The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) on Monday said the institute would intensify effort in deploying technology to address food shortage in the country.
The Director-General of FIIRO, Gloria Elemo made this known on Monday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Elemo said that Research and Development were being carried out in the institute to increase and improve food nutrients to add value to the standard of living of people in the country.
He listed the areas FIIRO was employing technology to include cassava flour production, instant pounded yam flour production, fufu flour production from cassava, edible mushroom production and zobo drink production and preservation, among others.
According to her, fufu flour production from cassava is a classical example of upgrading indigenous technology.
“It is our traditional food. Preserving it is difficult. We have to deploy science and technology to see how we can keep it for long on the shelf.
“Now, we will be able to keep our fufu for two year as it portable and easy to handle. That is how science and technology can be used to solve our problems.
The director-general said that the institute was embarking on cassava project in the six geo-political zones to create jobs and wealth for people at the grassroots.
“We want to thank the legislators who bring their constituency projects into cassava processing for job creation in their various states.
“That will also assist in achieving the vision of catalysing the cassava processing plant in six geopolitical zones in the country.
“So, if we can get the legislators, the federal, state government and local governments to key in to industrialisation, we are ready to go with them to achieve that vision.
“Federal Government alone cannot achieve all of these, it is a collective effort, “ she said.
She told NAN that private sector operators were really needed to drive the economy.
According to her, without them, it will be difficult for the nation to move forward as it is the private sector that moves any economy all over the world.
“The fact that we have easy money actually has contributed to our lazy attitude to such things.
“But now that we are looking forward and inwards, I am sure the story will be a different thing very soon, “ she said.
