NAFDAC on Cassava Flour Campaign Drive

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) boss, Paul Orhii as called on bread production companies to substitute wheat flour for cassava flour in the production of bread and pastries.

Orhii speaking at the launching of UTC’s high quality cassava bread in Lagos on Thursday decried the astronomical level of food imports to Nigeria.

He said, “We must reduce our reliance on raw materials from abroad, especially if we have it in Nigeria. We will save N300bn if we start manufacturing cassava- based bread. In 2010 alone, Nigeria imported wheat worth more than N636bn, rice worth more than N356bn and refined sugar worth more than N217bn.

“Apart from saving the Federal Government N300bn, if we begin to eat bread made of cassava flour, it will create more jobs for farmers, the manufacturing sector and also save our foreign exchange. Even transporters and the whole value chain will benefit.”

The Federal Government earlier this year introduced new fiscal policy regime to discourage food imports. From July 1^st, the government shall impose a 65% levy and 35% duty on wheat flour. Wheat grain shall attract a 15% levy and 5% duty.

Companies like UTC have already made the switch to Cassava flour.

Managing Director, UTC Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Folunsho Olaniyan said that her company had successfully substituted wheat flour with cassava in not just bread, but doughnuts, cakes and other pastries.