In fulfilment of the Nigerian government’s economic diversification policy, a 500 hectares of Mechanised Cassava Farming and Cultivation in Delta State has begun.
The Minister of Agriculture, who conducted the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, round the project site at Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, said that 150 hectares of land had been cultivated out of the 500 hectares of the project’s first phase.
The Minister, who was represented by Dr. Martin Fregene, a Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said what had been cultivated would yield between 20 and 25 metric tonnes of cassava daily per hectare to meet the Federal Government’s 10 per cent cassava flour requirement in bread.
The team had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Umiaghwa-Abraka, Avwaeke I, Air Vice-Marshal Lucky Ararile (Rtd), where the Governor acknowledged that the project, undertaken by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Delta State Government, would boost food security and create jobs for the people.
Addressing the traditional ruler, Governor Uduaghan said the project was an indication that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was on course.
“Delta State has keyed into the programme through the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ policy,” he said.
In response, the Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka, commended President Jonathan and Governor Uduaghan for the project which would guarantee increased food production and job creation.