Nigeria Loses Billions of Naira Annually Due To Non-Implementation Of The Cassava Bread Initiative.

Data and submissions by operators and industry experts have shown that Nigeria spends about ₦‎860bn on the importation of wheat annually for the production of bread, cake, and other flour-based products.

Money spent on importation of Wheat into Nigeria would have been highly reduced if the Nigerian Government had implemented and sustained the Cassava Bread Initiative that was led by Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, who served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under the Goodluck Jonathan's Administration in 2010.

The Cassava Bread Initiative targeted 40 percent inclusion of composite cassava flour in bread production to reduce Nigeria’s import bill on wheat and also help grow the cassava value chain.

To get the Cassava Bread Initiative running, The Federal Government of Nigeria created the Cassava Bread Development Fund and released ₦‎10bn in 2011 to support research and development efforts on cassava bread, training of master bakers, support for master bakers in the acquisition of new equipment for production and the fund was to be generated from import tariff on wheat.

The Cassava Bread Development Fund was aimed at the gradual substitution of wheat flour with cassava flour up to 20%. The initiative was expected to translate to foreign exchange savings and job creation along the cassava value chain and also prevent post-harvest losses.

Recall that the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria once challenged the Federal Government of Nigeria that the revival of the Cassava Bread Initiative would boost the economy and encourage cassava farmers to improve their production.

Please be informed that Nigeria is currently the largest producer of Cassava in the world. Nigerian cassava production is by far the largest in the world; a third more than production in Brazil and almost double the production of Indonesia and Thailand, says FAO.

Revival, continuous improvements and sustenance of the Cassava Bread Initiative would help reduce Nigeria's wheat import bill, promote cassava production, reduce the high cost of flour, boost employment in the cassava flour value chain, and also encourage entrepreneurs in the baking Industry.


Source: FoodXng
https://www.foodxng.com.ng/2022/11/nigeria-loses-billions-of-naira.html