Nigeria may be the biggest cassava producer in the world, but it’s making little profit from it. Despite growing about 20 percent of all the cassava in the world, the country controls only two percent of global cassava processing.
This shocking gap was brought to light by industry experts who say Nigeria is missing out on big money because it hasn’t figured out how to turn its massive cassava harvest into useful products like starch, flour, and ethanol.
Instead of exporting processed cassava products and earning foreign exchange, the country is spending billions importing these same products. This heavy reliance on imports is putting serious pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves, money that could have been saved or used to develop the local economy.
Experts say the root of the problem is the country’s poor processing capacity. Many Nigerian industries say local cassava processors are unable to meet the high standards needed for industrial use. This makes them look abroad to get what they need.
According to a local agro-processing consultant, “We have the cassava, but we lack the machines, the quality control, and the supply chain to turn it into real money.”
This situation continues to worry many in the agriculture sector, especially as cassava has the potential to boost jobs, reduce imports, and grow the economy, if properly harnessed.
The message is clear: Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine, but until it starts refining that gold, it will keep begging others to lend it money.
