The Bayelsa State government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with DPP international Denmark, on the production and processing of cassava in commercial quantity.
Signing the partnership document, which is set to make the state a cassava exporting state, the Bayelsa State governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Gboriobiogha John Jonah expressed pleasure with the signing of MOU, asserting that the State’s low GDP is as a result of the nonexistence of industries.
Mr Jonah said the partnership will benefit the people of Bayelsa state as well as the investors.
“The factory will employ Bayelsians, the farms you are going to establish will employ Bayelsians and these are the issues that excite most of us,” he said.
The Deputy Governor used the opportunity to call on investors to come to Bayelsa state as the state is quickly becoming an investor haven.
Cassava which is processed into garri, starch, noodles and lots more is a very important crop to Bayelsa and Nigeria.
Studies have shown that Bayelsa state has potentials to cultivate and export cassava in large quantity this informed the state government’s partnership with Dpp international to aid the state in achieving its objectives.
The General Manager and CEO of the company, Wolfgang Holz, assured the State of the ability of his company to process and refine cassava into products that can be sold in the worldwide market.
“The first thing we want to establish here is a farm to grow cassava. We want to make cassava cultivation more professional and develop that agricultural industry by developing better farming methods,” Mr Holz said.
He said his company will introduce partial mechanization so that jobs can be created for interested residents in Bayelsa state.
