‘Agric processing neglected in FCT’

What effort has the RMRDC made to stimulate  investment in cottage industries, especially agricultural processing, in the FCT?A lot has been done by Raw Materials Research and Development Council in the FCT, just like in other states of the federation. Before the creation of the FCT office, we reached out to Abaji Area Council with […]

What effort has the RMRDC made to stimulate  investment in cottage industries, especially agricultural processing, in the FCT?
A lot has been done by Raw Materials Research and Development Council in the FCT, just like in other states of the federation. Before the creation of the FCT office, we reached out to Abaji Area Council with improved varieties of beni-seeds for farmers to adopt with the hope that it will spread from there. Not only that, we had also distributed improved varieties of soybeans to farmers in Ushafa community of Bwari Area Council, too, about the same time. You know soybeans are very vital raw materials for vegetable oil, apart from animal feeds. In 2007 or thereabout, we were in collaboration with Eccless Nigeria Limited to establish 5 tonnes per day of soybeans processing plant in Abaji. The investor though failed us, but the land was allocated and a lot of things were done, remaining only the financial aspect. And you know, government doesn’t really have business in establishing such projects but to midwife. We have reopened that Abaji project now in collaboration with Abuja Enterprise Agency. We have signed the MoU and under the agreement, they are to develop the infrastructure and provide the energy, while the council is to provide the processing equipment and raw materials for production for, at least, six months.
In what way can women benefit from the project?
In 2012, we had a collaborative workshop on production of confectioneries in Kuje. It was targeted at women at the grassroots to empower them on how to add value to agro raw materials. We know that in Kuje area there is a lot of maize, millet, guinea corn, rice. So, even if there are no big factories to process them, women can convert some of the items into various products. The women that convert beans into akara (beans cake), those that convert corn into kunu (pap), they are not only creating jobs, they are raising funds and training their children through such enterprises. The area council gave us the hall and also sponsored women from various wards as part of their own contribution.
Is that the only project you are doing in the FCT?
Another project we are discussing with the Area Council Secretariat is briquette production from wood shavings so as to provide alternative to charcoal, which is causing deforestation and wildlife depletion in the FCT. The people making the charcoal target economic trees such as shea butter and cut them. Plans are on to get each area council to establish, at least, a saw dust briquetting machine as pilot project.
On individual basis, we are collaborating with Jones Farms and Gardens at Chibiri in Kuje, and a woman who is into processing and packaging of Moringa. Part of our job is to provide consultancy for individuals and corporate organisations on how best to utilise local raw materials. That is what we are doing to encourage women in the business.
Why are investors reluctant in establishing farm produce processing factories in the FCT?
Agricultural processing in the FCT has been neglected by the private sector and local authorities, while agriculture, generally, is overshadowed by property development in the territory. Investors go for businesses with high and quick returns, and the establishment of industries, you know, is based on a number of factors. Apart from the land which is very scarce in the FCT, there is the issue of providing infrastructure like road, light and water.
But to be specific, in a village along airport road, there is a woman who has established a pounded yam flour processing factory on a small scale and she is in production. She started in a small way and, today, she engages women there, though she has her own challenges; the usual challenges of energy, funds and access to market.
What can RMRDC do to spur the area councils in the FCT to get more farmers and women involved in agricultural processing?
Yes, we can. We’ve been visiting the area councils. I want to let you know that in Gwagwalada Area Council, last year, we empowered the women there with a crank wheel for making pottery. Pottery is a ceramic product, it’s not agriculture related, but one thing with economy is that if a woman has the wherewithal to buy some inputs, she can diversify into agricultural processing. What we intend to do at Kwali Area Council is to work with Abuja Agency for Science and Technology on beekeeping, because honey is a vital raw material for food industry, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It’s another project that women can take part, especially in marketing the products.
In some of these things, the area councils themselves need to be on board. You see, we have written some letters to Kuje asking for a parcel of land to establish mineral testing centre but, as we speak, there has not been any response from them yet.
Many farmers and other stakeholders are complaining that the area councils authorities are not doing enough to establish cottage industries in the FCT, what is your view?
I think the challenge could be that they are politicians and they have short tenure in office. When they start a project, they may not complete it before the expiration of their tenure. This is a personal opinion. Besides that, there could be other factors. I think lack of awareness of existing facilities can also be part of it. And that’s why we are also embarking on courtesy visits to the area councils to create awareness.
We have participated in three international trade fairs where we displayed all raw materials with the processing flow charts. We are involved in Rice Africa Programme, which is aimed at boosting rice production in rural areas, particularly Fadama areas. There is a rice farming method called Shawa technology invented in Japan whereby rice grown on about 10m2 of land can yield up to 100kg. That’s what we are taking to the FCT farmers in the Rice Africa Programme. The more we bring stakeholders together, the more we appreciate their roles.