Minister inaugurates c’ttee on cassava bread fund

Held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the minister said the fund will reduce the huge cost incurred by the federal government on importation of wheat, estimated at N635 billion annually.The 16-man committee includes representatives of Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, National Cassava Processors and Millers Association of Nigeria, Dutch […]

Held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the minister said the fund will reduce the huge cost incurred by the federal government on importation of wheat, estimated at N635 billion annually.
The 16-man committee includes representatives of Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria, National Cassava Processors and Millers Association of Nigeria, Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company (DADTCO), Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Budget Office of the Federation and officials of the ministry.
The minister, urged the committee to be transparent and accountable in the use of the fund.
 The committee has the task of building a fresh roots supply chain for cassava processing plants; supporting large/medium High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) mills, SMEs producing HQCF and master bakers on 20% HQCF cassava bread production; social marketing of 20% cassava  bread and pre-emptive measures against cassava brown streak disease.
A communiqué at the end of the inaugural meeting stated that a total of 5,000 bakers will be trained and supported at six bakers per local government area across the 774 LGAs. It was also agreed that FIIRO and NAFDAC be co-opted into the committee.