A non-profit international alliance of 45 organisations known as The Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP 21) is set to meet in June in Benin Republic to seek ways on how to help Nigerian farmers boost low cassava yield and create wealth for themselves as well as food security for the nation.
Cassava is the main source of carbohydrates in Nigeria and other West African countries, replacing some traditional staples such as millet and yam.
The Federal Government is said to be considering levying imported sweeteners, flour and ethanol in order to reduce the food import bill and boost local investment in cassava processing, the ingredient from which starch is derived.
Despite been the world’s largest producer of cassava, Nigeria still imports most of its industrial starch, a by-product of cassava. With an import levy, the government hopes to reverse the trend under an “Industrial Cassava Policy.”
The Senate has condemned the downward review of import duty on milk powder by the Federal Government from 10% to 5%.
The Upper House of the National Assembly went further to request its committees on Agriculture, Finance and Customs Excise and Tariff to investigate the ministries, departments and agencies involved in the reduction.
Indonesian food and beverage producers to Africa and Latin America are raising concerns with their government about high import tariffs in these countries.
In a report published in the Jakarta Post on Tuesday, the chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), Adhi Lukman, said “these import tariffs ranged between 20% and 40%.
The Federal Ministry of Finance, on Friday, clarified that import duties on luxury goods and food items have not been raised, as was earlier reported.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information, Salisu Dambatta, the ministry said that contrary to some media reports that tariffs on such items have been raised, the government had no such plans at this critical period.
Dambatta further said that instead of increasing import duties, what the government did was to reduce most of the items based on the fiscal measures for 2016.
The Federal Government said on Wednesday it had approved the reduction of import duties on 115 items in various sectors of the economy as part of its effort to promote development in critical sectors of the economy.
The tariff reductions were approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of its fiscal policy measures of the Federal Government for the country.
The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun communicated the measures through a circular, which she said was in line with the provisions of the Economic Community of West African States Common External Tariff.
