Cassava Farmers In Ifon-Osun Get 9,000 Bags Of Fertilisers

Farmers in Osun have cultivated 3,500 hectares of cassava in three months, according to the South West Chairman of the Cassava Growers Association, Mr David Ogunsade.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fertilisers were part of the Federal Government’s intervention through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to boost the production of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQSF).Ogunsade disclosed this while launching the distribution of 9,000 bags of fertilisers to cassava farmers in Ifon-Osun, Orolu Local Government area of the state.
Ogunsade said the farmers’ need had been verified and met through tracking and physical inspection by officials of the ministry.
He attributed the feat to the removal of bottlenecks that hitherto bogged down the distribution of farm input to farmers and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to the reformation of the agriculture sector. Ogunsade said Jonathan has distinguished himself as the most farmer-friendly President in the history of Nigeria.
“Prior to the present programme, over 100 farmers have received grants, each beneficiary received N150,000 to cultivate at least two hectares of cassava farm.
“More than 2,000 cassava farmers in the state are to benefit from another round of grants under the High Quality Cassava Flour (HQSF) programme,’’ Ogunsade said.
He said it was high time Nigerian youths joined the cassava growing business to overcome poverty induced by joblessness.
“The Federal Government has put in place an arrangement to mop up cassava tubers being cultivated by farmers, to prevent glut in the cassava market.
“The World Bank is also working toward building more cassava processing industries, one of such industry will be located at Imesi-Ile in Osun,’’ Ogunsade said.
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