WHAT looked like a funfair played out recently at a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, when President Goodluck Jonathan flaunted a loaf of bread said to be made of cassava to the distinguished members. The occasion was more hilarious than serious because cassava bread is not new in Nigeria. Cassava has been used in baking bread in the country for more than 30 years by some research institutes in the old Western Region. The oil giant, Shell BP, also used to give cassava bread to its staff and customers. There is need therefore for a new way to leverage cassava production other than the President's method. More importantly perhaps, the Federal Government, if it is serious about promoting cassava bread above the normal bread that Nigerians are used to, should explore avenues to improve the nutritive value of cassava bread.Former President Olusegun Obasanjo canvassed for the use of cassava in baking bread during his administration. He sought to encourage bakers to use at least 10 per cent cassava in their bread manufacturing. Therefore, President Jonathan was actually re-inventing the ancient.Reports say the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, had during the meeting presented the President with a loaf of bread said to be 40 per cent cassava, produced by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.We do hope the President (along with the Vice President, Namadi Sambo) fulfill his promise to eat cassava bread till he leaves office. Thereafter, he said that the Federal Government would soon roll out incentives to support firms using cassava in their manufacturing process. He directed his ministers to come up with new policies that would encourage the production of cassava bread in the country.We believe that unless the President and his team come up with a new initiative to improve the quality and quantity of cassava production in the country, his enthusiasm on cassava bread will amount to putting the cart before the horse. For instance, adding nutritional value in the bread for children is necessary to promote good health and vitality for children and adult alike.Nigeria being the largest producer of cassava in the world, with about 34 million tons yearly, it is regrettable that the neglect of agriculture has over the years, caused a drastic decline in the production of cassava. The result is that the quantity of cassava produced in the country is no longer enough to meet competing demands.Cassava is used in a variety of products, including being processed into flour for making bread. It is also used for industrial starch production and also processed into garri flour, which is a staple food item in the country. It could also be processed into feed for livestock.Except there is a new initiative to increase cassava production in the country, competing demands could make the price of garri go beyond what the ordinary people could afford. In the last 10 years for instance, garri's price has increased by several hundred per cent. This is not unconnected with the high demand for it, against its slow growth rate.Perhaps, what makes the difference in President Jonathan's bread is that it was said to contain 40 per cent cassava flour. There is nothing wrong in using cassava to make bread if there is enough cassava and the economy is vibrant industrially. But none of these conditions presently applies to the country.Boosting cassava production is what the country needs now. The President and his agriculture team should come up with the right initiative in that regard. To achieve that, government should do more research. There should be a holistic approach to the issue of agricultural development in the country. Ad-hoc policy measures have never worked.What happened to the policy to grow wheat, which is another component of bread' Since bread can be made from a combination of wheat and cassava as components, should we be talking of one and leaving the other' Should we be talking of cassava and leaving wheat'While working out a strategy to produce cassava, wheat production should also be included, not only because Nigerians are already accustomed to wheat bread, but also because wheat can be successfully cultivated in parts of the country. We have large expanse of arable land in the North where wheat could be produced in large quantity. That potential should be utilised effectively. We only need a holistic and committed approach to achieve that objective.
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