By Rakiya A.Muhammad
The first Indigenous Onion and Garlic processing plant has debuted in Sokoto to reduce the perennial post-harvest losses and boost food security in Nigeria.
Nigeria produces over 2 million metric tonnes of onion annually, amounting to more than N700 billion, with Sokoto contributing 40 per cent of the produce, according to the National President of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria. But the nation losses about 40 to 50 per cent of the product worth over N300 billion to post-harvest wastages.
At the commissioning of the processing plant Saturday, the Director General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim, expressed joy that the plant was designed and fabricated by Nigerian engineers following the call by the council to reduce the perennial post-harvest wastages associated with onion and garlic.
“Today marks an important milestone for the manufacturing industry in Nigeria as we commission the first wholly indigenous onion and garlic flakes processing plant,” he said.
“This development will aid our commitment toward zero hunger, promote productivity and profitability among farmers, improve the national economy and address the challenges of unemployment.”
The RMRDC helmsman, represented by Mr Emmanuel Kwaya, a director in the council, added that an effective processing plant of agricultural products and initiating research-based storage would improve food security for the country.
Over the past three decades, he pointed out that RMRDC remained the national institutional framework for promoting local raw materials development and utilisation by industries.
While noting the gesture had achieved tremendous milestones in developing and growing Nigeria’s industrial sector, the DG lauded the partners and investors for making the project a reality.
“They have shown confidence in the Nigeria-can-do spirit and have taken concrete steps to help see our Research and Development (R&D) results in Onion and Garlic processing reach their full potential,” he declared.
National President of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Maitasamu, appreciated the Onion and Garlic Processing Partnership Limited (O&G company) for establishing the processing plant.
He described the initiative as timely, given the high post-harvest losses attributed to the lack of adequate and effective storage and processing facilities at the farmers’ disposal.
Chair of the company, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, disclosed that some elites in the state proposed a processing plant to tackle post-harvest losses.
He revealed they would continue to consider more research towards easing the current hardships experienced by farmers across the state.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, applauded the initiative, underscoring the import of the plant.
The royal father, represented by the District Head of Sokoto-North, Alhaji Malami Maccido, expressed the Sultanate Council’s continued support to farmers in the state.
