Joel Ajayi
Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC is seeking the direct support of Bank of Industry to assist SMEs as well as Intervention funds to develop processing technologies to boost the Country’s local raw materials industrial inputs and prevent post-harvest losses.
This was disclosed by the Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso when paid a working visit to the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, in Lagos Island, Lagos State.
While speaking, the DG stated that, the aim of the meeting was for both organizations to explore areas of collaboration in driving industrial development through targeted projects funding and technological interventions.
He described the meeting as being very strategic, highlighting the synergy between the role of BOI in providing financial support for industries and that of RMRDC in focusing on sourcing, development and utilization of local raw materials for industrial inputs.
DG However, made two key request which includes, Direct support to SMEs at the cluster level and Intervention funds to develop processing technologies and equipment for value- addition and more importantly, to prevent post-harvest losses.
RMRDC boss noted that RMRDC had recently developed a comprehensive database of resource endowments in the country which have been categorized based on SMEs characterization, while using the information to cluster small-holder business owners and operators, including agro raw material-producers, artisanal miners and others in the solid minerals sector.
Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso also pointed out that RMRDC currently operates the largest machine and equipment development facility in West Africa, located in the RMRDC Research and Demonstration Plant Complex in Abuja.
According to him, the RMRDC was not seeking research funding, but intervention funds to catalyse critical projects capable of enhancing productivity and efficiency in several agricultural value-chains and mineral sectors of the economy.
In his response, BoI Managing Director, Dr. Olasupo Olusi heaped huge praises on the efforts of the Council in promoting the development of industries through local raw materials utilization.
He highlighted the criteria for funding which includes project based lending, cluster-based product programmes and special intervention funds.
Dr. Olusi emphasized the need for a holistic approach to the value-chain intervention projects and reiterated that BOI primarily funds private-sector projects and not government agencies.
Prof. Ike-Muonso assured him that, RMRDC has an ongoing collaboration with Unilever Plc and various stakeholders to boost Country’s local raw materials for industrial inputs.
.
The DG also seized the opportunity to inform the MD of a Bill being sponsored by RMRDC in the National Assembly, to ensure that no primary raw material is exported out of the country unless at least 30% value-addition is achieved. This is to boost domestic processing capacity, create jobs, and protect resources.
While he urged BoI to support this initiative, being a key stakeholder in the industrial sector of the economy
In his contribution the Council’s Director, Industrial Plant and Equipment Department, Engr.E. I. Kwaya reiterated Council’s immediate need for support in process development to enhance value-addition and reduce wastages from the farm gate to the market.
He cited an example of onions, for which Nigeria is the second largest producer in Africa, with 2 million metric tonnes a year, only after Egypt.
However, Nigeria still imports onions at an estimated cost of about ₦35 billion, due to post-harvest losses.
Engr. Kwaya noted that the Council is partnering with a private manufacturing plant in Sokoto which currently produces 100kg of onions powder daily, but with some intervention can be upscaled to 500kg per day.
This, he said would require about ₦150 million to install an onion dryer and lyophilizer for processing raw onions into flakes and powder. The same, also applies to other crops such as tomato, ginger, etc.
Other project ideas including the procurement of freeze-dryer, which is also used in the pharmaceutical and food industries for processing produce into value-added products and a spray-dryer, currently being imported from China, for which RMRDC has the capability to reverse-engineer and adapt to our local environment for utilization.
