Edo takes delivery of 500 bundles of cassava stems

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Edo office, on Thursday, took delivery of 500 bundles of improved TMS419 cassava stems variety from Root and Tuber Expansion Programme, (RTEP) Ijebu-Ife.

Receiving the cassava stems, The State Director of Edo FMARD office, Wellington Omoragbon, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the cassava stems would be distributed to 50 selected farmers across the state.

Omoragbon noted that the new improved variety of cassava stems, were rich in starch content needed for industrial production.

“We have just received 500 bundles of improved variety of cassava stems from the Root and Tuber Expansion programme.

“Each of the 50 selected farmers, will get 10 bundles each which they are expected to grow and also multiply the stems in the state,” he said.

According to him, government’s objective is to commercialise root and tuber production to improve the living conditions and create wealth for the smallholder farmers in Nigeria.(NAN)