Enhancing the Competitiveness of the High Quality Cassava Flour Value Chain in West and Central Africa

DETAILED UPDATE ON IFAD/IITA HQCF PROJECT(PRODUCTION COMPONENT)

Presented by: AYODELE, Omowumi David

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IbadanJune 9, 2015

Subsistence orientated farmer

Florie Renny Farms

WAHAN Farms, Ltd Mount Olive Farms, Ltd, Kwara

state

Nigeria Flour Mills, Apapa, Nigeria

IITA-trainedYouth Agri-prenuers

Equipment Fabricators: Salmak Ltd, Ilorin

Research - Extension

Agents/ NGOs

Input suppliers

Bread & biscuit bakeries; noodle factories; Other end-uses

Consumers/Customers

WAHAN Foods Ltd, Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria

Financial Institutions

HQCF VALUE CHAIN ACTORS LINKAGES

Home caterers & makers of other products

Afon Youth Agriprenuers

Cassava Producer

HQCF

ProcessorEnd-user of HQ

CF Emerging whole sellers of HQCF

Consum

erInput

supplier

Consumers/Customers

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVTIES IN WAHAN FARMS, AFON, ASA LG KWARA STATE

FIELD ESTABLISHMENT ACTIVITIES:Pre-planting operations: Land clearing, land preparation (Ploughing, harrowing and ridging as the case may be).

Planting operations: Planting (of TME 38Ha of 419) was done mechanically (with the use of 2 rows cassava planter) where planter is well adaptable to the terrain in November 2014. Also, planting (of 10Ha of TMS 30572) was done manually same month.

FIELD ESTABLISHMENT ACTIVITIES CONT.

Post-planting operations: First weeding of the field done as scheduled in January. Due to delay in planting and prolonged drought, fertilizer application was delayed. Second weeding and spot spraying has been done as the field is ready for fertilizer application.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Mobilization, networking and registration of Youths:•Courtesy call and pre implementation meetings were held with the community and opinion leaders in Afon.•Community awareness/sensitization (Town hall meeting) was done •25 serious minded youths were networked and linked with WAHAN farms.

Allocation of plots for the Youths:

2 hectares were allocated for each of the youths for their management (as demonstration plots) where they have hands-on practical trainings on productivity enhancing techniques for cassava production which is intended to step down to other farmers to enhance sustainable supply of cassava roots to WAHAN Foods.

Training of youths:

A pre-season training of 40 networked Youths and out growers was conducted in May 2015. In the training, critical issues relevant to profitable cassava production such as: •identification of appropriate soil for cassava production, •appropriate planting space •improved variety in cassava production, •Appropriate land preparation techniques•herbicide and fertilizer application: recommended rate of application, timing and methods of fertilizer application were addressed

Practical demonstrations during training

ACTIVTIES IN AROGUNJO FARMS, ILORIN

Land clearing operation:60 Hectares of land have been cleared in readiness for this planting season

Stumping operation:Removal of remaining roots and stumps of the field have be done

Land preparation:

Ploughing is still in progress and scheduled to end by 16th June while harrowing will follow in due course.

Output 2: Production of Cassava roots VS set indicators

2HY&DR varieties are being tested in 20 demonstration plots sites established for farmers training. 6 more varieties would be introduced this season.50 farmers have been directly trained (as lead farmers)on good agriculture practices and all of them participated actively in demonstrationsAt least 3 microfinance institutions have agreed to provide financial services to the farmers, processors, marketer, and other value chain participants.

Thank you for your attention