The wife of the Governor-General, Lady Cooke, and Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, sample freshly-made cassava pancakes yesterday. - Winston SillA JAMAICAN version of pancakes has been introduced to the local market, albeit with a new twist.
The cholesterol-free pancake mix is made from the cassava, one of the crops first introduced to Jamaica by the Taino Indians before Christopher Columbus' arrival.
The launch was done by Lady Cooke on the east lawns of Kings House yesterday.
A product of RADA Twickenham Cottage Industry, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, the project received US$185,000 funding from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to improve bammy technology.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. David Bowen, FAO representative in Jamaica, said his organisation was excited about the pancake mix but the long-term objective should be the reduction of the country's dependence on imported foods.
"Successful implementation of this policy will not only conserve foreign exchange but will provide a larger more stable market for local farmers," Dr. Bowen said. "Increased demand for local crops will provide improved opportunities for food processors, particularly the rural cottage industry sector in which women play a dominant role."
He said in Ghana and Nigeria cassava growing was successful because of deliberate policy measures, growing urban demand, government investment in the distribution of planting material, introduction of new varieties and the availability of mechanised equipment which overcame problems of labour shortage during harvesting.
"Cassava is now the largest agricultural commodity in Ghana and in 1998 represented 22 per cent of Agricultural GDP," he said.
Also addressing the launch was Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke who urged all the parties to ensure they maximised production of cassava.
"All marginal lands can grow cassava, farmers must grow it," he said, pointing to its versatility for other dishes such as cassava pone (pudding), bammy and dumplings.
He also cautioned against the notion that foreign goods were better than locally produced items and said we must find a way to help farmers get the most for what they produce.
