Nigeria remains the leading producer of cassava in the world with approximately 59.19 million MT in 2019. Despite being the largest producer of cassava in the world, the country is unable to meet the increasing local industrial demand of cassava derivatives (starch, ethanol etc.) that is used by large food, beverage, alcohol, pharmaceutical and textile manufacturing companies.

The supply gap stems from several systemic challenges in the value chain among which are the competition of cassava roots for food, poor support infrastructure as well as the low number of large-scale cassava processing companies to feed the demand requirements of industrial users for high quality food grade cassava starch.

With recent rise and unpredictability of dollar exchange rates, multinationals are increasingly adopting local sourcing of industrial starch and there is an urgent need for increased cultivation of cassava not only by small holder farmers but by large scale commercial farmers as well as establishment of more large-scale cassava processing facilities.

Dula Agro Services Limited is constructing a cassava starch processing facility with production capacity of 15,000MT (annually) to produce top quality food grade cassava starch that consistently meet stringent food safety requirements for industrial purposes. Located in Delta state, Nigeria; the facility will create huge employment opportunities by engaging over 1000 small holder farmers through its out-growers scheme.