The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has called for the revival of the cassava inclusion bread initiative toward enhancing Federal Government’s diversification agenda and economic growth.
Mr. Jacob Adejorin, former chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the association, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
Adejorin said that the revival of the cassava inclusion bread initiative would reduce the country’s wheat import bill which stands at $4.4 billion in 2018, promote cassava production and boost employment in the bakery industry.
“Cassava is grown locally and would help to reduce the high cost of flour that we bakers have been complaining about for years.
“With reduced cost of baking inputs, invariably, the citizens would feel the impact in improved quality and quantity of products. Also, cassava growers and processors would be impacted.
“Sadly, there is no cassava flour in the market presently. It seems the government have forgotten about the cassava flour initiative because nothing has been said or done about it for long,” he said.
Adejorin said that there was no health implication in consuming bread with cassava, noting that the taste and the look of the loaves also would not change with 10 per cent of cassava flour inclusion in bread.
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NAN recalls that former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2002 initiated a policy on 10 per cent cassava inclusion in bread under “the Presidential Initiative on Cassava,” programme.
Also, former President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2012, re-introduced the policy to encourage the substitution of high quality cassava flour for wheat flour, with the inclusion rate expected to increase from 10 per cent steadily to 40 per cent by 2015.
Adejorin urged President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to resuscitate the cassava inclusion policy and address the issue of finance, quality and legislation that would promote success of the policy.
Alhaji Omotunde Raji, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the association. said that policy inconsistency prevented the cassava bread inclusion from having desired economic impact.
Raji also complained about the rising cost of flour, saying that flour millers arbitrarily and without due consultation with stakeholders, effected price increase on a bag of flour from N11,000 to N11, 500 on April 3.
He said that the price increase in flour was unjustifiable as foreign exchange which had been the major reason touted for price change had been stable.
Raji urged stakeholders to promote issues and initiatives that would boost the growth of the baking and confectionery industry. (NAN)