RMRDC PRESENTS AGRO PROCESSING PLANTS TO FARMERS, PROMISES ASSISTANCE TO INVESTORS

As part of efforts to provide up-to-date information and technical support to investors in Nigeria, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has offered to provide intervention for the development of indigenous technology for the processing of the nations local resources. The Director General (RMRDC), Engr. (Prof ) Peter Onwualu made the pledge while presenting fish smoking kilns and cassava chipping plants to farmers in Birnin Kebbi.

 He explained that the Council’s desire to support investors was aimed at promoting investments in resource-based industries and encouraging existing industries to increase their level of raw materials utilization.

Prof. Onwualu noted that the support would open the gates of opportunity for the development of the abundant raw materials in the country which would be properly harnessed for industrial development. 

According to him, Nigeria was greatly endowed with abundant raw materials which would amount to waste if the strategies for their value addition products were ignored.

He explained further that council’s gesture to farmers in Kebbi was to address post harvest losses of fish and to harnessing the huge cassava harvested in the state.

The DG also said that the kilns which were presented to the fish farmers had larger processing capacity, faster processing time lower risk of fire out-break, better appearance of finished products and long shelf lives.

He gave the other advantages of the kilns as increased profit to fish processors, high fuel efficiency and reduced health hazards to fish smokers.

Prof. Onwualu said that each of the kilns had capacity to process 360kg of fish per day. He noted that the the chipping machine had capacity to process about 8 tonned of cassava per day.

Earlier, the Chairman of RMRDC Governing Board, Chief (Mrs.) Paulin Tallen, while noting that Nigeria was blessed with abundant natural resources and human resources, said the country had all it took to break away “from the shackles of poverty.”

She added that the presentation was to encourage value addition to the nation’s raw materials and to reduce poverty poverty.

She then urged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunities associated with the provision and work towards reducing poverty from their locality.

The Governor of Kebbi state, Alhaji Adamu Aleiro, in his goodwill message urged investors in the state to take advantage of huge raw materials resources in the state to site industries that would eradicate poverty.

                                                                                                                                        Chuks Ngaha