Fed Govt targets N254b from cassava bread – Agriculture Minister

THE Federal Government can save about N254 billion as its yearly revenue if cassava flour is used for bread making, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

The Minister said adopting 40 per cent of cassava flour in bread making will serve as good substitute for the conventional flour, which has cost the country a lot in  import.

Adesina disclosed this during an interaction with reporters on his ministry’s plan for 2012 in Abuja.

He said: “President Jonathan has really made a good decision to discourage importation of flour into this country. It will surprise you to know that government is capable of realising close to N254 billion by adopting the cassava flour for bread making.  It will not only promote our local produce but also attract foreign exports.”

Adesina said the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah also unveiled plans to setup six cargo terminals for exporting agricultural produce by 2012.

Speaking on rice production, he said plans are at its final stage to expand rice processing capacity in the country, adding that three rice milling industries with capacity of 90, 000 metric tons will soon be completed in February 2012.

According to him, the milling industries are located in Ebonyi, Niger and Kebbi states. He stressed that 14 additional rice mills, which targets 420,000mt of rice will also be completed next year.   He disclosed that the government has also signed a partnership agreement with China to supply 12 Milling Plants to meet up with challenges of demands.

While making remarks on the nation’s land prospect, Adesina said Nigeria has only used 40 per cent out of its 84 million hectares of land.

However, he bemoaned the country’s large importation of rice, wheat, fishes and sorghum, decring its inability to create jobs in the rural areas but rather increases its investment in overseas.

As part of planned interventions, the Minister assured of increasing the nation’s food production with 50 million metric tons between 2011 and 2015. He restated that Nigeria must feed itself as well as increase its foreign exchange.     His words: “Nigeria has become a floodgate for food imports. For a country that can grow different types of rice, it still spends N1billion on rice importation making its total annual import worth N635 billion annually.

“Nigeria has been eating far beyond its limit and this affects our naira. We are not creating jobs in rural areas but foreign countries. We are blessed, so we must feed ourselves and increase our exports.  We are targeting to address these situations by 2012.”