Cassava to be included in school feeding programs
The Cassava Farmers of Liberia under the banner of the National Cassava Sector Coordinating Committee (NCSCC) are being assured of two major cassava markets in the country.
In a release issued over the weekend, the National Coordinator of the NCSCC Mr. Joseph S. Morris said his organization is in discussion with the World Food Program (WFP) and Mary Meal for the inclusion of cassava value added products in the menu of the two institutions for their respective school feeding programs.
According to him, consensus has been built between the NCSCC and the two organizations to promote local produce. He said the EU has agreed to support cassava data collection exercise in three counties Montserrado, Margibi and Bong Counties.
The information according to Mr. Morris is necessary in making informed decision for investment in Liberia cassava industry. He stated that the data collection exercise will be jointly carryout by the NCSCC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Liberia Institute for Geo-Information Services (LISGIS).
The NCSCC Coordinator further stated that the strategy that is being implemented by his organization is sponsor by the European Union (EU) through ZOA/ADRA to encourage the promotion and consumption of local cassava value added products on the Liberian market.
“The NCSCC has successfully organized producers, processors and marketers for cassava value added products on the local market and provides training for producers, processors and marketers with the monthly technical working group meeting that is held every third Friday in the month at the Ministry of Agriculture in Gardnersville between 2-4 P.M.”, he explained.
He emphasize that their objective is to meet the economic development and poverty reduction of farmers mainly in rural areas. “The Cassava Value added products are being show case at the Liberian Market Place adjacent the Ministry of Education on the 3rd Street, Sinkor where the public visit to assessed and the taste of new cassava value added products that are available on the Liberian market.
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The Cassava value added market is supported by a team of Liberians cassava processors and caterers who use fresh cassava to process variety of food items from cassava through value addition”, he concluded.
