Nigeria Generates N1.22bn Annually From Cassava Starch

She stated that Nigerian Breweries, NB Plc, is the biggest buyer of its cassava starch, followed by Nestle Nigeria Plc and Yale Foods, Ibadan. Cassava starch is used by manufacturing companies as binder and to produce sugar, that is, maltose.

“When the price of dollar went up there was rush for our products. In fact, I don’t know where to start and end because those who were not buying from us before and who were importing could not import anymore. Today, we have big clienteles, even May and Baker, Unilever and some packaging companies are coming to us. So, we are trying to build capacity to meet their demands,” she stated.

On production capacity, she stated, “We have two lines producing 20-30 metric tons per day that is a total of 50 tons or two trailer loads every day. The annual capacity is 10,000 metric tons but we are doing 6,000 metric tons now,” she added.

She commended Nigerian Breweries, saying, “One of the good things NB did is that they give us advance payment so that our cash flow can be better and we were able to pay farmers as they supplied raw materials. We needed the money to come in quickly so that we can meet up in paying the farmers.”

She also stated that the N1 billion projects which is funded by First Bank of Nigeria and First City Monument Bank, FCMB, has grown its staff base from 10 when it began operation eight years ago, to about 400 people.