Cassava processors in Niger State have been encouraged to diversify their products to include cassava chips for export, given the current high global demand, especially in Europe.

Making the call at a training for cassava processors organised by the Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP and Qu-VIRO Nig. Ltd., cassava chips expert Jamu Salka said there is currently high demand for cassava chips due to their multifunctional uses.

Salka noted that there is substantial global demand for cassava chips, driven by factors such as the increasing demand for gluten-free and vegan snacks, health-conscious consumers, and diverse industrial applications.

“There is a significant opportunity for growth and innovation in the cassava chip market, particularly in regions like Africa and Asia,” he stressed.

According to him, cassava chips can be used in various ways, including snacks, animal feed, paper and textile manufacturing, and as biofuel.

Also, the Niger State Coordinator of VCDP, Hajiya Hadizat Isah, explained that the training aimed to build the capacity of beneficiaries to produce quality cassava chips that meet international standards.

She revealed that an off-taker had approached the agency requesting 300,000 tonnes of cassava chips, prompting the need for diversification from traditional products like garri and cassava flour.

According to her, “As of now, we are unable to meet the request and we believe that, by diversifying to cassava chips for export, processors can tap into the global market by capitalising on the growing demand for the product. The initiative has the potential to boost the economy of Niger State and improve the livelihoods of cassava processors.”

The participants were trained on the step-by-step production of cassava chips, including cleaning, peeling, chipping, drying, packaging, and storage.

Speaking, beneficiaries drawn from various participating local governments, who are mostly garri and cassava flour processors, expressed gratitude for the new knowledge acquired and promised to apply it in their businesses.