The price of garri in the state is also not reflective of the government’s interventions and huge investments in the sector.Between 2016 and 2017, the state government invested millions of naira into the sector in a bid to boost local production which is grossly inadequate as major garri dealers rely on supplies from Cross River, Edo and Ebonyi states.
Meanwhile, when PREMIUM TIMES visited the factories in May, only one of them – Nung Udoe factory – was functional. The garri processed from the factory is bagged in 5kg and sold for N3,000. Mr Akpabio defined “middlemen” as those who do not own farms but buy matured cassava from farmers, then process and sell.
Joshua Attat, a major distributor in Uyo, cited climate change and bribe offered to security officials manning security checkpoints as reasons for the price increase. Mr Etong also lamented the exclusion of the association from the decision-making process of matters concerning farmers.Recently, the Akwa Ibom State government flagged off the sale of Ebonyi State bagged garri to residents of the state.
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