Written by Okafor Joseph Afam | Editor, SpringnewsNG Media Limited | June 16, 2025

Nigeria, the world’s largest producer of cassava, is struggling to meet the increasing industrial demand for the crop, raising concerns about food security, job losses, and missed economic opportunities across key sectors.

Despite producing over 59 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, experts say that Nigeria’s processing industries — including starch, ethanol, animal feed, and high-quality cassava flour — are facing severe raw material shortages due to limited investment in mechanized farming and poor yield per hectare.

Industrial Demand Outpaces Supply

According to data from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the demand for cassava-based products has surged significantly due to the expansion of agro-allied industries and rising global interest in cassava derivatives. However, Nigeria’s current cassava production capacity cannot meet this industrial appetite.

“There’s a widening gap between what processors need and what farmers can supply,” said Dr. Ibrahim Oladele, a cassava value chain expert. “Factories are operating far below installed capacity, and some are shutting down or importing raw materials from neighboring countries — a situation that shouldn’t happen in the world’s top cassava producer.”

Poor Yields, Limited Mechanization Blamed

Agricultural analysts attribute the production gap to low farm productivity, limited access to improved cassava varieties, inadequate extension services, and the lack of mechanized equipment among smallholder farmers — who account for over 90% of cassava cultivation in Nigeria.

Average cassava yield per hectare in Nigeria remains less than 10 tonnes, far below the global average of 20–25 tonnes.

“To bridge the gap, the government must invest in large-scale mechanized cassava farms and promote private sector partnerships,” said Mrs. Funke Adeyemi, a cassava processing plant owner in Ogun State.

Call for Policy Support and Research Funding

Industry stakeholders are calling on the Nigerian government to implement a cassava development master plan that prioritizes seed research, irrigation, agro-processing infrastructure, and access to finance for farmers.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also being urged to extend its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to include more cassava-specific interventions and to encourage backward integration among large-scale processors.

Export Potential Under Threat

Nigeria’s inability to meet domestic industrial demand is also affecting the country’s capacity to tap into the growing international market for cassava derivatives such as ethanol, sorbitol, and bio-plastics.

“Without urgent reforms and investment, Nigeria risks losing out to countries like Thailand and Vietnam, which are already dominating global cassava export markets,” warned Dr. Oladele.

SpringnewsNG Media Limited will continue to track developments in Nigeria’s cassava production sector and provide updates on government policies and private sector initiatives.