The Federal Government has called on stakeholders in the confectionery industry to substitute the use of wheat with cassava flour in bread production.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, made the call during the opening ceremony of the Bakery, Catering and Confectionery Expo 2014, organised by Global Exhibition Resource Nigeria Limited, in Lagos on Thursday.
He said Nigeria was the largest world producer of cassava, producing over 40 million tonnes annually, but regretted that the produce never got due attention.
Speaking through the South-West Director, Regional Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Olalekan Quadri, the minister said, “We are happy to inform you that the substitution of wheat with cassava flour in production process is realistic and achieving results. We strongly believe as a ministry that such practice will not only increase ready market for farmers to sell their products but also encourage mass production of cassava. This would reduce the large amount of foreign exchange spent on importing wheat and wheat flour used for baking bread.
“I therefore use this platform to appeal to all stakeholders in the production of cassava flour to be patriotic enough by imbibing as well as sustaining the practice of inclusion of 20 per cent cassava in the production of bread. This will assist the Federal Government to achieve its objective of reducing food import bill through the replacement of wheat with high quality cassava flour in bread and other confectioneries consumed in Nigeria.”
Also at the event, the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, reiterated the agency’s stand against the use of potassium bromate by bakers in Nigeria.
Speaking through the Director, Communications, NAFDAC, Mrs. Omoloro Adegoke, the agency’s boss said potassium bromate was still banned in Nigeria, and advised bakers who still make use of it to discontinue.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of GERN, Mr. Joseph Oluwadipe, the expo was aimed at supporting government industrial revolution.
The event had the theme, ‘Emerging Opportunities in the Bakers and Caterers World.’
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