By Muyideen Aliyu
Fulfilling a promise made during a community inspection visit, the Kwara State Government on Wednesday, March 11, donated a set of industrial cassava processing machines to the women of Owode Oja in Asa Local Government Area.
The initiative is part of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s broader commitment to scaling up local agribusiness, creating rural jobs, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder processors.
The donated equipment, which includes a dewatered cassava mash fryer, a mash sifter, and a high-capacity cassava grater capable of processing 1.5 tons daily, was procured from the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM).
Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye, who presented the items on behalf of the Governor, noted that the choice of NCAM reflects the administration’s strategy of patronizing local institutions to stimulate the state’s economic ecosystem.
“The Governor deems it fit to support these women to upscale their activities to an industrial level,” Ajakaye stated.
He added that the administration is also providing technical training by industry experts to ensure the machines are operated and maintained for optimal production.
Beyond the immediate equipment donation, the Governor highlighted his administration’s investment in infrastructure through the ongoing Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
A 23-kilometer road project is currently under construction in the area to ensure that farmers and processors have seamless access to markets for their produce.
Community leaders, including the Baale of Owode Oja, Mallam Kuranga Yakub, and youth representatives, expressed deep appreciation for the gesture.
They noted that the intervention would significantly reduce the time required for garri production and increase both the volume and quality of their output.
Mallam Yakub shared that the support has already begun to stem rural-to-urban migration, as local women can now achieve greater financial independence from within the community.
