FG Told to provide cassava flour for bakers in the country

 
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to make cassava flour readily available and affordable to enable bakers  improve their productivity and reduce the importation of wheat.

The call came today as the Chairman of the association, Enugu State Chapter, Mr. Sunday Akam decried the negative impact scarcity of cassava flour has had on the sector over time.

Addressing participants during a one-day training workshop in Enugu organized today by the association to train its members on the federal government-initiated cassava bread production, Mr. Akam said it was difficult to source flour locally, a development, he noted, has affected the sector adversely.
“I placed an order through two processors in the country and have not gotten the order since a long time now. Scarcity of flour is a major problem but I know the problem will be surmounted in time. By the time there is sufficient awareness on cassava flour, everybody will get to know about it,” he said.
He recalled that when the federal government started the training programme, about twenty bakers were selected from across the states to “train our members”, and enjoined his members to support the government’s initiative.
“They have seen it’s a mission possible. It will reduce the money we spend in importing wheat into the country. I advise our members to support the programme  for its sustainability,” he said.
Also speaking, the Desk Officer, Cassava Value Change, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja Mr. Efuntoye T.A., who was represented  by Ms Perpetual Iyere-Usiahon, said the minister of agriculture was bent on making sure that the concept  of cassava bread production was sustained.
She said government has the responsibility to sensitize people on the concept, as well as train the bakers on cassava bread production. She explained that so far, the government has trained over 120 bakers in all the six geo-political zones in the country since the commencement of the programme. She added that 60 bakers were selected from each zone for the training.
“It’s to ensure that the high cassava value change is planted everywhere in the country.
Private investors or firms are being encouraged to go into cassava production,” she said. She added: “With the establishment of cassava plant all over the country, the concept will be sustained. Individuals are being encouraged to go into cassava production.”