MASTER BAKERS IN RIVERS STATE AWAITS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MECHANISATION TRAIN

The Federal Government recently faulted the statement made by Lagos State master bakers that its members in Lagos State never enjoyed the Federal Government’s disbursement of the N2.2 billion cassava bread fund since 2013.

The National Chairman of Master Bakers Association, Simeon Abanulo, who stated this in Abuja noted that about 171 bakers across the nation were beneficiaries and that  96 master bakers across the country have received their equipment.

“This is spread according to the geo-political zones. Six geo-political zones got something, at least four equipment including Lagos State,” he stated.

According to him, the balance of the equipment have not been received because of the delay of Bank of Industry (BoI), which it promised that on or before next week it will mobilise the supplies.

Reacting to the statement made by the chairman of the Lagos State master bakers that N14 million given to them was too much and that N5 million should be enough for each, Abanulo stressed that even with the N14 million they are still managing it.

“The N5 million cannot even buy one rotary oven, which costs about N7 million and other equipment that cost millions which they know.”

“The chairman himself is among the beneficiaries and others in Lagos State who are blackmailing this. This is not the time to play politics with food security.

“The Minister of Agriculture is doing everything within his reach to make sure  that food sufficiency and security is obtained,” Abanulo stated.

Also speaking, National Provost, Jude Okafor, noted that out of N2.2 billion, N886 million has been received from BoI, which was given to the equipment supplies to supply equipment to the master bakers which they have done.

According to him, out this N886 million, 96 have benefited, including Lagos State.

While the Rivers State Chapter has not received their own disbursement from the BoI.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRAINS SOUTH-SOUTH MASTER BAKERS IN BENIN CITY

The members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria from the south-south geopolitical zone, met in Benin City on the 18th and 19th of September, 2013 for training on cassava bread production, which was organized by the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT. The six States Chairmen led their various States at the training, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo and Rivers. Ten members were trained from each of the states that participated. The national caretaker committee Secretary and south-south zonal Chairman of the Master Bakers were present at the training. Resource persons from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), brought their basic recipe for cassava bread and introduced their own methodology, they told the Master Bakers to make sure the follow the normal ratio of 4:1, for wheat flour (40kg) and cassava flour (10kg), they also advised the participants to make sure they mix both flours together when it's dry in the mixer, before adding water. The Master Bakers that were trained, said there was need for their bakeries to be mechanized, to ensure quality cassava bread for the nation, they said that they were looking forward to the MECHANIZATION of MASTER BAKERS in the nation. PHOTO GALLERY OF MASTER BAKERS DURING THE TRAINING

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA DELAYS PLAN TO MECHANISE MASTER BAKERS FOR PRODUCTION OF CASSAVA BREAD

The member states of the south-south geopolitical zone of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, met in Port Harcourt on Tuesday 27th August, 2013 at the State Secretariat of the Rivers State Chapter. The zonal Chairman of Master Bakers, Chief Raphael Ekun told his members to prepare for the forthcoming training for cassava bread by the Ministry of Agriculture. The members from various states in the zone asked the zonal Chairman, Chief Raphael Ekun when the mechanization process would start, He promised to get back to them, that they were working with the Ministry of Agriculture and that the Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was doing all within his reach to empower the Master Bakers, since they're the major players for the cassava bread programme to be a success. Those in attendance were the Chairmen of Delta State, Rivers State, Bayelsa State and representatives from Akwa Ibom and other member States.

MATTERS ARISING FROM MASTER BAKERS IN NIGERIA

The national caretaker committee secretary, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, and Chairman, Mushin local government area, Evangelist J.O Adejare told Vanguard that the Federal Government should be held responsible on the recent increase in price of bread. He disclosed different moves made by his members to avert the sudden increase in price of this  essential food, bread. Excerpt.

Recently bakers embarked on a three day strike in Lagos, why did they go on strike?
It happened that government increased import duty on wheat and initially it was 5% levy and later they introduced 15% duty and 5% levy on importation of wheat, making it 20%. At that point, the 20% increase on wheat which was part of the budget this year read in January 2012 with commencement date on July this year.

