FG Approves Five High Quality Cassava Processing Plant

Cassava Bread

As part of efforts to achieve food security in the country, the Federal Government has approved five large high quality cassava processing plant to produce high quality cassava flour for cassava bread.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc Sonny Echono disclosed this at a press briefing during the 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), held at the Muson Centre, Lagos.

Arc Echono noted that the ministry in preparation for production has trained more than 5, 000 master bakers. He however stated that the ministry had not been able to upscale in the manner it would have wanted because the issue of the supply end in terms of processing has not been addressed.

Identifying some of its challenges as regards the production of cassava bread, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that currently, those processing cassava are doing so mainly for garri and some other food items and as such it has not been able to put plans in place for enough equipment to produce the quality of cassava that is required for direct consumption and to make bread.

“Production is not a challenge, but the milling, the processing and we are facing it squarely to ensure that we produce enough to enable us do the substitution, but am please to let you know that two of the largest farm millers in the country, flour mills and honey well, have started producing composite flour with 10% cassava in it, so some of our bread now have high quality cassava in it” he said.