The National Root Crops Research Institute at Umudike in Abia State has entered a strategic partnership with Barn Holdings Limited to process cassava peels and other root crop by-products into animal feed, a move expected to strengthen food security, create jobs and support Nigeria’s livestock industry.
The agreement was sealed at the institute’s headquarters in Umudike, where the Executive Director of the NRCRI, Professor Chiedozie Egesi, and the Chief Executive Officer of Barn Holdings, Tony Jibunoh, signed a memorandum outlining areas of collaboration in research, processing and commercial development.
Under the partnership, agricultural waste from cassava and related root crops will be converted into affordable livestock feed, addressing a long-standing challenge in Nigeria’s animal production sector while reducing post-harvest losses.
Speaking after the signing, Jibunoh said the company chose Abia State to replicate a model previously implemented in Ibadan, Oyo State, where cassava by-products were successfully transformed into value-added inputs for livestock farmers.
He described the project as an opportunity to unlock the state’s untapped agricultural potential, particularly in livestock development, and to contribute to broader economic growth.
He said, “Abia is the first state in the South East where Barn Holdings is making a major investment. Our company is committed to supporting national efforts to improve livestock productivity.
“The choice of NRCRI as a partner was deliberate, given its reputation as Nigeria’s leading research institution on root crops”.
Jibunoh disclosed that the project would require about 10,000 hectares of land, to be provided by the Abia State Government, and noted that large-scale feed production from root crops would significantly boost food production and food security.
He expressed confidence that the Federal Government would support the initiative, stressing that properly processed roots and tubers can sustainably meet much of the country’s livestock feed needs.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Mr Richard Mbaram, said the planned establishment of a milking barn in Abia State would generate employment and expose more people to modern agricultural practices.
Mbaram added that discussions were ongoing with the Abia State government on land allocation and confirmed that the pilot phase of the project is expected to begin later this year.
Professor Egesi said the NRCRI has national and regional mandates covering research, production and marketing of root crops, with a focus on food security and wealth creation. He said the institute is aligning its work with the Federal Government’s agenda on food security and economic growth, including collaboration with the private sector.
After the signing ceremony, officials from the institute and Barn Holdings toured the NRCRI cassava processing facilities to assess existing infrastructure and research outputs relevant to the project.
Separately, executives of Barn Holdings visited the Abia State Ministry of Agriculture, where they presented their investment proposal to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, including the request for land to support the planned facilities.
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