Cassava processing industry in Ondo State creates more job opportunities for locals

Nestled in the southwestern region of Nigeria, Ondo State has long been known as a significant cassava hub. With the progress of cassava processing technology, this industry is becoming the engine of local economy, creating a multitude of job opportunities for local residents, driving economic growth, and fostering sustainable development.

cassava products

How Cassava Processing is Fueling Job Creation in Ondo State?

For generations, cassava farmers cultivate the crop and sell the raw tubers in local markets, often at low prices and with high post-harvest losses. While the introduction of cassava processing technology expand the value chain through cassava derivatives production like garri, cassava flour, cassava starch, thus creating more employment.

cassava flour

From Farm to Factory: The Value Chain Expansion

The cassava value chain is extensive, and each stage adds value and creates distinct job roles. The establishment of cassava processing facilities, from large-scale industrial plants to small-scale community-based enterprises, has been pivotal in this shift.

1. Primary Cassava Processing (The Foundation): This initial stage involves peeling, washing, and grating the cassava roots. While some large factories have mechanized this process, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) create significant demand for manual labour. This provides immediate employment for a large number of low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, particularly women and youths in rural areas where job opportunities are scarce.

2. Secondary Cassava Processing (Value Addition): This is where the true economic potential is realized. Cassava is processed into a diverse range of products such as garri, fufu, cassava flour, starch, ethanol, etc, each requiring a specialised workforce:

Garri and Fufu Production: These are the most common traditional foods. The processes of fermentation, pressing, frying (for garri), and milling require operators, technicians, and packagers.

garri

High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF): Used as a substitute for wheat flour in bakeries and confectioneries, producing HQCF requires more technically advanced machinery, creating jobs for machine operators, quality control assistants, and food safety technicians.

Starch: Industrial cassava processing into starch for the paper, textile, and pharmaceutical industries offers high-value job opportunities. These plants need chemical engineers, biotechnologists, laboratory analysts, and plant managers.

Ethanol Production: With Nigeria's push for biofuel, cassava-based ethanol plants are emerging. These are capital-intensive projects that create numerous high-skilled technical and engineering jobs.

The Ripple Effect on the Local Economy

The cassava processing industry stimulates a "ripple effect" across various connected sectors:

Transportation and Logistics: A constant need arises for drivers and truck owners to transport raw cassava from farms to processing plants and finished goods to markets across Nigeria and for export.

Agriculture and Farming: Increased demand for raw cassava tubers incentivizes more farming. This creates more jobs for farmers, farm labourers, and suppliers of agricultural inputs like fertilizers, herbicides, and planting materials.

Cassava processing industry is playing a more important role in fueling Ondo state's local economy and employment. If you want know more information about cassava processing, just chat with us! We, Henan Jinrui, have a branch office in Nigeria, able to offer you suggestions on establishing cassava processing factory and selecting cassava processing machinery!