N1.59trn on wheat imports, unacceptable – Jonathan

Nigeria women processing cassava

Nigeria President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has expressed federal government’s unacceptability over the importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish only which amounts to over $10 billion, about N1.59 trillion.

He also said the federal government is facilitating the importation and installation of 100 new large scale integrated rice mills in Nigeria to enable the nation with a capacity to mill all locally consumed rice.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the federal government would not only sustain farming in the nation as the largest producer of cassava in the world but also to ensure that Nigeria is the largest processor of high value cassava products globally.

To achieve this, President Jonathan said tariff and levy on the importation of wheat has been increased and proceeds from the levy will be used to support corporate bakers and master bakers across the country to use high quality cassava flour for baking.

The funds generated from the wheat levy, NaijaAgroNet learnt would be set aside to also support the promotion of high quality cassava flour and composite cassava bread in form of technical training, equipment for corporate baker as well as enzymes needed for production.

“Nigeria will export this year 1 million metric tonnes of dried cassava chips to China,” this he said would earn the nation $136 million, about N21.7 billion in foreign exchange.

The federal government is also reviving cocoa’s lost glory with massive distribution of about 3.6 million free pods of high-yielding cocoa varieties for farmers. Free cotton seeds will also be distributed to cotton farmers in the north.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

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