Since then, we have been holding meetings with FG to find solutions on this issue. All is on local cassava project, how to use to it for local baking of bread, which was initiated by Federal Government in 2004. Right now, the flour millers in order to remain in business increased the price of flour with N1,000.00, and with this increment, it is difficult for bakers to cope with bakery business.

Before now, flour was sold N6,500.00 but now is N7,500. This situation forced bakers to jerk up the prices of their products with 20%. And we have informed the public the situation we see ourselves in the bakery industry. At the national level, we registered our complaint when we met with the Federal Government in a conference at Abuja. They told us about the price hike in flour and bread and the reason because when import duty on wheat increases, it will definitely affect the two.

With what FG resolved at that meeting, the National body saw that there was nothing they could do about it, so they through state chapters instructed bakers to increase price of bread by 20% the same margin at which wheat was increased. The order was passed in July to all the states chapters.

But in Lagos, we held meetings on how to effect the hike in price and it was decided that it will take effect from September 1, 2012 but we decided that before we could achieve that especially in Mushin Local Government, we had to down tools for three days which we did, and Lagos state on its own was one day because there was going to be a gathering of bakers at Ikeja Police College to sensitize our members on how to effect the new price on bread.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ and former President of Nigeria, eating bread with 50 per cent cassava content; and IITA Scientist, Dr. Gbassey Tarawali in Abeokuta

The N1,000 increment by millers, was it as a result of the duty increment on wheat?
They told us that the increment was the resultant effect of duty on wheat. Before the new increment, it was sold N600 and then they assured us that it will not be increased again. But at the meeting with the millers at the national level they surprised us by increasing it to N1,000.00, and when we asked them reason, they said there was a drop in the American wheat market and because of rainy season which affected it, its price has to go up now because most farmers in American are now concentrating on rice, grain and other things because rainy season. So, wheat now goes for the highest bidder. They also blamed this situation on government.

So, in our last meeting with Federal Government before this price issue came up, Okonjo Iwuala and Adesina Adewumi, minister for Agriculture were there, and we discussed at length on this issue. We told them that we are interested to partner them on the project of using our local cassava for bread baking but advised them to suspend the 20% duty increment for now till all machineries for this project is ready.

But FG said they wouldn’t suspend it because they will generate revenue from the increment to sponsor the cassava/bread project that they government had been planning for it before now, so we should bear with them, and even if it will amount to increase the price of bread and others, they should go ahead to do that.

Which country does Nigeria import wheats from?
America is our main source of important even though other countries in Europe, Ukrain and others are there, but America is the largest wheat producer.

In your meeting with the FG, when did they say government will kick start the cassava/bread project?
I’m part of that discussion in Abuja as a national care-taker committee secretary of bakers, and I have been in the system since 2004 when Obasanjo was there. I attended all the meetings at national level.

And they came up with this issue cassava/bread project and we asked them how serious is the government? Again, they restated government commitment to the project that apart from the huge amount of money expected from it, the project will also revive our agricultural products. And we told them that if they want the bakers’ support, government should assist us with the provision certain equipment. Initially in the budget, they gave us 12% waver and that was not beneficial to us at the local level even though they had it in mind it is for all levels, we made it known bakers are of different categories.

We let them know that government has abandoned us over the years we have been crying for help in the bakery industry at our levels. We also told them that the 12% waver will only affect the multi-nationals, and the Nigerian bakers will not enjoy it because we can’t even import any equipment due to the stiff conditions attached to importation.

So, when we solicited their assistance financially and in other areas that would make bakery business easy for us. Based on that, they asked us to submit requisition order to cushion the effect of high cost of production and we did, but at the end in a list of six to seven items submitted only three items, electric ovum, mixer and chiller were granted.

Ironically they came up with Cassava/bread development fund committee in Abuja the same day. The reason for that committee according to government is that they are going to concentrate on local cassava to produce bread and increase import duty on wheat to 100% flat and money realised from duty will be used to fund local bakers, cassava/ bread and purchase of necessary equipment for the cassava/ bread project.

How is the effect of the increment on the local bakers?
It’s affecting the local baker seriously. That is one of the reasons we jerked up price to help us a little in production cost because most bakers are baking at lost. Many bakers have the left the business for okada riding.

The reason is that those who are producing 5-7 bags of flour every can’t even finish 2 bags in a day. How much would you gain from such production to take care of your family responsibility. The business is now worse.