Overcoming the Challenges of Implementing the 40% Cassava Bread Policy in Nigeria

Abstract

Due to the combined effect of urbanization and changes in lifestyle, consumption of bread in Nigeria has increased significantly over the years. On 15 July 2012, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) announced the cassava bread policy mandating flour mills and bakeries to include 40% cassava in bread. The policy was aimed at reducing the country’s food import bills, enhance the utilization of local crops, create opportunities for business and employment and genuinely boost the rural sector. Nigeria had previously implemented 5 -10% cassava inclusion policies that failed. Hence, this paper identified some of the challenges of implementing the 40% cassava bread policy and suggested ways of overcoming some of the challenges including policy inconsistencies, legal framework, feedstock challenge, environmental and waste management challenges, pricing challenge, logistical challenge, QA/QC and acceptability challenge, challenge of bread improvers, technological and electricity challenges.