FG revives cassava flour policy
The Federal Government has revived the cassava flour inclusion policy, mandating that 20 per cent cassava flour be blended into all wheat-based products, particularly bread and confectioneries.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a training of 50 master bakers on cassava flour utilisation in Akure. The programme, themed “Support to Cassava Processors and Master Bakers on Utilisation of High Quality Cassava Flour in Bread Production and other Confectionaries”, signals renewed government commitment to positioning cassava as a strategic industrial crop.
Kyari, represented by the Ondo State Coordinator of the Ministry, Akeem Ogundeko, noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural agenda, aimed at building an agribusiness ecosystem that drives export substitution, job creation, economic diversification, and food security.
The cassava bread policy, first conceived under President Olusegun Obasanjo and implemented during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, significantly increased cassava production and made Nigeria the world’s largest producer of the crop. However, it failed to scale due to governance lapses and weak stakeholder engagement.
The renewed drive emphasizes training and capacity building, with bakers expected to cascade their knowledge to peers, thereby ensuring acceptability, market development, and sustainability. Stakeholders, including the Master Bakers Association of Nigeria (MBAN), have welcomed the policy but cautioned that lessons from the past must be heeded. Ondo State MBAN Chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Iyiola, stressed the importance of honouring agreements and called for grants instead of loans to support bakers in adopting cassava flour.
The Senate had earlier backed the policy revival with a bill passed in November 2024, further anchoring the framework for implementation.
Source: Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The revival of Nigeria’s cassava flour inclusion policy marks a significant policy intervention in food security and economic diversification, with several implications:
- Import Substitution and FX Savings
Nigeria spends over $4 billion annually on wheat imports. A 20 per cent cassava flour inclusion policy could save hundreds of millions in foreign exchange, reduce dependency on imports, and stabilize local markets. - Market Expansion for Cassava Value Chains
Cassava, often underutilized, gains new industrial relevance beyond gari, fufu, and starch. This move could stimulate investments in cassava processing plants, storage, and logistics, creating multiplier effects across rural economies. - Challenges of Quality and Consistency
High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) requires standardized processing technologies, reliable supply chains, and quality assurance systems. Without these, bakers may face issues with texture, taste, and shelf life of cassava-blended bread, affecting consumer acceptance. - Opportunities for Smallholder Farmers
The policy presents a chance to integrate smallholder cassava farmers into structured value chains. With adequate aggregation centres and contract farming models, they stand to benefit from stable markets and higher incomes. - Risk of Policy Fatigue
The policy has failed in the past due to poor implementation, lack of incentives, and weak stakeholder trust. To succeed this time, government must ensure inclusive stakeholder engagement, timely incentives, and grant-based support for bakers and processors. - Broader Economic Impact
If successfully implemented, cassava flour adoption could make Nigeria a global reference point in crop substitution strategies, while boosting employment, nutrition diversity, and industrial resilience in the agri-food sector.
Conclusion
The cassava flour policy revival offers Nigeria a rare opportunity to leverage a local crop for national food security and industrial transformation. However, its success depends on sustained political will, transparent execution, and real support for bakers, processors, and farmers. Done right, it could reshape Nigeria’s agri-food system and reduce vulnerability to global wheat shocks.
