By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
ILORIN, Nigeria (NAN) – In a landmark move for agricultural industrialization, the Kwara State Government, in partnership with the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (KSAN-UK), has officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art cassava processing factory in Osin-Pakate, Ilorin East Local Government Area. This facility represents a significant shift from subsistence farming to value-added agribusiness, leveraging diaspora investment and cooperative models for sustainable development.
Commissioning the facility, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afees Abolore-Alabi, framed the project as a core component of the state’s strategic agricultural priorities. He emphasized that this cooperative-led initiative is more than just a factory; it is a critical node in a broader plan to strengthen the entire cassava value chain within Kwara and the North-Central region.
“This inauguration marks a significant milestone in our deliberate push for cassava value addition and agro-processing,” stated Dr. Abolore-Alabi. “It demonstrates a tangible model where farmer organizations, supported by enabling government policies and strategic partnerships, can become engines for sustainable agribusiness growth and rural wealth creation.”
Beyond Garri: The Multifaceted Impact of Value Addition
The commissioner detailed the transformative potential of moving beyond raw cassava tubers. The factory is equipped to process cassava into a range of high-demand products, including premium garri (granulated flakes), high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) for bakeries and confectioneries, industrial starch, and other derivatives. This diversification is key to unlocking new markets and insulating farmers from price volatility.
Dr. Abolore-Alabi elaborated on the cascading benefits:
- Reduced Post-Harvest Losses: Cassava is highly perishable, often spoiling within 48-72 hours after harvest. Processing extends its shelf life from days to years, preserving economic value.
- Increased Farmer Income: Processed products like HQCF and starch command significantly higher prices per ton than raw tubers, directly boosting farm-gate revenues.
- Job Creation: The factory creates direct employment in operations, logistics, and quality control, while stimulating indirect jobs in farming, transportation, and retail, particularly for youth and women.
- Food Security & Industrial Supply: It contributes to stable food supplies and provides reliable, locally-sourced raw materials for Nigeria’s food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries, reducing import dependence.
The Diaspora Partnership: A Vote of Confidence in Kwara’s Agribusiness Climate
A pivotal aspect of this project is the role of diaspora investment. The commissioner highlighted the partnership with KSAN-UK as a “strong vote of confidence” in Kwara’s agricultural potential. This model channels foreign expertise, capital, and networks directly into rural communities, bridging a critical investment gap.
In his remarks, Dr. Mustapha Salawu, Chairman of KSAN-UK Farmers, commended the state government for creating a supportive and secure environment that made the investment feasible. He issued a powerful call to action: “I encourage Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly our sons and daughters from Kwara, to look homeward. Investing in projects like this is the most concrete way to contribute to community development, state growth, and national progress.”
Dr. Salawu also pointed to Kwara’s strategic advantages: vast arable land, a location serving as a gateway between Nigeria’s northern and southern markets, and investor-friendly policies.
Government’s Role as an Enabler and the Cooperative Model
Dr. Abolore-Alabi clarified the government’s philosophy, moving from a top-down provider to a facilitative partner. “Our role is to provide an enabling environment through supportive policies, critical infrastructure, capacity building, and strategic collaboration,” he explained. This includes improving rural access roads, providing extension services, and facilitating market linkages for cooperatives.
He reaffirmed that farmer cooperatives are a “key pillar” in the state’s strategy for inclusive agricultural development. Cooperatives allow smallholder farmers to pool resources, achieve economies of scale, negotiate better prices, and collectively own processing assets like this factory, ensuring the benefits are widely distributed.
The Osin-Pakate factory is expected to serve as a hub, stimulating increased cassava cultivation in surrounding communities, reducing post-harvest losses for local farmers, and injecting vitality into the rural economy. It stands as a practical manifestation of Kwara State’s agenda to transform agriculture through strategic partnerships, diaspora engagement, and a firm focus on value addition. (NAN)
===========
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/ Isaac Ukpoju
