Cassava cash - UWI researcher aims at J$672m annual saving

Andrew Harris, Gleaner Writer

If University of the West Indies researcher, Dr Ian Thompson, is successful, Jamaica could slash US$6 million (approx J$672m) from its annual import bill by replacing wheat flour with cassava flour.

"We have set a modest target of substituting 10 per cent of imported wheat flour with cassava flour," Thompson told The Sunday Gleaner.

"So instead of spending U$6 million to support wheat farmers outside of Jamaica, let us invest these funds to support our local farmers and production," added Thompson.

Between 2009 and 2013, Jamaica's annual food import bill climbed from US$791 million to an estimated US$970 million, with wheat accounting for between US$55 and US$61 million of this amount each year.

Under the Thompson proposal to substitute wheat for cassava flour, local farmers would have to produce an additional 70,000 tons of cassava root each year, which he says is possible.

He argued that arrangements can be put in place to ensure that the price the farmers receive for their cassava would be reasonable and attractive enough to get Jamaicans to substitute cassava flour for wheat flour.

"It may not be possible to offer cassava flour for a lower cost but we believe that we can approach price parity, and so this is the reason for investing in a pilot plant to complete the feasibility analysis, using technology appropriate to our needs, and for establishing model cassava farms to optimise production," said Thompson.

He noted that while the investment in the cassava flour may give a boost to the economy there is a drawback.

"Cassava flour cannot be used to substitute 100 per cent of wheat flour in some consumer products, such as bread ... and so the strategy is simply substitute about 10 per cent in bread, and to develop novel products which utilise a higher percentage of cassava flour."