The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Agbeyewa Farms Limited to launch a Joint Venture (JV) partnership on land development for cassava production and the management of the Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate in Irele, Ekiti State.
According to NALDA, the partnership is aimed at accelerating cassava production, enhancing food security, and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global cassava value chain.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Cornelius Adebayo, described the partnership as a strategic step towards realising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agricultural transformation and rural prosperity.
Adebayo revealed that the partnership was inspired by his official visit to Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State, 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.
He lamented that although Nigeria produces about 65 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, its share in the $3.65 billion global cassava trade is barely $1 million.
To bridge this gap, Adebayo said NALDA will support the private sector to drive value addition and industrial processing of cassava derivatives such as starch, sorbitol, and flour.
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Under the MoU, NALDA will clear 5,000 hectares of land for Agbeyewa Farms to expand production around its existing 3,000-hectare cassava plantation in Ekiti State, while also supporting 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,” Adebayo said.
He added that the arrangement allows Agbeyewa to repay the land-clearing cost over time at a reduced rate, ensuring sustainability and inclusiveness.
“We are encouraging 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,” he noted.
Food Security and Industrialisation
On his part, the Managing Director/CEO of Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. Oscar Seyi Ayeleso commended NALDA’s leadership for fulfilling its promise of partnership and support.
“This collaboration is a dream come true. Agbeyewa Farms started three years ago with 3,000 hectares of cassava and plans to expand to 5,000 hectares this year.
Our goal is to become the largest cassava farm in the world,” Ayeleso stated.
He disclosed that Agbeyewa’s operations have created over 2,300 jobs, including 444 managers and 1,100 farmers, while engaging National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members as trainees on good payment.
“We are transforming rural communities by promoting mechanized farming and youth empowerment.
Our yield last year 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 added.
Ayeleso reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the government’s drive for food security and industrialisation through agro-processing and trading, noting that Agbeyewa currently supplies major cassava processors such as Nestlé and SQC.
Victoria Ibanga