FG, farmers promote Kenaf production for employment generation

The Federal Government in its effort to diversify the economy through the agricultural sector, has mandated the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)  to develop the commercial production of Kenaf

Kenaf, an hibiscus plant that offers potential as a commercial fiber crop will be promoted and marketed to further strengthen the Nigerian economy. The federal governemnt through RMRDC has also opened a link of working partnership with 18 Nigerian governors, including Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Gombe, Taraba, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi, Taraba, Nassarawa, Kogi and FCT where Kenaf is grown in commercial quantity and Kenaf Development Association of Nigeria (KEDAN) to explore over one million hectares of arable land for kenaf cultivation.

Speaking at the capacity-building workshop on kenaf production, processing and marketing held in Abeokuta, at the weekend, in conjunction with Ogun state government and KEDAN, Peter Onwualu, director-general RMRDC, said that government was ready to fully explore the potentials abound in kenaf to boost economy and generate jobs for more Nigerians.

Onwualu represented by Bola Olugbemi, deputy director disclosed that the council, having considered the industrial and export importance of Kenaf had commissioned Department of Agricultural Engineering, Obafemei Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) to design and fabricate Kenaf Decorticating machine for modern and improved kenaf processing.

He said that the fabrication of Kenaf Decorticating machine was executed in addition to the regular technical support, capacity building, credit scheme facilitation and others rendered for Kenaf farmers, to guarantee improved and good quality of fibre and other by-products processed and produced from raw Kenaf to boost local consumption and exports.

“Considering the industrial importance and rising demand of Kenaf in international market, out production and export target will exceed that of Cocoa, but the major problem is that our farmers ar still using old method of retting (processing) which affects the quality of fibre processed from Kenaf and may also affect the international demand for Kenaf produced.

By: RAZAQ AYINLA