Psaltry Collaborates With NADF, Others To Empower 15,000 Female Cassava Growers
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Psaltry International Company Limited, Oluyemisi Iranloye has announced the commencement of an initiative to empower 15,000 young women in cassava cultivation in Oyo State.
The on-lending initiative was supported by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) through what she called the Psaltry-IDH-Mastercard, targeting young women between the ages of 18 and 35 years to cultivate 2000 hectares of cassava.
While speaking at the 20 years anniversary of Psaltry International Company Ltd, which coincided with the flag-off of the NAFD-FCMB support for the Psaltry-IDH-Mastercard initiative at the Psaltry plant, Alayide village, Awaye on Saturday, Iranloye appreciated the NADF and other stakeholders for supporting the project and being there for the company on its many other projects till date.
She added that the funding would cover plowing of land, addition of fertilizer, chemicals and other inputs for the 2000 hectares of cassava.
“I want to sincerely thank everyone here and all who have played a role in Psaltry’s journey, I also extend my appreciation to the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Agricultural Development Fund, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, especially as this celebration coincides with the flag-off of the NADF-FCMB support for the Psaltry-IDH-Mastercard initiative, empowering 15,000 young women in Oyo State, aged 18 to 35, in cassava cultivation.”
While reeling out the achievements of the organization towards impacting cassava farmers in the State positively, Oluyemisi listed provision of industrial borehole which supplied portable water, constant electricity, medical outreach to many communities bordering the plant, scholarship for cassava farmers’ children, while Psaltry has facilitated the construction of the road linking Alayide, the host village by Oyo State government.
She indicated that in the passing years, Psaltry has achieved the goal of pushing cassava floor to replace manufacturing companies’ dependence on wheat floor, production of food-grade starch for the likes of Nigerian Breweries and Nestle as well as cassava-based sorbitol for toothpaste production and high-purity hydrogen for many industries.
“As we mark 20 years, Psaltry is stepping confidently into a new era – one defined by innovation, product diversification, market diversification, groundbreaking research and development, sustainable livelihoods, clean energy and environmental sustainability., we generate 1.1megawatt of solar power to run our operations, nothing is wasted; our wastes are transformed into nutrient-rich animal feed, this is not only smart, it is sustainable,” Iranloye claimed.
Among the dignitaries at the occasion were representative of organizations like National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mr Abiodun Sosanya, who represented the Executive Secretary, Malam Mohammed Ibrahim, the representative of Alitheia Group, Mr Oti Iletamhen and officials of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the Alawaye of Awaye, Oba Okunlola Amidu Olawale, the head of the host village, Alhaji Gazali Alayide and cassava stakeholders from within and outside Oyo State.