Chinese firm to establish cassava industry in Cross River #nigeria

THE Coordinator of Fadama 111 Project in Cross River, Mr
Bassey Elemi, has said that a Chinese firm will establish a
cassava processing plant in Yakurr Area of the state.
Elemi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on
Sunday that the plant, when established, would be fed by
cassava produced by Fadama User Groups clusters in the
area.
He said that under the World Bank-sponsored Fadama
extension project, Cross River would engage in cassava
production with each cluster cultivating a minimum of 20
hectares of cassava.
NAN recalls that Fadama 111 project ended in February but
the World Bank extended the programme in some selected
states in the federation, including Cross River.
He said: "we are looking at each cluster having a minimum
of 20 hectares of cassava farm and it can be as large as 100
hectares.
You know we have a very large expanse of land for
cultivation in Cross River state.
The areas with such expanse of land, include Akpabuyo,
Awe and of course Yakurr, where a Chinese company plans
to establish a factory.
So, under the Fadama extension programme, you can have
as many as nine clusters in a state.
Each cluster will have a factory to process the cassava that
is produced in the catchment area."
According to him, the World Bank has set aside $200
million for Fadama 111 extension project.
He said that the state government targeted to get 10 million
dollars from the grant as an additional financing for
cassava production.
Elemi said that under Fadama 111 project, the state
government paid its counterpart funds for five years - 2008
to 2013.
The coordinator, however, said that the 18 local
governments in the state had not paid theirs completely.
The 18 councils are collectively owing N108 million for
three years. We are making efforts to see that the
outstanding funds are paid," he said.
I am sure that as we present our case for additional
financing, the issue will be resolved."