*Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development discloses the Federal Government has articulated programmes to continue supporting farmers to produce more roots to ensure availability of potatoes to bakers all year round to create wealth

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

Against the backdrop of the current increases in costs of goods and products in the economy, the Federal Government has urged master bakers to use Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) in making loaves to cut costs.

Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, stated this charge at a one-day train the trainers capacity building workshop on OFSP processing and skills acquisition for 50 master bakers and caterers in Asaba, Delta State capital.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) organised the workshop, agency report said.

Represented at the workshop by Mr. Michael Brooks, Regional Director, South-South in the Ministry, Dr. Abubakar said that the Ministry would continue to train stakeholders across the聽 West African country on the need to use OFSP in bread making.

The training will equip bakers with requisite skills to produce bread at a reduced cost, given the rising cost of wheat flour, stated the Minister.

Dr. Solomon Afuafe, Coordinator of Sweet Potato Programme, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, exposed the participants to OFSP value addition for nutrition and sustainable income.

Mrs. Mary Anne, took participants on practical session on 40 percent inclusion of OFSP puree for bread baking and other confectioneries.

According to Abubakar, the Federal Government has articulated programmes through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to continue to support farmers to produce more roots to ensure availability of potato for bakers all year round.

According to him, bread is a staple food in the country, as such, the Federal Government considers it important to, through the ministry, train the major stakeholders to reduce cost of production and create jobs.

He said: 鈥淭he purpose of the training is to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders on the processing of OFSP into various products through value addition food products development.

鈥淭he immense health and nutritional benefits of OFSP cannot be over-emphasised as this could be seen in its good commercial and industrial value in terms of utilisation and being a substitute to wheat flour.

鈥淭herefore, the training is focused on substitution of wheat flour at the rate of 40 percent for bread baking and other confectioneries such as cake, biscuit among others.”

Earlier, Mr. John Onovroke, Director at Delta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, applauded the Federal Government for extending the training to bakers in Delta State, report noted.

On the essence of the programne, Abubakar stated the training provided relief for the impact of COVID-19 scourge in the state, and has the capacity to ensure food security.

According to him, agriculture remains critical for wealth and jobs creation in the country.

The Minister further said that the policy for each state to commit 10 percent of its budget to agriculture is a policy in the right direction.

Onovroke, therefore, charged the participants to be committed and ensure the addition of OFSP in bread production to enrich and increase their income.

Speaking on the training, Mr. Adegoke Adedamola, National Coordinator, OFSP Value Chain, FMARD, the Ministry intervened to address the soaring price of bread occasioned by high cost of inputs.

Local content, job and wealth creation

Adedamola said: 鈥淎s we all know today, price of ingredient; wheat, sugar, others have gone beyond the reach of average baker.

鈥淪o, this intervention is to see how this problem can be solved using OFSP to encourage bakers to utilise local content to increase income and create jobs.”

The policy on utilisation of cassava flour is still ongoing, but that OFSP offered bakers more opportunities to increase production, reduce cost and grow the country鈥檚 economy.

Mr. Jude Okafor, National Secretary, National Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) and Mr. Kelly Orien, Chairman, South-South, AMBCN,聽 tasked members to revert to use of local content in food production.

They argued it is absurd for anyone to attach more value to foreign products, which have consistently hampered local production due to rising cost when there were better alternatives.

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