wheat importation decreased by 20% #nigeria

The Federal Government will cut down
importation of wheat by 20 per cent from 2014,
Minister of Agriculture Dr Akinwumi Adesina has
said.
The minister, during a two-day training
workshop organized for master bakers from the
North-Central zone on cassava bread said the
policy is expected to save over N127 billion from
its annual wheat import bill of over N635 billion.
Adesina, who was represented by Mrs Toyin
Adetunji, his Technical Adviser on Cassava Value
Chain, said government has concluded plans to
implement its policy of 20 per cent substitution of
wheat with cassava flour in bread production to
reduce the bill and save money for the country.
"The master bakers' training is part of measures
aimed at developing the cassava industry
through the domestic market apart from creating
jobs and improving the income of the people.
The step is also aimed at diversifying the nation's
economic base from oil to non-oil sectors, of
which agriculture occupies a prime position," he
said.
He noted that Nigeria is the largest producer of
cassava in the world with a production level of 40
million metric tonnes. The minister added that
President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the
sum of N10 billion for cassava bread
development fund.