By Fatima Muraina

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In a bid to boost food security, the federal government in collaboration with Ondo state government have trained youths and women on cassava processing, packaging, value addition and utilization.

The State Coordinator from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security, Mr Akeem Ogundeko, while declaring the training open in Akure at the weekend, described cassava as very important to food security which should be processed for value addition.

He urged participants to make adequate use of the training to train others in their respective communities.

The Ondo State Project Manager of the Agricultural Development Agency ADP, Mr Babasola Adeniyan said the importance of cassava as food crop, can best be utilized if processed into other food varieties  to boost food security and economy of the farmers, state and the country at large.

Adeniyan expressed the need of breaking down the acidic components to a form that can be consumed which he said necessitated the training comprising 60 participants drawn from across the state.

He said the training was aimed at developing capacity of Farmers in production to enable them process cassava roots into various products which he said, if well processed, could boost Nigeria’s economy.

The Resource person, Engr. Adebukola Mogaji of the Engineering Department of Extension of Ondo state ADP, urged cassava farmers to have positive attitude in what they are doing and upgrade themselves by adding value to cassava production.

She spoke on proper hygienic ways of processing cassava in terms of making use of the stainless grating machines, proper fermentation for garri processing, frying and packaging of the products.

She said Farmers will get more profit in well processed varieties of cassava than rushing to produce while recommending use of nylon for packaging and avoiding rodents from entering the storage facilities.

The farmers, however, showed satisfaction and appreciated the organizers of the training which they promised to relay same to other Farmers in their various communities.

The state Acting Chairman of Cassava Growers Association, Mr Oloruntoba Olufemi, in a chat with The Hope, said the training will encourage them to expand their capacity level as they now aspire to cultivate lands in neighbouring villages in the state