FG raises alarm over $650m cassava product import bill |
The
Federal Government has raised alarm over spending of $650 million on the
importation of cassava end products annually.
Minister
of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this at the
2018 Seeds Fair and Farmer’s Field Day, in Abuja.
Chief
Ogbeh said that “I want to tell farmers that we are very happy for heeding to
Mr.President’s calling to return back to farms. And many of you are now
becoming richer. Again, why so much emphasis on cassava? It is not because we consume
cassava, but because right now we are spending $650 million a year importing
cassava by- products in the name of syrups, sweeteners, starch and ethanol. And
yet we are the biggest cassava producers in the world just as we are the
biggest producers of yam.What we need is industrial machinery to convert this produce
to industrial products”
The
minister further revealed that “we are engaging more support of the states to
step up our regulatory activities with the enhancement of our public
enlightenment and sensitization programmes in seed market in major cities
across the Country.
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