The enforcement of 10 per cent inclusion of cassava flour in wheat flour used for baking and confectionery products is expected to save Nigeria $40 million annually from the amount spent on wheat importation.
This was disclosed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Abuja during a meeting of Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers, Abuja and Nasarawa state chapter.
The Director of Research and Development, NASENI, Engr Stephen Momoh, while presenting a lecture tagged “Design and Manufacture of a Cassava Flour Plant” said the country currently spends about $40m annually on importing wheat into this country.
He said, “By the time we come out with flour which will be a substitute to this wheat it is going to save the nation a lot of foreign exchange.”
He said the project will ensure capacity building and of immense benefit to SMEs, both in the cassava production and industrial machinery manufacturing sectors.
“The project will contribute towards the successful implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Cassava and the 10% inclusion of cassava flour in wheat flour used in the bakery industry will lead to wealth creation and poverty reduction, since there will be spin-off industries and a multiplier effect of increased cassava utilization” he added.
The chapter chairman of the association, Engr Onyekachi Omaka said the presentation, which, was on design and manufacturing, is purely engineering and is to equip the younger engineers who might not have the knowledge immediately after school, but that with this type of forum they get a lot of knowledge.
On the cassava flour plant, he said, “when you are using your hand to process your cassava you cannot be as effective as using a machine, so definitely it will be faster.”
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