The Federal Government of Nigeria has chosen Ondo State as one of the 18 States for the establishment of its cassava processing plants.
The Technical Adviser-Operations to the Minister of Agriculture, Mrs Toyin Adetunji disclosed this during a meeting with the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, in his office in Akure, on Monday.
Adetunji said the Federal Government is set to work hand in hand with the Ondo state government in the area of land acquisition and clearing. She assured that the keen interest of Governor Mimiko's administration in cassava revolution would fast track the take-off of the processing plant which will be sited in Ore and would cover about 6,000 hectares of land.
In his response, Governor Mimiko reiterated his administration's strong belief in agriculture as a veritable tool for poverty reduction and youth engagement. He therefore signified the interest of the State government to partner with the Federal Government in making its cassava revolution programme a reality in Ondo State.
Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who described agriculture as a major panacea for poverty alleviation, but yet to be fully exploited, threw his weight behind the cassava revolution agenda of the Federal Government, which he said will boost food production in the country.
His words: "we are ready to partner with you in this noble idea, particularly in agriculture in which I have no doubt in my mind that it will engage youth positively and also reduce poverty in this country.
"The choice to site the plant in Ore is right, there is infrastructure, there is power, perhaps the most accessible city to market. This is a merger of vision and we'll continue to partner with the Federal Government on innovations like this.”
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