The agricultural-engineering community – and indeed the wider African agribusiness sector – recently celebrated a significant milestone when Prof. Emmanuel Y. H. Bobobee was awarded the Africa Industry Excellence Award (AIEA) at the second edition of the Africa Cassava Conference 2025 (ACC 2025) held in Abuja.
Prof. Bobobee, inventor of the patented TEK Mechanical Cassava Harvester, has dedicated decades to developing and promoting mechanised solutions for root and tuber crops in Africa. In Abuja, he delivered a talk on “Building Sustainable and Quality-Driven Cassava Industries in Africa,” calling for a shift from traditional manual farming to mechanised, industrial-scale production.
Mining from his vast experience, he emphasised how modern machinery – especially the TEK harvester – reduces labour demand, minimises post-harvest losses, and improves productivity for farmers and processors alike. Prof. Bobobee dedicated the award to “smallholder cassava farmers across Africa who have adopted the harvester,” pointing out that their resilience and willingness to embrace innovation make mechanised cassava production a reality.
Beyond harvesting, Prof. Bobobee urged stakeholders – governments, agribusiness investors, research institutions – to collaborate and scale up mechanisation across the entire cassava value chain to ensure Africa fully harnesses the crop’s potential.
“Our aim is to transform cassava production – from small farms to industrial-scale processing — and create a competitive, efficient cassava sector for the continent.” – Prof. Bobobee
This recognition not only honours Prof. Bobobee’s individual achievement but also signals growing continental interest in technology-driven agriculture. As cassava remains a staple for millions and a potential backbone for agro-industry, innovations like those brought by Prof. Bobobee can make a tangible difference in food security, job creation, and economic transformation.