As part of AIVDP’s on-going strategy to increase income for small-holder farmers in the South West Region through improving agricultural production/productivity and developing the value chain of some key crops, a workshop for producers organisations on cassava value chain development was organized between the 11th to the 13th of August 2021 in Kumba at the Community Development Specialization and Training School (CDSTS), Kumba. 

The 3-day workshop, which was coordinated by the Project Coordinator (Dr. Besong Ogork) and moderated by the Value Chain and Cooperative Development Specialist (Richard Molua), aimed to build capacities of producer organisations in upgrading and managing the commodity value chain of cassava. As part of the overall objective, the workshop endevoured to assist attendees in formulating effective action plans for integrated production, processing and marketing strategies that would increase their incomes.

Key topics covered during the workshop included the Income Generating Potential of Cassava; Agricultural Value Chain Approaches; Gender Engagement in the Cassava Value Chain; Cassava Value Chain Analysis; Strategies for Cassava Value Chain Upgrading, and Analyzing Margins and Profitability in the Cassava Value Chain.

During the workshop, participants were driven through a series of theoretical and practical sessions that culminated in the development of individual group short and long-term action plans for upgrading cassava value chains at local levels. At the end of the workshop, 18 draft action plans were developed and presented. The Basins supervisors are expected to backstop and accompany the Producer Organisations in accomplishing the work plans.

Pictured Above: Groupwork Exercises (Cassava Value Chain Analysis and the Development of Individual Group Action Plans)

This workshop, which saw the attendance of thirty six (36) cassava farmers representing 18 producer organisations from Akwaya, Cross-River, Mbio, Nguti and Moungo and Lakes Basins, was the third in a series of workshops (after that for Limbe and Tombel) to be organised for value chain upgrading for the projects key value chain crops – cocoa, cassava, oil palm, rice and irish potato). Similar workshops will be organised in all the 9 Basins of the Project area in days ahead. Producer organisations are encouraged to contact their Basin Supervisors for more information.

By Richard Molua Nebale (VCCS)