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Nigeria now world largest producer of cassava’
By Abubakar Haruna
Nigeria has become the largest producer of cassava in the world with an annual output of 45 million metric tons. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbe, has said.
Ogbe who was represented by the Minister of State of Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri made the remark at the sideline of the official launch of the State Partnership for Agriculture, organized by Synergos in Nigeria in collaboration with the Ministry and Bill and Melinda Foundation (BMGF), in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that more than 35 improved varieties of cassava have been developed and registered in Nigeria.
“These varieties have increased the production of cassava to make Nigeria the largest producer of cassava in the world with an annual output of 45 million metric tons”. He said.
According to him, flour mills are being encouraged to substitute at least 10per cent high quality cassava flour for wheat flour.
He applauded Master Bakers for their positive response to Government’s policy towards this direction.
He assured that Federal Government would sustain its demand for inclusion of high quality cassava flour in bread in the country.
He said the ministry have provided the enabling environment for private sector production of other value added products of cassava like starch, dried chips, high fructose cassava syrup and ethanol.
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