President Bola Tinubu’s administration has revived the cassava flour policy, which mandates the inclusion of 20 per cent cassava flour in all wheat-based products.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a training of 50 bread bakers on cassava flour on Monday in Akure.
The event attended by stakeholders in the sector has the theme: “Support to Cassava Processors and Master Bakers on Utilisation of High-Quality Cassava Flour in Bread Production and other Confectionaries.’’
Mr Kyari, who was represented by the Coordinator of the Ministry in Ondo state, Akeem Ogundeko, said that the agricultural policy of Mr Tinubu was poised to build an agro-business ecosystem that would address the sector’s challenges.
He added that the policy in partnership with all stakeholders would achieve export substitution, job creation, and economic diversification, as well as food and nutrition security.
According to him, the promotion and adoption of 20 per cent cassava flour in bread and confectionery-making will reduce wheat flour importation.
The minister explained that, for the Nigerian bakers to adopt the 20 per cent cassava inclusion, there was a need for more commitment from all stakeholders to achieve desired results.
He said, “It is in this regard that the ministry has continued to advocate for more strategies and efforts, such as training more bakers on the 20 per cent inclusion policy with a view to guaranteeing acceptability, market and sustainability across the nation.
“The impact is that subsequent demand for cassava flour will have a positive multiplier effect on cassava value chains and on the entire economy. The cassava value chain project has taken the initiative to organise this training which is practical and will encourage more adoption and utilisation of the high-quality cassava flour. The master bakers will be equipped with skills, which they will take down to other members to promote and increase efficiency in food processing activities and increase cassava root supply.’’
Earlier, the Ondo State Chairman of the Master Bakers Association of Nigeria (MBAN), Jimoh Iyiola, applauded the Renewed Hope Initiative of Mr Tinubu for revamping the policy, which he said would improve the country’s foreign exchange.
Mr Iyiola recalled that the policy was initially conceived by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration but was implemented by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He noted that the federal government could not continue with the policy due to its inability to abide by the signed agreement with MBAN.
He stated, “Now that the government wants to revive this policy, all stakeholders must be involved, and our reached agreements must be carried out as expected. Let us avoid the reasons why the policy implementation failed in the past. I also want to say that there should be grants, not loans, given to bakers nationwide.’’
The cassava inclusion policy implemented in 2012 by Mr Jonathan’s administration increased the country’s local cassava production and made Nigeria the largest producing nation of the crop.
In reviving the policy by the present administration, the Senate in November 2024 initiated a bill in its support.
(NAN)