There is expected to be a reduction of the US$50M annual importation bill for wheat flour by a grand total of US$10M with the pioneering gesture of cassava flour on the local market. This significant achievement will be made possible with the setting up of a cassava processing mill at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
The announcement was yesterday made by Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) at the opening session of a two-day workshop on cassava development. The workshop is being held at the Institute’s boardroom, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
Gracing the opening session were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, CEO of Clayuca Corporation; representatives of the private sector; farmers, and staff of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Cassava development in CARICOM has been given a big boost with funding by the European Union. However, the Colombian Government is facilitating the implementation in Guyana, Suriname, Grenada, Barbados and Jamaica. Clayuca is the implementing agency on behalf of the Colombian Government.
According to Dr. Homenauth, the programme duration is 42 months, a period that would allow the transfer of technology, introduction of new varieties, capacity building and most importantly, the setting up of the cassava flour mill. The mill costs US$100,000 and has the capacity to process 10,000 pounds of cassava per day.
