Anayo Okoli
28 August 2008
Umuahia — NIGERIA is now ranked the world's highest producer of cassava with a production capacity of 40 million metric tonnes.
The country also ranks world's highest in the production of yam and cocoyam with the production capacity of 30 million metric tonnes and 4 million metric tonnes, respectively.
The Executive Director of National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu who disclosed this also acnnounced that his institute has developed and releasd over 27 cassava varieties, which he said has 35% potential higher yields than the local bests.
Nwosu said that five of the new varieties were recently developed to "checkmate the insurgence of the dreaded African cassava mosaic virus disease".
Nwosu who spoke while addressing the 17th Annual conference of Nigerian Rural Sociological Association, further announced that the institute has been mobilized by the Federal Government "for the training of various rural women groups in the entire Niger Delta states".
"This institute, in collaboration with IITA Ibadan, has developed and released a total of seven hybrid yams that are resistant to major pests and diseases and have potential of doubling the yields of most existing landscapes.
This breakthrough is the first of its kind globally", Nwosu noted.
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IN THE SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA,CASAVA PRODUCTION IS THE HOBBY OF THE RURAL WOMEN. NOW THAT US GOVT.HAS MADE AVAILABLE TO NIGERIA,THE SOME OF $700 MILLION TO FACE THE GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS,I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS FUND BE GIVEN TO RURAL FOOD PRODUCERS IN ALL THE LGAs AS A NON INTEREST LOAN TO BOOST FOOD PRODUCTION.VERY SOON THE MONEY WILL DISAPPEAR INTO UNKNOWN POCKET IN THE GUISE OF SPONSORING MECHANIZED AGRICULTURE WHICH WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
Thanks to President Obasanjo, lets not forget that and what would have been our lot had we allowed him to continue his reform policies beyond 2007. Nigerians have an unsurpassed capacity to always grab defeat from the jaws of victory. If Nigeria were a baby comfortably tucked in a gilded bed with pillows and downers, the baby will always find its way back naked on the dirt, cold floor. You deserve what you pray for - inept and corrupt govt.