JR Farms Partners ZANACA on Cassava Production in Zambia

Olawale Ajimotokan

Nigerian firm, JR Farms has entered into partnership with Zambia National Cassava Association (ZANACA) on commercial cassava cultivation in Zambia.

The project targets food security in Zambia and Southern African region. It will also reduce post-harvest loss in the cassava value chain and empower local farmers/ women in Zambia.

The agreement was signed recently in Lusaka by the CEO of JR Farms Limited, Rotimi Olawale and the Chairman of ZANACA, Mr Brighton Mulonga.

Zambia has triggered interest in the consumption and production of “Garri” one of Nigeria’s major staple foods and has introduced it into its school feeding project.

Garri is derived from processed cassava, which is grown in almost all parts of Nigeria and in some West African countries.

Besides producing garri in commercial quantity, the partnership will explore other opportunities in the cassava value chain which may include High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), starch, ethanol among others.

Olawale, expressed excitement about the partnership and opportunity to work in the cassava value chain in Zambia. He also stressed that ZANACA has agreed to participate with JR Farms in providing farmers with tailored training, coaching, access to inputs and aggregation among others.

The Nigerian firm, which is also into coffee processing in Rwanda, exports the product to eight countries.

ZANACA is obliged to monitor the farmers to ensure adherence to prescribed processing requirements and standards.

It would also create the avenues for JR farms to promote the garri produced in Zambia.

ZANACA has contacts with about 3,000 small holder cassava farmers in their respective cooperatives and sites.

It would provide land equity where the cassava project will be sited. It would also facilitate easy approval of food production and other certifications in Zambia.