The government’s policy on wheat importation has started yielding tremendous financial benefits as the Federal Government is saving ₦200 billion yearly from the 20 percent cassava substitution for wheat in bread making.
This was recently revealed by the Federal Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina at the inauguration of the Oamsal Cassava Flour Mill in Ayede Ekiti in Ekiti State.
The Minister stated that the agricultural transformation of the Federal Government was to add value to the Agric sector and support Nigerian farmers, as well as the 36 cassava bread bakers in the country so far in achieving their dreams.
Adesina while speaking promised to provide ₦1 million each to 35 Small and Medium Enterprises for infrastructure development, adding that the sum of 3.5 billion had so far been expended on the upgrading of facilities for small and medium scale enterprises to boost the economy and encourage entrepreneurs.
Commenting further he added that the FG is in partnership with research institutes, universities of agriculture and state governments on cassava plantation, as well as the designation of 5,000 hectares of land for cassava plantation to control the price and propel the bakers of cassava bread.
He afterwards enjoined Nigerians to eat more of cassava bread.