Over 130 farmers were present at the official launch of Mokk Investments 6,000 hectares of cassava farming project, an empowerment programme organized in the catchment of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, in Oke Odan area of Yewa South Local Government, Ogun State.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Kunle Abdul , the Chairman of Mokk Investments, said the mandate was to cultivate the 6,000 hectares in the first phase to engage an average of 5,000 farmers, and 10,000 farmers in the second phase with a planned production of over 1.5million metric tonnes of ethanol and starch annually upon commencement of full cassava processing activities.

Abdul explained that under the project, Mokk Investments plans to provide development training, empowerment and employment for youths, emphasizing that unlike, previously, there is now enough market and buyers of the cassava produce. During the event, a modern planter farming equipment for clearing, planting, treatment, fertilizer application and harvesting was unveiled.

Also speaking about his company’s involvement in the programme, Mr. Tiko Okoye, the MD/CEO of Fortis Microfinance Bank, said his farm confirmed Mokk sincerity on the cassava production project, following which Mokk will provide seedlings and farming machinery in collaboration with a Brazilian agricultural firm, 4iGreen and another German company, GIZ, while Fortis finances.