The Federal Government has launched a strategic initiative to engage 14 million smallholder farmers in a Cassava Bio-ethanol Value Chain Development Project designed to cut fuel importation expenses and bolster Nigeria’s bio-based economy.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, announced the programme in a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Osagie Jacobs.
Speaking at a two-day capacity-building workshop for South East stakeholders in Enugu last week, Bagudu outlined the project’s objective to connect farmers with industrial production systems, bridging agriculture with energy transition, rural advancement and domestic processing.
Through his representative, Mr Auwal Mohammed, Director of Economic Growth, the minister indicated the initiative could generate annual foreign exchange savings exceeding N3 trillion by mixing bio-ethanol with Premium Motor Spirit, thereby decreasing dependence on imported petroleum products.
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The programme seeks to establish cassava as a vital industrial commodity whilst generating employment opportunities, increasing rural household earnings and enhancing local production capabilities within the renewable energy sector.
“We are examining the complete value chain, encompassing high-quality planting materials and starch production, through to carbon dioxide recovery during fermentation and annual livestock feed derived from distillery by-products,” Bagudu stated.
He noted the project would operate through a Triple-Helix knowledge transfer framework concentrating on supplying high-yield, disease-resistant cassava varieties, securing investment, advancing technology and market linkages, and reinforcing the regulatory framework and supporting infrastructure.
Mr Olaifa Alade, Director of Agriculture in the ministry’s Economic Growth Department, explained that the workshop aimed to equip stakeholders with the necessary tools for successful implementation of the cassava bio-ethanol initiative.
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