Agric, Trade Ministers encourage farmers to kenaf production * RMRDC says it will check N1.75b imports*

Chief Audu Ogbeh

Both the ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh together with his Trade investment counterpart, Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah have jointly enjoined the Nigerian farmers to embark on massive production of the Kanef towards making available the raw materials for jute bags and

other derivatives for investors in the country as Nigeria is annually losing about 1.75 billion naira to the importation of jute bags according to the Raw Material Research Development Council (RMRDC)’s report.

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh who commended the effort of farmers in Nigeria towards ensuring peace through provision of food pointed that more still need to be done for massive agricultural production especially in kanef so as to make available raw materials of fibres meant  for the production of jute bags needed for standard export package of produce to European countries.

Chief Ogbeh pointed that the present crude oil price falling may not improve on the economy except we diversify into Agriculture thereby speaking in same vein with his colleague from Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah who said that farmers and other business men must take advantages of the falling crude oil to repositioned the economy towards creating wealth and job.

Chief Ogbeh said that “investors are showing interest to build factory already, when they come, we must make sure we provide them with kenef produce that will not allow them embarking on import due to non availability. We must satisfy our local needs because importation has almost put us on the way side. Nigeria is losing billions of dollars to every importation we do. This country imports everything including kenaf. We must be ready to do everything positive to safe our country from this trend”.

 The speech read on behalf of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Okechukwu Enelemah by Mrs Ope-Ewe stated that the “ economic doldrums occasioned by the falling oil price is indeed a wakeup call to Nigerians especially those in the agric commodities business and prospective business men to key in to Governments’ focus on diversifying the economy by boosting on the non oil sector as a sure avenue through which job and wealth can be created for the teeming youth. However, it is worrisome distinguished stakeholders that by the end of third quarter of 2015, Nigeria had expended over 15m USD in the importation of jute bags alone. This is in spite of the fact that Nigeria has the potential of becoming a net exporter of jute bags and other products kenaf based products. It is therefore a burden on all of us to translate our potentials as far as this commodity is concerned into reality, as this is the only way we can derive the maximum benefit from the sub sector”.

Chief Ogbeh also pointed that the health implication of using non free hydrocarbon materials for food packaging was a thing of concern in the face of increasing cancer diseases occasioned by mould from mycotoxin and aflatoxin which is hindering the acceptability of our agricultural produce in the global market despite the huge potential Nigerians can derive in the production of kenaf to producing jute bags for better packaging for food security and health safety.

The agric minister condemned the use of cellophane for packaging agricultural produce saying “when there was heat between March and April in Kano, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Zamfara. The grains will begin to sweat and this will lead to mould as the bag has no ventilation. The sweat will lead to mould, and mould produces aflatoxin which is a deadly source of cancer. A good source of cancer is the food we eat”.

“Investors are showing interest to build factory already, when they come, we must make sure we provide them with kenaf produce that will not make them to embark on import. We must satisfy our local needs because importation has almost drawn Nigerian way side.”

However the RMRDC Director Genenral , Dr. H.D Ibrahim pointed some of the interventions his organization has put in the place to harness the potential in the kanef production to checkmate N1.75 billion being spent annually on its import as follows.

·         The setting up of a Task force to carry out a pilot survey on the optimal pulping parameter of Kenaf for commercial scale pulping Kenaf bast fibre.

·         Boosting of the supply of Kenaf seeds by sponsoring multi- locational-field trials of improved kenaf seeds through the IAR&T, Ibadan.

·         Production of a blueprint for the production of jute bags from Kenaf fibre. The council in July, 2006, inaugurated a committee to produce blue prints for the production of jute bags from Kenaf. The council has since implemented the recommendations of the committee.

·         Funding of the design and fabrication of Kenaf decorticating machine at OAU, Ile Ife and IAR&T, Ibadan for separation of fibre from the freshly harvested kenaf plant.

·         Funding of the establishment of the pilot kenaf farms and processing centre in Oyo and Niger states in 2012 and 2014, respectively, to demonstrate the profitability of Kenaf production to the farmers.

·         Organizing an investors’ forum on kenaf development and utilization in Nigeria at Ibadan, Oyo state, 22^nd may, 2014, to promote investment in kenaf value chain in Nigeria.

·         More recently, the council is collaborating with prospective investors among which are Matad Food Affairs Nigeria LTD and GinCOC Nigeria LTD on the processing of Kenaf into fibre and the establishment of jute sack plant in Nigeria, the collaboration is at the point of preparation of feasibility reports on the projects, while Kenaf Development Association of Nigeria (KIDAN) had already been contacted for mass mobilization of its members for the cultivation of Kenaf. This becomes important as there is no single jute sack manufacturing plant in Nigeria at present, despite, its importance in packaging agricultural produce for local use and for export. The current jute sack requirement in the country is estimated at about 5million pieces culminating in the expenditure of N1.7 billion (in foreign exchange equivalent on annual basis).

     The situation is becoming very pathetic as a number of commodity exporters have resorted in importing second hands jute sack from Ghana. This has contributed to the rejection of many agro exports from Nigeria by importing countries. Meanwhile, Nigeria has the potential to produce substantial quantity of jute sacks if the potential of Kenaf is adequately harnessed locally.