SDN partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train 15 youth from the Ogoni area how to fabricate a range of different cassava processing machinery. Over the training period, they also learned the business management skills required in the cassava industry.
Following the training, we built a cassava processing centre that has been absorbed into HYPREP’s first business development park. It will be run as a business and absorb local cassava produce. It will also have facilities to continue welding processing machinery for sale.
As oil spill clean-up and remediation is long overdue in the Niger Delta, a government body (HYPREP) has been established to lead this process. SDN explored how it could help, and identified the need for a livelihoods approach in the affected communities, which HYPREP could follow as part of the remediation of the environment and economy.
Cassava is grown in abundance in the Ogoni area of Rivers State, and can be processed into many products. However, this is mostly done manually, and therefore takes up a lot of time, especially for women and girls. This project builds on local strengths, and demonstrates opportunities for the government and private sector to invest in commercially viable businesses.
Find out more about SDN’s other livelihood projects.
Posted: 22.07.2020
