Scientist Urges FG To Promote Agric Local Content Commercialisation

A scientist, Dr Olubunmi Ibidapo, has called on the Federal Government to promote the utilisation and commercialisation of local content and indigenous agricultural produce in the country.
Ibidapo, a Principal Research Officer, Department of Food Technology,  Federal Institute of Research, Oshodi (FIRO), said on Tuesday in Lagos that there was need for urgent government intervention.
She added that lack of government support and promotion of indigenous agricultural produce was hindering the utilisation of local content.
Ibidapo said with the continuous increase in the price of wheat globally, it was high time the Federal Government embraced and promoted the inclusion of at least 10 per cent of cassava flour and wheat flour in bread making.
According to her, wheat price globally is on the increase which is as a result of Russia /Ukraine war which has actually affected food prices globally.
“Nigeria being a blessed nation, we are the largest producer of cassava in the world with 21 per cent production capacity.
“This is now the good time for us to look inwards into the utilisation of our local content and indigenous agricultural produce for bread production.
“This is to reduce cost of production, boost local content and make food available at affordable prices to the citizens.
“We can see that bread has become a stable food all over the world including Nigeria so by incorporating and substituting wheat flour with cassava flour, we can reduce the total dependence on wheat flour,” she said.
Ibidapo noted that promotion of cassava utilisation would help farmers, agro-processors as well as boost the nation’s GDP.
“The utilisation of cassava flour will help our farmers and also develop our agro-processing sector because there will be increase production of cassava flour.
“It will add value to cassava as a produce and at the same time it is going to be of economy benefit to the nation”, she said.