NRCRI Onboards New CSEs, Harps On Need For Quality Cassava Stems From Entrepreneurs

By Charity Uwakwe

The management of National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike has, yesterday, commenced a three-day training program aimed at incorporating new Cassava Seeds Entrepreneurs, (CSE’s) to enhance the production of quality cassava stems.

Speaking at the workshop, held at the Institute, yesterday, the Executive Director, Prof. Ukpabi  J. Ukpabi reiterated the need for Cassava farmers to be able to produce cassava varieties, while insisting on quality stems of same.

He stressed that training programme which is in conjunction with IITA initiatives, Basics (2), hence, ‘Building An Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava, Phase 2, would prepare New Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs, (CSEs) for the production of quality cassava stems.

Prof. Ukpabi who was represented by Dr. Godwin N. Asumugha, the Director, Research Support Services Department pointed out that the Basics Projects of the Institute would among other activities train cassava farmers to produce cassava varieties, adding, “and not only producing cassava varieties they are suppose to produce quality stems. We are talking about the seed system so we are onboarding the new cassava seed Entrepreneurs.”

He outlined that the  participants ranging 60 village seed entrepreneurs, 27 foundation seed Producers and three certification officers from Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom States will be onboarded at the training

According to him, the training would in no doubt put at bay the extent of dependency of farmers on the institute by various CSEs, hence the former would supply seeds to Foundation Seed Producers who would in return reach out to Cassava Seeds Entrepreneurs and Mixed Cassava Seeds Enterpreneurs in their states.

Hear him: “The Foundation Seed Producer’s will be supplied cassava seeds from the national root crop research institute Umudike, they will now  supply this stems to the cassava seed Entrepreneurs in their states and another called  the mixed cassava seed enterpreneurs.

“This people are picked among the CSE’s in every state. We will supply foundation seed and they will grow this and be able to supply to other cassava enterprenuers in their states. they don’t need to come to National Root Crop Research Institute. In that case, we are spreading out to other geographics. It’s a mandate we are doing in cassava seed system and it’s becoming profitable now. We don’t rely only on the roots we want to produce a clean quality stems.

He explained that the essence of onboarding the farmers was to enable the latter produce quality cassava stems that must be certified  by the National Seed Council, (NASC),
insisting that the certification would enable farmers produce cassava seeds devoid of diseases and pest.

Addressing newsmen, Dr. Asumugha urged Entrepreneurs to ensure they attain the stipulated standard of NASC in order for them to become certified Seed Entrepreneurs.

“Onboarding  the farmers is a way of getting those who are not doing it to start doing it ,they may be producing improved cassava materials but now we want them to produce clean materials and the materials must be certified  by the national seed council , and it is a seed law now , and the national seed council have their offices in every state and before you sell your stem the NASC must certify it and you must imbibe the criteria and everything so that you now be a qualified seed Entreprenuer.”

Explaining further, he said: “Cassava stems are  grown by our farmers either local or improved but once you are certified you can then produce cassava seed devoid of diseases and pest.
In BASICS (1), about 50 village seed Entrepreneurs were onboarded and it ended last year and 36 of them were able to get onboard till now the rest dropped. we have about 60 village entrepreneurs that are going to be onboarded this year for BASIC (11) and they will be trained in all agronomic practices , as well as market development and it’s listed in the manual; pest and disease control, harvesting, certification, queuing up into the seed tracker.

“Foundation seed producer’s are about 27 of them and we have the three certification officer’s from three States and they all will be trained for three days to enable them learn everything.”

Corroborating, Prof. Chidozie Egesie, Director, Biotechnology and Product Department and Dr. Joseph Onyeka enjoined participants to embrace the golden opportunity thus making sure the essence of the workshop is actualised, adding “you don’t have to see this as business as usual rather you must utilize it, as we look forward to hearing success stories.”