FIIRO calls for review of policies on roots, tubers

The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has called for the review of policies on cassava and other roots and tubers for the development of the economy.

The Director General of FIIRO, Prof. Gloria Elemo, made the call during the 41st Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) Day and 1st Victoria Ojo Food Science and Technology Memorial School Debate in Lagos on Tuesday.

Elemo said that enforcement of policies regarding cassava and other roots and tubers must be done to achieve progress in food security.

She said root and tuber crops such as cassava, sweet potato, potato, yam and cocoyam were the most important food staple crops for direct human consumption in Nigeria and Africa.

She added that the Nigerian economy was over 80 per cent dependent on petroleum sector as source of public finance.

According to her, the oil sector has not spurred economic growth in spite of its significance

She said “food insecurity sure increases with growing population that is continuously dependent on imported foods.

“Farm produce consumed come through smallholder farmers, who engage in subsistence farming and are often marginalised.

“The current economic crisis requires redefining policies in the agricultural sector that will increase production, productivity and increase food security,

“It requires agricultural policies that will increase employment and income generation, expand exports and reduce food imports, thereby making resources available for crucial infrastructure development and delivery of social services,” she said.

Elemo said that in 1984, the Federal Government of Nigeria mandated the use of cassava flour in bread making but the policy faded with the administration.

According to her, the development killed the morale of stakeholders in the business.

“Cassava growers lost interest in cultivation due to lack of industrial demand, as there were very few cassava processors.

“By our recent study, it is estimated that an average of 25 bakeries per Local Government Area in Nigeria will be established over a period of three years.

“This is by entrepreneurs taking advantage of the new regime of incentives for bakers and processors on bakery equipment and reduced tariff on all equipment for processing of high quality cassava flour and flour blending.

“This implies that the cassava bread policy could lead to establishment of about 19,350 additional bakeries in all the 774 LGAs within the next three years,” she said.

Elemo called for the adoption of FIIRO technologies in the areas of Roots and tubers, to ensure economic development.

She also called for continuous support on research and development for root and tuber development in Nigeria.

The director-general encouraged Nigerians to buy made-in-Nigeria products for the growth of the economy.

Dr Dara Akala, the Executive Director, Partnership Initiativein the Niger Delta (PIND), said there was need for partnership in all stages of the root and tuber value chains.

Akala said that such partnership was built on the belief that no single organisation could solve the complex root and tuber value chains, to attain required development.

He said that collaboration would ensure productivity and sustainability of the value chains.

NIFST Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr Sunday Bamgbose, said that two years ago, there was a celebration and welcoming of a new government in power with high level of optimism and expectations.

Bamgbose said that however, such high expectation had gradually turned to despair and pessimism due to the downturn in economy.

He said that the good thing was that stakeholders agreed that the business of food was the answer and cure for the sickly economy.

According to him, the food science and technology industry is a sector of the economy that can never lose relevance and importance.

“I urge you to jointly explore the space that is been created in the economy, that will lead to emergence of something new in our country and in our profession,” he said.

Akala said that the day’s programme was also in honour of a dedicated NIFSTER, Late Victoria Ojo, who unfortunately lost her life in a ghastly motor accident on August 27, 2015 on her way to the chapter’s AGM.