At a time when the Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is making bold moves to attract strategic investment and deepen bilateral cooperation with Brazil, the recent visit by Brazilian technical partners to Agbeyewa Farms stands as a timely and symbolic gesture of agricultural diplomacy in action. As conversations around trade, technology, and agro-industrial development gain momentum following the President’s official visit to Brazil, this engagement reinforces the potential for transformative partnerships rooted in shared expertise and mutual ambition.
Strategically symbolic, Agbeyewa Farms recently welcomed its technical partners from Brazil, Mr Pascoal D’Andrea Filho and Mr Liviston Teles Sena, on a working visit to its expansive cassava farms across the Ipao, Gede, and Iyemero communities in Ekiti State. The visit, set against the backdrop of renewed Nigeria–Brazil diplomatic engagement, served as a practical demonstration of South–South cooperation in action. With boots on the ground and eyes on the fields, the Brazilian experts engaged in a comprehensive assessment of Agbeyewa’s operations; observing cultivation techniques, mechanisation systems, and community integration efforts that have propelled the farm’s rapid growth.
The duo, both renowned veterans in large-scale cassava farming, processing, and mechanisation, lauded Agbeyewa Farms for what they described as a groundbreaking agricultural transformation. Commending Agbeyewa’s Chairman, Mr Niyi John Olajide, for his visionary leadership, Mr Pascoal expressed amazement at the scale of cultivation. “This is impressive. We came to Nigeria to meet Agbeyewa Farms, and it’s an incredible project. We have never seen so many cassavas planted in one extension area as we saw today. Imagine, fields upon fields of cassava. It’s fantastic, and we must thank John for the vision and the courage to do something of this magnitude,” he said.
The delegation praised Agbeyewa’s progress in cultivating over 5,000 hectares of cassava within just two years, highlighting the farm’s unique integration of mechanised farming technology with local community resources. They noted that the project is not only advancing food security but also creating jobs, empowering rural communities, and fuelling agro-industrialisation in Nigeria.
Globally, Nigeria leads cassava production with over 60.8 million metric tonnes annually, far ahead of Brazil’s 17.6 million tonnes, according to recent agricultural data. However, while Nigeria’s cassava is consumed predominantly as food—especially in the form of garri and fufu—less than 5% is currently channelled into industrial use. This underscores the importance of initiatives like Agbeyewa Farms, which are bridging the gap between subsistence farming and agro-industrial transformation.
Pointing to the global importance of cassava—widely consumed in countries such as Brazil, Thailand, and Vietnam—Mr Pascoal emphasised its role as a versatile, gluten-free food solution. He urged stronger government support for private-sector innovators like Agbeyewa Farms and its parent company, Cavista Holdings, whose bold initiatives are shaping Nigeria’s agricultural future.
“The future of cassava in Nigeria lies in replicating the revolution Agbeyewa is pioneering,” he added, calling on government at all levels to deepen support through partnerships and policy backing.
Comparing practices between Brazil and Nigeria, he explained that Brazil’s reliance on fully mechanised farming is driven by high labour costs—a model Nigeria can adapt progressively with the right investments and policy incentives.
In his remarks, Agbeyewa’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr Oska Seyi Aiyeleso, described the visit as a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration. “It is my pleasure to host our friends from Brazil, who are global leaders in cassava farming. We have much to learn from their experience, and this engagement strengthens our vision to scale cassava production and deliver transformative impact across the value chain,” he said.
Mr Aiyeleso revealed that Agbeyewa’s leadership team will also undertake a reciprocal visit to Brazil to deepen cooperation and learn from Brazil’s cassava industry.
The beauty of this partnership between Brazil and Agbeyewa Farms is further underscored by the recent positive narratives emerging from President Tinubu’s diplomatic outreach. The renewed engagement offers a timely impetus for more robust bilateral collaboration in agriculture, technology, and trade. With shared interests in cassava innovation and food security, the synergy between Brazilian expertise and Nigerian ambition could well redefine the future of agro-industrial development across both nations.
