should not be carried away by short term hype but study the future and ask "What is the scope for adding value" for now we are selling cassava as a commodity and that is just not smart.

Obasanjo got us all to grow cassava,” says Yusuf Tsunbuji, a Taraba farmer, “and we ended up using it as firewood.” http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21577113-if-only-nigeria-could-revamp-its-farms-feed-yourself

It is a myth that you must export goods to be prosperous. A big myth. America is a net importer as are many EU countries Industrialization is the most important thing. If a nation is industrialized and big enough with a large well educated highly skilled population and key natural resources particularly energy exportation of goods is good but NOT key. In such a situation the only "export" may be services/huma resources NOT cassavoid produce.
If Nigeria was industrialized we would import very little. Our needs are quite basic and we have more resources than Japan and UK together.
Why is Luxembourg so prosperous,what do they export?

This has nothing to do with Cassava bread. Obj encouraged exporting Cassava which a lot of people invested in. I remembered when some people complained bout its high price nd Obj replied them "To start planting it too to enjoy its price increase". Cassava bread was introduced to reduce our dependence on Flour importation and i belive it hasn't caught up yet. Who can tell me he's eaten or even seen Cassava bread in the market??

Sincere 9gerian:
For the last time, I was the first to admit that OBJ initiated it but it DIED. Just like the NITEL privatised by OBJ died. There was NOTHING like cassava bread when GEJ came to power. Now, there is cassava bread, though the circulation has still not peaked.

For your information, churning out of policies and programmes has NEVER been a problem in the public sector. If you become a minister or commissioner today, you'll inherit thousands of proposals/ideas. The problem has always been IMPLEMENTATION and achieving RESULTS.

How exactly did it die when the same policy improved production within a span of five years? You were quick to mention NITEL but forgot to mention MTN, GLO, etc. Does NITEL failure belittle the success of OBJ policy on Telecom liberalization? Who implemented those reforms?

Cassava bread is not something you implement overnight considering the health implications that might likely result. It's bound to be gradual. You formulate the policy, create an opportunity for pilot scheme which was ably done by IITA and then call for national implementation. Expectation was to increase production of cassava to curtail importation of some stuff, create employment opportunities for Nigerians and serve as a possible source of forex. That appreciable production was recorded within six years of implementation contradicts your postulation that the policy failed.

IITA has now appointed OBJ an ambassador to help promote same initiative in Africa and indeed throughout the world.

0monnakoda:
The point with cassava is there is an opportunity cost to investing time and money in cassava production and if at the end of all that the price crashes the farmer is in trouble. I am not saying it is a bad thing but we should think of it in the long term and be sure we are in control of the market not at its mercy. We should not be carried away by short term hype but study the future and ask "What is the scope for adding value" for now we are selling cassava as a commodity and that is just not smart.

Obasanjo got us all to grow cassava,” says Yusuf Tsunbuji, a Taraba farmer, “and we ended up using it as firewood.” http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21577113-if-only-nigeria-could-revamp-its-farms-feed-yourself

It is a myth that you must export goods to be prosperous. A big myth. America is a net importer as are many EU countries Industrialization is the most important thing. If a nation is industrialized and big enough with a large well educated highly skilled population and key natural resources particularly energy exportation of goods is good but NOT key. In such a situation the only "export" may be services/huma resources NOT cassavoid produce.
If Nigeria was industrialized we would import very little. Our needs are quite basic and we have more resources than Japan and UK together.
Why is Luxembourg so prosperous,what do they export?

You see, I won't get into argument about exportation or no exportation with you. As long as your philosophy is not held at the highest level of decision making in Nigeria, I am fine.

How was Japan made? What's making China? What's the source of Germany's strength?

Prof Corruption:

You see, I won't get into argument about exportation or no exportation with you. As long as your philosophy is not held at the highest level of decision making in Nigeria, I am fine.

How was Japan made? What's making China? What's the source of Germany's strength?

Some countries get rich from exports I agree but not ALL. Those countries with fewer natural resources rely on SUPERIOR HUMAN RESOURCES that is what is making those countries you mention.
The form of your argument is like saying to your child "you must play football look at Messi and Ronaldo" surely you can see the logical hiatus in that. The United States was not made by export but by Slavery(IMPORTS) and then Industrialization plus being a very large country with all kinds of Natural resources and the Best Human resource and it is A NET IMPORTER