Governor Fayemi officially launched the Cassava Bread Initiative in Ekiti State to boost the state's commercial agriculture sector and economy. The initiative will create jobs, encourage cassava farming, provide a healthy alternative to white bread, and reduce poverty in the state. The governor pledged government support to ensure bakers and farmers can fully benefit from the initiative by accessing loans, raw materials, and that it leads to industrial development and a more prosperous Ekiti State.

1. AN ADDRESS BY DR. KAYODE FAYEMI,
GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE AT THE OFFICIAL
LAUNCH/DEMONSTRATION OF CASSAVA BREAD
INITIATIVE HELD IN ADO-EKITI ON MONDAY,
6TH AUGUST, 2012
PROTOCOL
I am profoundly happy to officially launch the Cassava Bread
Initiative in Ekiti State at this event today. I am particularly excited
because this is coming at a time when the policy thrust of this
administration on commercial agriculture is taking a firm root and
indeed turning to a manifest reality. This event therefore is a
dream come true as it has once again proved to you, good people
of Ekiti State, that every declaration of government since the
inception of this administration is neither a mere sloganeering nor
statement of intentions but practicable, purposeful and achievable
statement of fact.
As we launch this Initiative today, Ekiti State has become the first
State in the federation to tap into the many economic and
nutritional advantages of Cassava Bread after the recent launch by
the Federal Government.
Our decision to take the quick step in this circumstance became an
obvious policy option in view of the penchant of this government to
exploit all available opportunities that would be of immense benefit
to

2. our people. This is clearly evident in the revolution of producing
staple bread from Cassava. In the first place, we believe that
consumption of Cassava Bread is healthy as it reduces to large
extent the injurious content which the white bread poses to certain
categories of consumers particularly those with diabetic related
cases. We have always believed that healthy people make a healthy
society. The health of our people is of great concern to us as we
consider them as the plank upon which a developed state with all
the indices of growth is built. The Cassava Bread that is being
launched today will go a long way in this regard.
Similarly, of great importance to me is the clear capacity of the
Initiative to ignite industrial development which would invariably
expand economic activities and create jobs for our teeming
populace. You would recall that by the design of the 8 Point Agenda
of this administration, 20,000 jobs are to be created by the year
2014 through commercial agriculture. I am glad to note that this
Initiative is a right step in this direction.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, since the Initiative is to make
Cassava account for 40% of the flour content of bread production
in Nigeria, this, no doubt, is a great boost to cassava production on
our farms. Our once disillusioned farmers can now heave a sigh of
relief

3. as returns on their investment on the farm would become greatly
encouraging.
With this development, our desire to make Ekiti State an industrial
corridor for the agro allied section of the national economy is a
done deal. This will no doubt have a multiplier effect on the state
economy. It should therefore be seen that this singular effort would
deal a further blow on poverty structure in our land as another step
to put the monster to flight in Ekiti State. I call on all farmers to
take a full advantage of this opportunity to change their socio-
economic status. Let me stress that the State Government is taking
this proactive step to make the State the first port of call after the
commencement of the revolution at the federal level.
In the last one year, several cassava processing factoruies are in
operation inn the state. Vegafresh is currently producing cassav in
orin.Daatco just signed an MoU with our government.
I like to assure you all that the government will aggressively drive
this project for our people particularly the army of young farmers to
maximize its full advantages. I also like to emphasise that
necessary support will be provided to make the Initiative a huge
success. As a matter of fact, necessary organs of government have
been mobilized in this regard.

4. May I encourage the bakers who are major stakeholders in this
enterprise to begin to look inwards for the raw materials (cassava)
that are in large and commercial quantity in Ekiti for their trade to
make the Cassava Bread Initiative achieve its desired result. I am
sure this will also reduce the cost of production of the product
considerably. We are also cocommitted to ensuring that master
bakers can access loans at low interest for use of our bakers.It
would be seen from all fronts that our people stand a good chance
of a maximum benefit from the Initiative. This is consistent with our
mission of making governance people oriented and masses focused
in every step the government takes. In this case, there is no
deviation.
Let me thank the Hon Minister and his team for the passionate
commitment to the agricultural transformation in Ekiti. Let me also
thank Mrs Foluso Olaniyan MD,UTC.
Once again, let me assure you all that this Initiative would be
nurtured to an unmitigated success.
It is now my honour to launch the commencement of Cassava
Bread Initiative in Ekiti State to the glory of God and the benefit of
the good people of the Land of Honour.
Thank you and God bless.