Ekiti, Dutch company sign MOU on cassava processing plant

The Ekiti State Government and the Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a cassava processing plant in the state.
Signing the MoU in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the partnership will see to the establishment of one of the biggest cassava processing plants in Nigeria.
DADTCO is renowned for the best on and off farm cassava processing technologies in the world.
Fayemi stated that several Amorphous Mobile Processing Units and a central cassava processing factory will be established to process cassava into cake and high quality cassava flour for consumption within and outside Nigeria.
The MoU was signed at the Executive Chamber, Governor’s Office and witnessed by the Royal Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Bert Ronhaar; the CEO DADTCO, Peter Bolt; and other senior officials of the company and members of the Ekiti State Executive Council.
While asserting that the proposed factory would guarantee a better market for local cassava production in Ekiti State, Fayemi said the partnership will establish 5,000 hectares of buffer cassava farm and support out-grower farmers scheme across the state.
He added that this will revolutionise the cassava value chain in the state as Ekiti farmers will be engaged in expanded production.
Fayemi said a comprehensive feasibility study has been concluded on the establishment of the multi-million naira factory.
Earlier during a courtesy visit on the Governor by the Dutch Ambassador, Bert Ronhaar, Fayemi had commended the Dutch Government for believing in the vision of the administration to turn the agriculture sector into a business venture.
Fayemi also said that the state government is developing a value change for cocoa, rice, palm and cassava so that the vision to make the state the food basket of the southwest and generate 50 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue from the sector becomes a reality.
He opined that the MoU will make Ekiti State an attractive destination of choice for investment from countries in the European Union, even as he said that the presence of the Ambassador at the signing of the MoU is a testimony of the commitment of the Dutch Government and their discovery of Ekiti as the best choice destination for agriculture businesses.
Meanwhile, Ronhaar has pledged support for the development of the various agriculture initiatives of the Fayemi-led administration.
Ronhaar, who described the signing of the MoU as a revolutionary movement to set up a cassava processing company, said the Dutch Government is interested in ensuring that cassava farmers earn in commensurate rate with their effort.
He added that the Dutch Government plans to spend 6 million Euro in the sector over a period of four years, hence his commitment to the joint venture on Cassava in Ekiti.