From TCNEWS
A former Chairman, Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze Pastor Philip Ajomiwe has called on Abia State Government to partner with his industry and encourage investment in massive fufu production which is part of the cassava value chain.
Eze Ajomiwe, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at DE-PHILAJOMS Agro and Allied Industries and the producer and processor of HQCF, starch, Cassava, dried chips, odourless fufu, Cassava grifts, and garri, made the call in his palace in Ubaha, Oriendu autonomous community, Ohuhu clan, Umuahia during the August 11th National Fufu Day celebration.
National Fufu Day is a way to celebrate African culture and fufu, the unique and tasty cuisine, made from pounded cassava or other starchy root vegetables. Fufu is a traditional African dish that is enjoyed in many countries throughout the continent.
Eze Ajomiwe said that as part of the efforts of Governor Alex Otti to birth a new Agriculture in Abia State, the government should see entering into partnership with his industry in the processing business of cassava flour as a good choice, particularly now that most popular governments are beginning to support the policy of replacing wheat flour with cassava flour.
Eze Ajomiwe, an industrialist and consummate farmer who espoused and expounded the profitability of converting cassava to its fufu value chain, asserted that cassava and its value chains does not only have the potentials of creating jobs, but would also offer veritable alternatives to sustainable food supply and food security in Abia, as the smallest wrapped of Fufu which cost One hundred Naira, cost about N1687 in Europe.
Eze Ajomiwe reminded the youths who crave for ill-wealth, Yahoo-yahoo fast lane of getting rich quick that fufu, a common dish in West African countries, with each region having a unique way of preparing it, has also become more widely known and started appearing in international cookbooks and restaurants, courtesy of the growing African diaspora.
The model traditional ruler, who disclosed further that his multi-layered cassava processing plant produces odorless fufu, starch in industrial quantity, garri, cassava flour and other agro-allied products, also advised the government to send willing unemployed youths to his industry to undergo training on how to produce fufu and specialize in producing fufu in large quantity for sale, which will also motivate them to strive to own fufu processing industry and at the long run make their vision of becoming young entrepreneurs a reality.
Pix: HRM Eze Pastor Philip Ajomiwe.
While appreciating Gov. Otti’s administration for tackling the incidence of double taxation by government agencies, he further reminded the government that most agrarian Communities in the state have no access road and the provision of access road and sitting fufu processing industries in such areas could also strengthen cassava cooperative societies, encourage cleanliness and healthy living.
According to records, every August 11, food enthusiasts and cultural aficionados come together to celebrate National Fufu Day, a holiday dedicated to one of West Africa’s most iconic and beloved dishes. It is a way to recognize and honour this delicious dish and its roots.
