The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has promised to provide support that will strengthen commodity associations in Nigeria.

The minister made the promise in Abuja on Tuesday when Mr James Awoniyi, a member of the Cassava Value Chain programme of the ministry led some cassava farmers and processors to his office.

The minister commended the farmers and the processors for conforming to the Federal Government’s policy of 20 per cent cassava inclusion in bread-making.

Adesina said the Federal Government’s policy was about taking advantage of what Nigeria produces to develop and lauded the farmers’ doggedness in condemning calls that cassava bread was harmful to health.

“I am happy about the way you rose up in support of cassava in this country. Our decision to include cassava in bread-making is purely an economic decision.

“The Federal Government will continue to create the enabling environment and the appropriate instrument for farmers and processors to grow, ” he said.

Adesina promised to address all challenges facing the cassava stakeholders by meeting regularly with them.

He said that the Cassava Value Chain programme had begun to yield results as the country had started exporting high quality cassava flakes to China.

Earlier, Awoniyi had said that they were on the visit to express appreciation to the minister for his efforts in transforming the sector.

In his remarks, Mr Segun Adewumi, President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), urged the minister to include National Youth Service Corps members as agriculture extension officers.

He said the N1 billion commercial agriculture fund had not been judiciously used by states and suggested that the ministry introduce land development programmes to increase cassava production.

Mr Femi Salami, a member of the National Cassava Processors and Marketers Association (NCAPMA), said that the Federal Government’s cassava development policy had helped in resuscitating the association’s business.

“The advent of this administration has brought hope to some of us. We want this policy sustained,” Salami said.

He urged the minister to help the association to facilitate access to loans from the Bank of Agriculture.

Mrs Folusho Olaniyan, Managing Director of the United Trading Company (UTC), lauded the reduction of incentive on cassava active agent, thereby encouraging bakers and millers.

She called on the Federal Government to assist the bakery industry with equipment  and provide training for master bakers.

“We also need you to assist us to develop software that can say where and when bread finds itself after production, ” he said.