The Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), has trained Kano State bakers and caterers on inclusion of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) puree in confectionery, to boost the immune system and combat Vitamin A deficiency among consumers.
The FDA Director, Hajia Karima Babangida, said on Wednesday in Kano at a workshop organised for 60 bakers, women and youths in agriculture in the state.
The project was tagged: “Supporting the adoption and utilisation of vitamin A rich sweet potato in Nigeria”.
Babangida, represented by Mr Abdulkarim Durosinlorun, said that the adoption would in attaining the goal on food security and nutrition.
“Potato has been proven to be suitable for consumption in various forms.
“Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato needed to be brought to the awareness of bakers and caterers in making confectionaries like breads, chin-chin, cakes, doughnuts, sweetners and juice, among others,” she said.
She revealed that the patronage of the potato by the bakers would also assist in creating jobs for youths and women in the country.
According to her, it would further assist to reduce cost of production by bakers and other users of flour.
“Inclusion of OFSP will help to bring down the cost of production by 40 per cent,” she said.
In his remarks, the State Coordinator, Green House, Kano State, Dr Babagana Yamani, said that the training would make the participants to become champions in value addition and food products development.
“That will contribute to make feeding more affordable for all in Kano and the rest of the country,” he said.
The National President, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Alhaji Mansur Umar, commended the organisers of the programme.
He said it would assist their members to reduce cost of production. (NAN)
