Bassey Elemi, the Cross River State Coordinator of Fadama III project, says the state is working toward exporting cassava leaves to other countries.
Elemi said this in an interview with
the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Sunday.
He described cassava leaves as highly
nutritious vegetable with enough protein content.
Elemi said: “Cassava has now become the
king of crops whose leaves, stems and tubers are in high demand, not only here
in Nigeria but in many other countries.
“As the largest producer of cassava in
the country, Cross River is looking at exporting cassava leaves to other countries.”
The coordinator said that the Fadama
III additional financing project currently ongoing in the state was aimed at
increasing cassava production by dividing farms into clusters.
He
charged cassava farmers in the state project to look beyond what cassava was
known for and tap into the cassava value chain.
Elemi said that cassava contains
calcium and potassium, which could be processed into animal feeds for goat and
chickens, among others as an alternative to reducing cost.
He said that his office had cultivated
three varieties of cassava in nine locations across the state to ensure
increased yield, to meet the rising demand for cassava locally and for export.
He, however, advised the farmers not to
relent in their efforts as the state government was committed to empowering
cassava farmers through the Fadama III programme.
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