Green Harvest Stuffs Moves to Turn Benue Cassava into ‘Crude Oil’

News in Brief: 

— An agribusiness has begun mobilising farmers South of Benue to expand its cassava production, processing and market access.

— About 3,000 farmers have already registered for its cooperative initiative, and the company plans to diversify into livestock feed and bioethanol production.

During the Farmers Awareness and Mobilisation Programme and the flag-off of the Green Harvest Cooperative Society in Benue South Senatorial District, the MD and Chief Executive Officer of Green Harvest Stuffs, Prince Joshua Apeh, disclosed that the state wants to leverage its agricultural advantage to turn certain crops like cassava into an economic alternative to crude oil and create value for its farmers.

The event, organised by Green Harvest Store in Otukpo, brought together farmers and community stakeholders as the company discussed its plans to expand access to farm inputs, financing, mechanisation and guaranteed markets.

The MD described cassava as the region’s “crude oil”, arguing that greater investment in production and processing could accelerate job creation, strengthen food security and drive industrial development.

Green Harvest Targets Cassava-Led Industrialisation

According to Apeh, Benue South has significant cassava production capacity but lacks adequate processing infrastructure to capture the full economic value.

“Our cassava is our crude oil. Just as crude oil transformed the fortunes of nations, cassava can transform the fortunes of our people if we are willing to invest in it, process it, add value to it and take it to the global market,” he said.

He said the region could become a major carbohydrate and renewable-energy hub if agricultural resources are properly harnessed.

Apeh added that cassava could be converted into food products and industrial materials, as well as raw materials for bioethanol and biofuel production. Such processing, he added, could create employment while supporting efforts to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Cooperative to Connect Farmers with Inputs and Markets

The company created Green Harvest Cooperative Society to provide farmers with access to agricultural inputs, financing, mechanisation and markets. About 3,000 farmers have registered to participate in the cooperative and will have access to loan facilities, improved cassava stems and seedlings, fertilisers, etc.

“We want to create a new environment for farmers, where they have an already off-taking market. They don’t need to struggle to sell their products after harvesting. We also want to secure food security and reduce harvest losses,” Apeh said. “We cannot have the highest deposit of cassava in Benue South and have no processing factory to transform it and add value to it. That is why we are here.”

Company Targets Larger Processing Capacity

Green Harvest Stuffs has the capacity to produce about 250,000 kilogrammes of garri and 300,000 kilogrammes of flour monthly.

The company is also planning to enter livestock feed production and establish a major bioethanol plant. The proposed bioethanol facility would use cassava from the region as feedstock to produce fuel, potentially creating another market for farmers while linking Benue’s agricultural economy with Nigeria’s downstream energy sector.

The company has also provided motorcycles and vehicles for youths involved in farm surveillance and plans to deploy drones and cameras connected to a central control centre.

These plans reflect the broader value-chain potential of cassava, which extends beyond fresh roots and traditional food products to industrial starch, animal feed and bio-based energy products. 

The MD called on the government to support the Green Harvest model and encourage similar agricultural value-chain investments across Nigeria.

Guest speaker Gideon Oche Emmanuel commended the initiative and also urged government and other stakeholders to establish similar cassava processing facilities in other parts of the country.