Ekiti stimulates growth with cassava

Ekiti State government has taken steps to accelerate development through a cassava initiative. 

Under the scheme, farmers will get more funding to grow the crop and save the country billions of naira spent on importation of wheat. 

The great thing about the plan is not just that wheat is giving way to cassava in the production of bread, but the growers themselves will make more money, giving their businesses and families a huge lift. 

The state governor, Kayode Fayemi, said it will also help create more jobs and accelerate industrial growth, in addition to enhancing economic security, amongst other dividends.

Government officials, representatives of Master Bakers Association and members of the public thronged the sprawling Adetiloye Hall, Government House Complex, Ado-Ekiti, where cassava bread was introduced to the public. There was a scramble for the loaves.

Fayemi launched the initiative, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, and Mrs. Foluso Olaniyan, MD/CEO, UTC Nigeria.

Others in attendance included President, Master Bakers Association in the State, Mr. Bosun Osaloni and Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of BJC Bakery, Ado-Ekiti, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Kofie.   

Top government functionaries including the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Rem Bodunrin and other members of the state executive council, local government chairmen and various officials of the State Master Bakers association were equally at the occasion.  

Governor Fayemi promised adequate funding for cassava growers in the state, adding that the bread would comprise 45 per cent cassava flour and 55 per cent wheat which he said is more nutritionally safe than whole wheat bread.

He noted that the target of creating 20,000 jobs before the end of year 2014 is attainable with several agricultural initiatives going on in the state.

He added: “As we launch this Initiative today, Ekiti State has become the first state in the federation to tap into the many economic and nutritional advantages of cassava bread after the recent launch by the Federal Government.”

The governor commended President Goodluck Jonathan for supporting agriculture in the state with the construction of 100,000 capacity metric tons silos in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, which he said was about to be completed.

He noted that the timing of the initiative would further assist the state in achieving the goal of  commercial agriculture in the state.

Fayemi said: “This event therefore is a dream come true as it has once again proved to you, good people of Ekiti State, that every declaration of government since the inception of this administration is neither a mere sloganeering nor statement of intentions but practicable, purposeful and achievable statement of fact.

“As we launch this initiative today, Ekiti State has become the first state in the federation to tap into the many economic and nutritional advantages of cassava bread after the recent launch by the Federal Government.

“This is clearly evident in the revolution of producing staple bread from cassava. In the first place, we believe that consumption of cassava bread is healthy as it reduces, to a large extent, the injurious content which the white bread poses to certain categories of consumers particularly those with diabetes related cases. 

“We have always believed that healthy people make a healthy society. The health of our people is of great concern to us as we consider them as the plank upon which a developed state with all the indices of growth is built. The cassava bread that is being launched today will go a long way in this regard.

“Similarly, of great importance to me is the clear capacity of the initiative to ignite industrial development which would invariably expand economic activities and create jobs for our teeming populace.

“I call on all farmers to take full advantage of this opportunity to change their socio-economic status. Let me stress that the state government is taking this proactive step to make the state the first port of call after the commencement of the revolution at the federal level.” 

Also speaking at the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, lamented the challenge of importing wheat flour, disclosing Nigeria spends a whopping N635 billion every year to import wheat. 

He said this was why the Federal Government planned and executed the option of securing an alternative to wheat bread, adding that cassava bread has been discovered to be more hygienic, nutritionally ballanced, safe and less costly than wheat bread.

Adesina disclosed further that Nigerians expend N10 billion on food importation annually which he said might thwart efforts to enhance local production to be able to attain set target of  proposed 20 million jobs for Nigerians in 2015.

The Minister dismissed as false  the rumour that cassava bread consumption increases or worsens diabetes in an individual, noting it had low glycemic index compared to wheat bread.

He reeled out the statistics: “The glycemic index for French bread is 95 which puts it in the very high range for diabetes; the popular English muffins have a glycemic index of 77, in the high range of diabetes. Now take whole wheat flour bread which you all eat everyday; it has glycemic index of 71, again on the high side; that of cassava flour is put at 59 which is on the low side.”

The Minister added that the success of the initiative attracted other African countries like Malawi which, according to him, has expressed interest in learning the art and science of cassava bread making.

Adesina noted that countries like the United States and Britain had made substantial progress economically as they export value-added products rather than unprocessed, primary products.   

He said: “To get the cassava bread to the masses, it is critical to support our master bakers. Nigeria has over 400,000 master bakers. They need access to equipment, finance and training. This is why Mr. President approved the establishment of Cassava Bread Development Fund.

He disclosed plans by his Ministry to join state governments to train master bakers and launch cassava bread in all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

He added, saying, “starter packs will be provided to master bakers in every state to kick off the commerciaslisation of the cassava bread by more than 400,000 master bakers across the country.”

Adesina explained that the latest effort was more than just cassava bread as the Federal Government  was ready to jumpstart an industrial revolution that would be anchored on cassava.

He said: “As other countries in Africa want to embrace cassava bread and reduce their imports of wheat, Nigeria is well positioned to become the leader. We can export cassava flour for bread to other countries. We are already exporting cassava chips to China.”