By Felicia Imohimi
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Agbeyewa Farms Ltd. for cassava production.
NALDA Executive Secretary, Mr Cornelius Adebayo, said at the signing in Abuja on Friday that the partnership aimed to accelerate land development and large-scale cassava cultivation.
He said the joint venture would boost food security, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s agro-industrial value chain.
“It is also aimed at enhancing food security and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global cassava value chain,” he said.
He said that under the MoU, NALDA would clear 5,000 hectares of land for Agbeyewa Farms to expand production around its existing 3,000-hectares cassava plantation in Ekiti.
He disclosed that the authority would also support similar projects in Delta and Kwara States.
‘’Government cannot run enterprises. Our job is to provide the enabling environment for private investment to thrive.
“Agbeyewa has proven to be the best and largest in cassava cultivation; they deserve to anchor our Ekiti Mega Farm Estate.
“This arrangement allows Agbeyewa to repay the land-clearing cost over time at a reduced rate, ensuring sustainability and inclusiveness,” he said.
Adebayo said the collaboration was a strategic step toward realising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural transformation and rural prosperity.
“The partnership was inspired by his official visit to Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti, where the scale and efficiency of operations convinced him to prioritise cassava as one of NALDA’s focus crops.
“What we saw at Agbeyewa Farms changed my direction as chief executive. It encouraged me to include cassava as a major crop under NALDA.
“Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, yet we benefit the least from its global export market,” he said.
Adebayo decried that although Nigeria produced about 65 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, its share in the 3.65 billion dollars global cassava trade was barely one million dollars.
He said NALDA would support the private sector to drive value addition and industrial processing of cassava derivatives such as starch, sorbitol, and flour to bridge the gap.
The executive director encouraged large-scale farming, in-grower systems, and farm estate clusters.
“This model will not only boost food production but also make Nigeria competitive in cassava exports.
“I commend Tinubu’s economic policies for restoring investor confidence and attracting international interest in Nigeria’s agriculture sector,” the executive secretary said.
In his remarks, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Agbeyewa Farms, Mr Oscar Ayeleso, commended NALDA’s leadership for fulfilling its promise of partnership and support.
He described the collaboration as a dream come true.
He explained that the farms started in 2022 with 3,000 hectares of cassava and planned to expand to 5,000 hectares before the end of 2025.
Ayeleso expressed the company’s commitment to supporting the government’s drive for food security and industrialisation through agro-processing and trading.
“The company currently supplies major cassava processors such as Nestlé and SQC.
“Our goal is to become the largest cassava farm in the world.
“Agbeyewa’s operations have created over 2,300 jobs, including 444 managers and 1,100 farmers, while engaging National Youth Service Corps members as trainees on good payment.
“We are transforming rural communities by promoting mechanised farming and youth empowerment.
“Our yield in 2024 was 35 tonnes per hectare, and we are targeting up to 40 tonnes this year. Every hectare cultivated can make a farmer a millionaire,” he said.
Also, Technical Adviser to the NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Olusegun Owolabi, noted that the collaboration was a strategic partnership aimed at resource sharing, innovation, and risk management.
“This MoU provides a guiding framework to strengthen collaboration and ensure transparency.
“It will serve as a model for future partnerships across NALDA’s cluster projects, including greenhouse, poultry, livestock, and plantation developments,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Tosin Kolade
