Nigeria to need N16bn cassava flour annually for bread by 2015

About N16 billion worth of cassava flour would be needed by 2015, in the estimated 550 million (950g) loaves of bread valued at about N117 billion currently produced annually in the country.

This would be possible in line with the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the current administration, which includes increasing cassava flour in bread to 40 percent by 2015.

According to master bakers operating in Nigeria already utilising cassava flour in the production of 950g loaves of bread, the cost of flour used in bread is about 35 percent. One of the master bakers, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, says in a 950g loaf of bread, which costs at least N220, cost of flour is about N77. So, bakers utilising 40 percent cassava flour in such bread would need N16.9 billion cassava flour if used in all the estimated 550 million loaves of 950g bread produced in the country currently.

Sylvanus Irondu, national secretary, Nigerian Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), says “with the right support to investors in cassava production and processing, large number of youths can get employed because farmers would earn more and new cassava production and processing businesses would spring up.”

Affirming that, Vincent Mbakwe, another investor in the cassava sub-sector, says “it would boost our economy, because cassava farming would no longer be seen as a menial business because large number of unemployed graduates would go into the business; but they need to be fully convinced of the market. The certainty of this demand would also encourage banks to finance businesses in this sub-sector.”

Though many stakeholders are concerned that the realisation of such huge demand for cassava flour can only be achieved through legislation, a bill before the National Assembly for the legislation of cassava flour inclusion in bread is yet to be passed. Figures given by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture show that even with 20 percent inclusion of cassava flour in bread and other confectioneries, about 1.3 million jobs could be created.

Speaking on the legislation recently, Louw Burger, managing director, Thai Farm International Limited, Lagos, producing High Quality Cassava Flour, said: “This means we have a reliable market for our flour, which means we have to buy more cassava tubers; which means the farmers have a steady market.”

Currently, there is a bill before the National Assembly aimed to legislate the inclusion of at least 20 percent cassava flour in bread. If passed and signed into law by the executive arm of government, it shall be mandatory for all makers of edible flour in Nigeria to ensure 20 percent inclusion of high quality cassava flour or high quality sorghum flour in wheat flour.

OLUYINKA ALAWODE