President Goodluck Jonathan has approved N10
billion for Cassava Bread Development Fund (CBDF), which is part of the
initiative to boost the production of cassava bread in Nigeria.
Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this on Wednesday at
the cassava Growth Enhancement Support [GES] Scheme at Agbadu Staple
Crop Processing Zone, Kogi State.
Akinwumi explained that the
Federal Government established CBDF to support research and development
efforts on cassava bread, train master bakers, support master bakers to
acquire new equipment for the production of the bread as well as
support social marketing to boost demand for cassava bread, especially
through school feeding programmes and improved production of cassava
flour by small and medium scale processors.
The minister,
represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Tunji Oredipe, also said
the CBDF would be funded through the tariffs generated from wheat flour
importation.
According to Adesina, “This will be a year of greater
success for Nigeria’s agriculture. We have the support of Mr. President
to turn around the cassava sector.
“He has approved our request of N10billion cassava Fund to further explore potential of the cassava industry.”
He assured that through the support of the Federal Government, that
Nigerian farmers would produce cassava in large quantities for the
local industries as well as process for other uses.
He lamented that though Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world, the market value of cassava has been very low.
To this end, the minister said government would provide an enabling
environment for private sector to drive the development of the cassava
value chain.
“we will create a conducive environment for the private
sector t play a leadig role in our collective efforts to transform
Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for
Agriculture, Kogi State,Olufemi Bolarin,said the state government had
provided a large expanse of land for the take-off of the Staple Crop
Processing Zone in the State.
Source: Daily Independent
