By Michael Dibie
As the nation continues to grapple with the effect of food insecurity, the National Cassava Growers Association (NAGC) says Nigeria is losing more than $200m annually for its inability to implementing a plan that would have seen cassava products used in the production of bread.
The newly sworn-in National President of the Association, Mustapha Usman Bakano, who made the remark in Abuja said the continued reliance of flour for bread is costing the country millions of dollars in importation bills.
Speaking during the inauguration of new executives of the association, Bakano stated that the main focus of the association will be focused on turning the system around for good in order to feed the nation and also industrialization. He also blamed change in policy direction for the jettisoning of the cassava bread initiative and further proposed for the establishment of a cassava platform.
“During the time of Akinwunmi, there was the cassava bread initiative, had it continued, by now, we would have been using 40 percent of cassava as flour in the bakery. By now we wouldn’t be suffering from depletion in our foreign reserve.” He said.
He assured that the new board will work on the existing agenda and aspire to achieve the desired goal. “In the area of cassava, our plans are very versed we are looking at extorting all the value chain in Cassava. To have the foreign exchange stability, the country needs to be industrialized, we need to put up a robust frame work that can be acceptable by the international community, he added..
The new presidents stated that it is part of his policy direction to create a Public Private Partnership direction for the sector to develop. Reiterating that he is working tireless to see the document ready and shared with the Federal Government.
Bakano said the sector can currently boast of an existing relationship with the Netherland and Turkey which has a lot of farm implements and equipment required an advance agricultural activity.
“The country does a lot of fabrication of international repute that Nigeria can indulge in and partner with to achieve its desired goal in the sector”
He also stated that despite Nigeria being the highest producer of cassava, the income generated from it is less than $170m while China, which produces less, is making over $2bn annually from the sector. He however said the association is working on a resource development plan to see how they can bring in the framework that will address all those mitigations and see how the government can help.
“We want the government to give a policy direction so that when the policy becomes law, it becomes national and everybody will abide by it so that we can be consuming what we produce instead of putting too much import bill on our country. 40 percent of cassava can go into bread and we will feel comfortable eating it and it is more nutritious.”
Also speaking, Lagos state Governorship candidate, Abdul Azeez Adediran, (popularly called Jandor) said he commends the association for installing a new president, and believes the president will see to the fertilization of the sector.
“So I believe with his exposure and international background, he would assist the association in getting to the desired destination. He spoke about industrialization and that is what we need, how can we bring all our local farmers together, so that we can feed ourself and still have enough to export some of these products outside the country.” He added.
