en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dangote Cement Plc has commissioned a modern cassava processing plant in the Kajola community, Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria, aimed at enhancing Nigeria's food security, promoting agricultural value addition, and improving rural livelihoods.

Built under the 2022 Community Development Agreement (CDA) between Dangote Cement and the host community, the plant processes cassava into products such as garri and fufu. Ayyagari Subbaraidu, Plant Director of Ibese, stated that the project aims to improve cassava processing technology, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable employment opportunities for women and farmers in the community. The facility is equipped with modern machinery, including a 5-ton-per-day peeler, hydraulic press, frying system, fermentation tanks, solar-powered borehole, and sanitary infrastructure.

Bolu Owotomo, Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, inaugurated the facility and praised it as a strategic intervention in agricultural value addition and rural empowerment. He revealed that over 166,000 farmers, including more than 90,000 cassava farmers, have registered with the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS). Through programs such as the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), the Value Chain Development Program (VCDP), and FADAMA-OG CARES, the state government continues to provide training, mechanization, and input support to thousands of cassava farmers.

Sikiru Adesina Adisa, Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government Area, noted that the facility would alleviate the burden of traditional cassava processing methods and enhance overall productivity. Oba Kayode Kusoro, the traditional ruler of the community, called on residents to protect the facility and acknowledged the effective collaboration between the private sector, government, and local residents. Abosede Onifade, a representative of female processors in Kajola, stated that the new equipment would significantly simplify production processes and enable large-scale output.

The facility is expected to provide a ready market for cassava farmers, improve processing efficiency, and promote long-term socio-economic development in Ewekoro and surrounding communities.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com