Cassava processing in Nigeria isn’t just a staple food—it’s a global opportunity.
According to BusinessDay Nigeria, the global cassava processing market is currently worth over $180 billion. From industrial starches and ethanol to gluten-free flour and cosmetics, cassava is fast becoming one of the world’s most versatile and valuable crops.
Yet despite being the world’s largest cassava producer, Nigeria captures only a tiny fraction of this market, highlighting the urgent need to scale cassava processing in Nigeria.
Why This Matters
Nigeria produces over 60 million metric tons of cassava annually. Still, more than 90% of it is consumed domestically in its raw form—boiled, pounded, or processed into garri, fufu, and cassava starch. While these are important to local diets, they generate very little export or industrial value.
Meanwhile, other countries are turning cassava into:
Industrial starch for textiles, paper, and adhesives
Ethanol for fuel and bioenergy
High-value food ingredients for gluten-free, diabetic, and low-GI products
Animal feed for poultry and livestock
Pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications
In Thailand, for example, cassava exports generate billions of dollars annually. What’s holding Nigeria back?
The Barriers: Post-Harvest Losses & Low Processing Capacity
Although Nigeria leads the world in cassava production, a significant portion of its harvest is lost due to post-harvest challenges and a lack of cassava processing infrastructure. Many smallholder farmers don’t have access to affordable cassava processing equipment, reliable storage facilities, or well-developed transport networks.
Cassava is highly perishable and must be processed within 48 to 72 hours after harvest to avoid spoilage. Without timely access to processing or storage, large volumes of cassava deteriorate—resulting in economic losses for farmers and missed opportunities for the nation’s agro-industry
Missed Opportunities = Missed Jobs
Every ton of cassava that is left unprocessed is a lost opportunity for:
Agro-industrial jobs in cassava packaging, processing, and logistics
Local revenue for farming communities
Export earnings from value-added cassava products
Food innovation for health-conscious and gluten-free markets
What’s Being Done?
There are signs of a turning tide. The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Lagos Business School (LBS) have identified cassava processing in Nigeria as a key focus in the country’s industrial agriculture strategy.
New private-sector efforts, such as Agbeyewa Farms, are investing in large-scale cassava processing in Ekiti State, aiming to produce starch for both local and international markets.
Still, these are isolated efforts—not yet a coordinated national push.
Nigeria Has the Land. The Climate. The Labor. The Demand.
What it needs now is policy, investment, and entrepreneurship to build cassava processing clusters, support youth agripreneurs, and develop infrastructure for storage, drying, and export certification.
This is Nigeria’s chance to turn a local food crop into a global economic engine.
Why Cassava Processing in Nigeria Matters to Us
At Afrik Fair, we see cassava not just as a staple crop, but as a powerful engine for economic transformation in Nigeria.
We believe cassava processing in Nigeria can create sustainable jobs, reduce rural poverty, and open doors to global export markets. By connecting smallholder farmers to processors, and processors to international buyers, we’re working to unlock the full potential of this undervalued crop.
From strengthening supply chains to raising awareness and promoting investment in cassava infrastructure, our goal is simple: turn local harvests into lasting opportunities.
What do you think?
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and share this post with your network—let’s spark a bigger conversation about Nigeria’s cassava future.