Niigerian gain over 200bn on cassava bread

Nigeria saves N200bn yearly from 20 per cent cassava substitution for wheat in bread making, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said. He spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday at the inauguration of the Oamsal Cassava Flour Mill, Ayede-Ekiti, before visiting the farms and Moringa Factory of Afe Babalola University of Ado-Ekiti. According to him, there are no fewer than 36 bakers of cassava bread in Nigeria. The minister, who pointed out that the future of the country rested largely on agriculture said, “The bread is sweeter, cheaper and healthier. The bread is Nigerian bread. Farmers of Nigeria will be richer because we are providing market for their produce.” Adesina promised to provide N1m each to 35 Small and Medium Enterprises for infrastructure development other than the N3.5bn loan he said had been provided to support the cassava-bread bakers. He dsiclosed that the Federal Government had also designated 5,000 hectares of land for cassava plantation to control the price and propel the bakers of cassava bread. The minister added that the federal government was also partnering with research institutes, universities of agriculture and state governments on cassava plantation. Commissioner for Agriculture, Babajide Arowosafe, who commended the minister added that his efforts in the sector had yielded positive results for the country.