FIIRO, Breadmakers Advocate Cassava As Alternative To Wheat
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), and the Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) have both called on stakeholders to re-visit the need to incorporate local content, especially cassava, in the making of bread. This was the focus of the 2024 PBAN Members’ Day-Out in Lagos recently.
FIIRO’s Director-General, Dr Jummai Tutuwa, represented by Deputy Director, Dr Adetokunbo Osibanjo, said the institute has developed composite flour innovations combining cassava, sweet potatoes, and other local grains like sorghum and millet with wheat to reduce production costs and reliance on imported ingredients.
“Nigeria is the largest cassava producer globally, giving us a clear advantage,” said Osibanjo. “We’ve shown that cassava flour is viable, but implementation requires the willingness of bakers and support from stakeholders.
“FIIRO is not an enforcing agency. Ours is to do these investigations and make the results available, to let people know this is possible, this is doable.
“You cannot force human beings, they have to make their own choices and their preferences.
“If Nigerians had embraced cassava bread earlier, we’d have overcome many of today’s challenges,” she added.
On his own part, the PBAN President, Emmanuel Onuorah, said “We’re exploring local ingredients like cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes,” he said. “However, the challenge is availability in commercial quantities and suitable forms. For instance, we need these ingredients in dry forms, not wet, to avoid extra storage costs.”
Onuorah called on FIIRO to ensure alternative materials are readily available and cost-effective.
“Our members are ready to innovate, but the government and research bodies must provide the necessary infrastructure and policies,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the Public and Industrial Agent Officer of PBAN, Babalola Thomas, stressed the importance of collaboration and long-term policy implementation, lamenting how 42 years since Nigeria’s first cassava bread, the country is still talking about feasibility.
