I want to talk about maize and the problems we have with its supply in Nigeria
#Thread
Maize is planted by farmers all over Nigeria because of its value as food for humans and animals; both fresh, dried and powdered.
Its also a source of starch
Nigeria is Africa's largest
#Thread
Maize is planted by farmers all over Nigeria because of its value as food for humans and animals; both fresh, dried and powdered.
Its also a source of starch
Nigeria is Africa's largest
producer of maize at approximately 33m tonnes per annum.
With 6-10m hectares of land under maize cultivation in Nigeria, it is appalling that our yield per hectare of land is under 1.8 tons
South Africa's yield per hectare is 4 tons, while Thailand's is 4.28 tons for comparison
With 6-10m hectares of land under maize cultivation in Nigeria, it is appalling that our yield per hectare of land is under 1.8 tons
South Africa's yield per hectare is 4 tons, while Thailand's is 4.28 tons for comparison
Northern Nigeria with more entrenched irrigation is able to achieve up to 3 planting cycles per annum of maize,
But in most cases the best farmers only get 2 cycles per annum because of reliance on rain
Now to the crux of the reason why maize prices fluctuate wildly every year
But in most cases the best farmers only get 2 cycles per annum because of reliance on rain
Now to the crux of the reason why maize prices fluctuate wildly every year
When maize prices are low, farmers aren't encouraged to plant more of it the following season
Why?
Because of lack of preservation facilities
You see, in Nigeria, most maize is dried in the way our ancestors did it before colonisation
1. Either by allowing it dry on the cob
Why?
Because of lack of preservation facilities
You see, in Nigeria, most maize is dried in the way our ancestors did it before colonisation
1. Either by allowing it dry on the cob
2. Or by shelling it and spreading to dry in the sun
The lack of efficiency in these techniques means that the maize produced is of poor quality & often infected by aflatoxins & other unhealthy microbes
A solution is a cost effective mechanical dryer
The lack of efficiency in these techniques means that the maize produced is of poor quality & often infected by aflatoxins & other unhealthy microbes
A solution is a cost effective mechanical dryer
This model is an open source technology which can dry 500kg of maize within 3 hours using wasted corn cobs and a little fuel to run an engine
By drying 1.5 tons daily, an entrepreneur can make a profit by transporting the dryer from one farm to the other
engineeringforchange.org/solutions/prod…
By drying 1.5 tons daily, an entrepreneur can make a profit by transporting the dryer from one farm to the other
engineeringforchange.org/solutions/prod…
Such a solution will free farmers from wasting unnecessary time leaving maize drying on the plantation, or risking contamination by spreading it to dry in the sun where impurities can affect it
At one machine per 450 tons per annum, there is an opening for up to 70,000 of such
At one machine per 450 tons per annum, there is an opening for up to 70,000 of such
dryers in Nigeria, which will also create 70k rural jobs for entrepreneurs who will perform such a service for farmers.
The fabricators who will also manufacture the dryers will also benefit from demand.
With proper preservation and more stable demand for maize, farmers will be
The fabricators who will also manufacture the dryers will also benefit from demand.
With proper preservation and more stable demand for maize, farmers will be
able to expand cultivation and invest in higher yields per hectare, while the quality of the output will be drastically increased.
As always, the problem with our maize value chain (just like other crops) is lack of uniform standards and quality which dampens industrial demand
As always, the problem with our maize value chain (just like other crops) is lack of uniform standards and quality which dampens industrial demand
and also renders supply unreliable.
If we can fix the quality of output through effective preservation, supply will go up and prices will stabilize.
This will also lead to increased yield.
If we can fix the quality of output through effective preservation, supply will go up and prices will stabilize.
This will also lead to increased yield.
This is a project the FG can spearhead through NCAM in ilorin, NMTL in Oshogbo, and PRODA in Enugu
The above facilities should be able to produce 10,000 of the dryers each, which various cooperatives & farmers groups can buy outright or with the aid of NIRSAL or commercial loans
The above facilities should be able to produce 10,000 of the dryers each, which various cooperatives & farmers groups can buy outright or with the aid of NIRSAL or commercial loans
