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INFLATION, INSECURITY, INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIT, INEFFECTIVE “CWG” IN FOOD PROCESSING.

INFLATION

Factors influencing inflation are varied. Processing and Packaging contributes. • • Nigeria’s inability to manufacture machineries and equipment for processing, Most equipment used are imported, replacement of wear and tears parts could be costly.
• Its cheaper to import raw materials than local sourcing ( taking logistics into consideration), however, exorbitant port charges has to be contented with.

• Packaging materials are mostly of flexible polyethylene products ( hydrocarbon ) and printing comes with very high and dynamic cost implications (sourced from petrochemicals ) – as a result of crude oil prices. The above coupled with very high food prices , high energy costs especially in diesel, kerosene, cooking gas , aviation fuel with reduced income from oil, scarcity of forex exchange . with relatively high labour cost and electricity generation.
An average rate of price increase is about 35 – 40 % is on food items, as at mid of 2022 the inflation is about 22% .

Making case for food security in Nigeria.– FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY On- the farm will add the expected relevance to the agricultural value chain that will create employment, capacity utilisation , increase in usefull man hours and opportunity for youths in havng anccilary businesses and income to the populace,which will enable Nigeria attain one of the 17 goals of UN 2030 food sustainable development agenda. The mystery of inflation is deeply ingrained on the Nigeria masses consciousness from an economic view point this translates into unemployment, specter of starvation and rampant inflation as evidenced in the price of rice from #8000.00 in 2015 — #25000.00 in 2022 .

Starvation in face of unemployment force people to undertake and did anything to make a living be it black or street stalls. Internet fraudsters etc. Although the political economist are saying that we have come out of the recession the situation is still being monitored .

INSECURITY

Although farm harvest are improving eg the anchor borrowers scheme lunched for rice farmers in Kebbi state about some years ago, this is a CBN initiative which is aimed at creating economic linkage between small scale farmers ( out growers) and reputable large scale processors it also has the objectives of increasing agriculteral output and impruving capacity utilisation of the integrated mills, this is yielding fruit with the installation of largest rice mill in Africa expecting about 120 metric tons yearly of rice when fully settled.

However, insecurity is not helping the government’s assertion in this regards. Terrorism, banditry, Kiddernappers and other high end crimes. However, efforts are on to contain the situation by the Federal government.

MACHINERY

The Federal Government policy on yam export has started although domestic consumption of the product is being threatened, Nigeria is the largest producer of Yarn tubers in the world with about 61.7percent Presently, as important as Yam farming is, it cannot be mechanised because there is no farming implement for cultivation of Yam ridges mechanically, this must be ensured. Still on mechanisation, tractors usage. is below. 50 unit per 1000 kms. of farm land (Dizengoff) whereas in developed economy it is 300 unit per 1000kms of farm land Nigeria needs about 750000 tractors. to be in the league of mechanised farming Nations. It is hoped that more effort will be put in to the production.

At WUFS AGRONet it’s our view that the problem of Nigeria is insufficient production in agricultural value chain than inflation.

Solution is engaging people in to agricultural value chain development Take for example the product Tomatoes, currently this product is used mainly as sauce in soup making. while bulk of it perishes mainwhile Juice, Sauce, Puree and Blanched fruit could be made of tomatoes. From available statistics from CBN in 2014

Demand was 2.3 Metric Tons.
— Production. 1.8 MT.
—-Losses. 50percent.
—–Actual 0.9MT.
—– GAP. 1.4MT.

Efforts must be made to ensure sufficiency . The role of human development can never be overemphasized Equally, very critical is the issue of electricity it is the major determinant of our industrial productivity presently , about 4.2MW is our maximum with huge population of about 211million it is inadequate but I belief if Japan in the 1940s could bounce back to reconning after war defeat by America to become a develop country yes Nigeria too could make it and we have started in the right direction.

The fear of policy surmersult must be dealt with by enacting laws that will ensure continuity .
Presently WUFAS AGRONet is involved in free training in various food processing technology to enable the youths become productive . This effort can be replicated to other members of the society through partnership with us by individuals or organisations contact us today The need to pull Nigeria out of foreseeable danger of hunger and also to enable quality population Is to hedge on aggressive Involvement in the Human Capital Development of ( CWG) agricultural value chain. This would ineffect erradicate massive poverty, hunger, and joblessness.

A good case of backward integration is the current effort in cassava starch production in southwest of Nigeria where appreciable metric tonnage is been produce to meet the needs of some industries such as Flour mills, Phamarceticals and Food, This has drastically reduced wastage hitherto experienced. Cassava has saved huge amount of foreign exchange this can apply to other food crops. People, Communities must be assisted to appreciate essence of modern techniques in the production of local food crops. Increasing farm productivity, one of the latest technology is the application of Green House technology it assures the followings :
— Guarantee and Controls growing environment.
— Easy control of pest and diseases – Provide opportunity to grow crops all year round
—- small area, bountiful harvest.
—-Employment opportunity for youths and women.

• Long lasting high grade cover with peak roof maximum growing space design to last for more than 5years the package combes with Quality seed-
  — High yielding hybrid Variety of vegetable seeds, (tomatoes, pepper cucumber and sweet Mellon )
  —– provision of seed for a saeson
  — Crop protection and nutrition eg herbicides, insecticide and fungicide. and water soluble ferterliser
  —–Training program in record keeping, irrigation, pest control, crop husbandry environment and health Safety. At WUFAS AGRONet , we train groups and individual in Food processing technology their expertise is Borne out of over 35years of experience in various (blue chips) Food processing companies, we are also into supply of equipment and installation of same contract Us today @ 08157784430 or 08034064270 email:wufasagronet@gmail.com www.wufasagronet.com