FG raises alarm over $650m cassava product import bill

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.