Agbeyewa Farms Targets Bigger Share of $3.6bn Cassava Market

News in brief:

-NALDA partners with Agbeyewa Farms to scale cassava production with 5,000 additional hectares and industrial processing upgrades.

-Stakeholders believe Nigeria is positioned to dominate cassava export markets, create jobs, and boost economic diversification.

Nigeria has taken a major step to unlock the full economic potential of cassava through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and Agbeyewa Farms. The agreement aims to expand industrial-scale cassava production, boost exports, and strengthen food security.

Speaking in Abuja during the signing ceremony, NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Cornelius Olusegun Adebayo, said the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises private sector-led agricultural transformation.

Adebayo reaffirmed Agbeyewa Farms’ status as the largest cassava farm in Nigeria and Africa, noting that the initiative will accelerate Nigeria’s entry into the $3.65bn global cassava market.

Government to Clear 5,000 Hectares for Industrial Cultivation

Under the agreement, the federal agency will clear 5,000 additional hectares for large-scale cassava cultivation. The partnership will also secure raw materials for industrial processing and invest in value-added cassava derivatives for export.

Adebayo emphasised that the government’s role is to create an enabling environment, not run businesses. “This model proves the private sector can scale faster, bigger, and more sustainably,” he stated.

Agbeyewa Sets Sights on Becoming World’s Largest Cassava Processor

Agbeyewa Farms’ CEO, Seyi Aiyeleso (OSKA), disclosed that the company has already cultivated 3,000 hectares and plans to reach 5,000 hectares by the end of 2025.

He said the company’s strategy is anchored on cultivation, aggregation, processing, and training. All these efforts are driven by full mechanisation.

The agribusiness already provides over 2,000 direct jobs and thousands more across its value chain.

Cassava at the Heart of Nigeria’s Food Security Drive

Experts at recent stakeholder engagements say the partnership aligns with national priorities such as expanding mechanisation, youth and women inclusion, supply chain upgrades, and scaling up industrial processing.

Government reforms such as the National Agricultural Development Fund and mechanisation programmes continue to support farmers and agribusinesses nationwide.

Officials and private partners believe Nigeria is positioned to become a global leader in cassava processing, unlocking billions in value creation.

Workshop Highlights Action Plans for Industry Acceleration

A stakeholder workshop hosted earlier by Cavista Holdings and Agbeyewa Farms outlined critical priorities to drive rapid growth in the cassava industry. It will be prioritising the following areas:

-Farmer Aggregation: Organise producers into clusters to improve access to credit and boost yields.

-Industrial-Scale Processing: Establish factories focused on high-value cassava derivatives for export.

-Logistics & Storage Infrastructure: Strengthen transport networks and warehousing to reduce post-harvest losses.

-Policy & Financing Support: Expand government-backed incentives and structure funding to attract more private capital.

Experts from NADF, Lagos Business School and other partners expressed optimism that coordinated actions in these four areas will expedite Nigeria’s rise as a cassava processing giant.

Agbeyewa Farms already has an in-grower/out-grower model supporting 1,500 farmers and has proposed a 100,000-hectare cassava project in partnership with Ekiti State. It is also developing a model town that features housing, training centres, healthcare, and logistics systems.

These efforts aim to strengthen rural economies and reduce poverty by expanding agribusiness.

Nigeria’s cassava industry is entering a transformative new era, one that could reposition the country as a global cassava powerhouse while feeding the nation and driving industrial growth.