The Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in collaboration with Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:A V A) have empowered over 20 cassava producers’ and processors’ groups with capacity strengthening materials.

At the handing over ceremony of 20 Knap sack sprayers and 40 fermentation vats to farmers and processors, the Director of AMREC, Professor (Mrs.) Carolyn Afolami said the equipment were meant to alleviate the sufferings of farmers and help their work to grow.

Professor Afolami, who disclosed that AMREC had been teaching and training cassava producers and processors on the cultivation and processing of improved varieties of cassava, said that she had enjoyed the support and cooperation of C:A VA.

Corroborating Professor Afolami’s assertion, the Country Manager of C:A V A, Professor Lateef Sanni, pointed out that the prospects derivable from the cultivation and processing of cassava are enormous.

According to him,  processing of cassava products like gari, fufu, biscuit, lafun among others could be achieved and the standard of living enhanced.

Professor Sanni, however, pointed out that C:A V A had been able to make an appreciable impact on the lives of farmers through the support of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UNAAB, Professor Oluwafemi  Balogun, described the occasion as “another milestone in the efforts of the university towards addressing some of the problems of agricultural development and food self sufficiency in Nigeria”.

Professor Balogun, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Segun Lagoke said  given the increasing population growth rate and pressure on available land, there was an urgent need for farmers to adopt improved technology in the production and processing of their products.

He explained that the handing over of the  equipment to cassava producers and processors groups under the C:A V A/AMREC Project will improve food security, rural livelihood and  agricultural production.

He, therefore, called on the beneficiaries of  the projecf to properly utilise the equipment as a means of boosting their livelihood and for the development of their communities.