The Director-General of the Pan-African Organization for Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI), Dr. Henry Emejuo, has affirmed that cassava remains vital to Africa’s food security and industrial development.
Speaking at the sidelines of the recently concluded three-day Africa Cassava Conference in Abuja, Emejuo described the crop as both an economic commodity and a staple food across the continent.
He highlighted cassava’s versatility, noting that “there is hardly a day a Nigerian or African household does not consume a cassava-based product such as garri or tapioca.”
Emejuo also emphasized the crop’s industrial significance, pointing out its use in producing ethanol, high-quality cassava flour, sorbitol, and healthy sweeteners across manufacturing sectors.
“The conference provided a crucial platform for policymakers, scientists, and industrialists to harmonize strategies that will deepen cassava utilization and unlock its economic potential,” he said.
Delegates from over seven African countries spent three days discussing policy, technical, and scientific issues affecting the cassava value chain. Emejuo described the event as a success, adding that its outcomes would guide countries in expanding industrial use of cassava and strengthening its role in driving economic growth.
Mustafa Bakano, National President of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, said the conference deliberations would tackle key challenges faced by smallholder farmers, including access to finance, improved farming practices, and adherence to industrial standards.
He added that the participation of financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry, offered stakeholders opportunities to develop practical solutions to be presented to governments.
Prof. Michael Kento, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Sciences and Food Security at the University of Juba, South Sudan, described the conference as an eye-opener for his country. He expressed South Sudan’s interest in learning from Nigeria’s leadership in cassava production, particularly in extension services, processing, marketing, policy development, and research.
“Nigeria’s success in cassava production can drive continental success. Closer collaboration between our countries will strengthen the sub sector, enhancing food security, nutrition, and industrial growth in South Sudan,” Kento said.
Prof. Emmanuel Bobobee of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, stressed that mechanized cassava production is key to transforming the crop into an engine for Africa’s next industrial revolution.
He highlighted his mechanical cassava harvester, already in use in several countries, as a tool to support large-scale production if adopted more widely. “The participation of seven countries demonstrates rising continental interest in cassava. The crop should be placed at the centre of Africa’s fourth industrial revolution. Ghana and Nigeria share similar agricultural challenges, and both countries stand to benefit from sharing innovations and strengthening cross-border collaboration,” he said.
The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, industrialists, and farmers to explore opportunities in processing, technology adoption, exports, and the development of cassava-based products across Africa. The event concluded with a dinner and the presentation of awards to distinguished players and partners in the sector.
