Challenges associated with the post harvesting of cassava in the Federal Capital Territory (F. C. T.), Abuja, Nigeria.
Abstract
Description
: Nigeria is currently the leading producer of cassava in the world with production
increasing from 33 mmt in 1999 to 49 mmt in 2006. Farmers in the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja, Nigeria are faced with enormous problems in the area of cassava post
harvesting. These include lack of necessary equipments, technology involvement in the
preservation of the cassava, storage and processing facilities. If appropriate measure are
taken, these will encourage young leavers to maintain the farms, whereby reducing the
effect of migration of the youth from rural to the urban areas. Table 1 provides a data of the
availability of processing equipment the problems are across some states in Nigeria. With preference to the table the populated farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (F. C. T.),
Abuja use of 20 Prime Movers, 16 Pressers, 32 Grasses, 21 Fryers. This shows that majority
of the cassava farmers' seek for more equipments to foster cassava production in the
Federal Capital Territory (F. C. T.), Abuja. The highest user of prime mover is Taraba using
99 Prime Mover and the lowest less Prime Mover user is Nassarawa with 12 Prime Movers.
Cassava farmers in the Federal Capital Territory lack the ability in packaging which can
enable the rural farmers to export cassava product and get enough money for the cost of
production and manage profit. While the idea of fabrication of different processing such as
packaging, sealing machine sieving pulvering, fryer, pressing machine, chipping machine
washing equipment. There are needs of post harvesting equipment such as double screw
press accessories combined grater/chipper, double screw press pelletizer for soft pellet and
hard, tray fryer, mechanical sifters. The cassava farmers in Kwali Area Council of the
Federal Capital Territory (F. C. T.), Abuja are making great moves in the production of
cassava. The methodology used in packaging is very poor which indirectly affect the
marketing strategy that could have facilitated large production to meet the market value
and encourage the distribution of the cassava. The processing of cassava into starch, gari,
fufu are hindered by the lack of the packaging technology and processing machinery which
reduce the market value and the profitability of the cassava indirectly promoting exports
initiatives across the globe. The interview carried out show that farmers are faced with
timely distribution of the cassava to the market, this added to the cost of post harvesting
because of lack of good mobile vehicle, the harvesting and large scale cannot be meant and
the marketed cassava produce resulted into poor preservation and deterioration that
makes few people to farm cassava. It means the harvesting period, that makes our farmers
to convey it during morning at the bad Roads are making it difficult to successful carried on
the marketing and ensuring the stabilization of the market price in which directly have an
advantage to the markets or wholesalers who uses the opportunity to buy in bulk at the risk of the farmers which the prices will discourage more farmers to produce in large and
reducing the competition of other crop produce in the Federal Capital Territory. Various
methods are being engaged to foster the improvement of cassava cultivation in the Federal
Capital Territory. The Cassava Association North Central Zone, which consists of Niger,
Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and FCT was launching on 25th January 2007.
Keywords
TP Chemical technology