Nigeria’s food production sector continues to face challenges of low productivity and high post-harvest loss, estimated at ₦3.5 trillion annually.
Lack of proper infrastructure is mostly responsible for this predicament; however, low purchasing power of the citizens to buy the produced food also causes huge losses to farmers, as was a recent case with poultry farmers and pepper farmers, where glut is very common.
Value addition through agro-processing has always been the best way out for Nigerian farmers in the face of these challenges, but this often requires huge investment in infrastructure.
However, for smallholder farmers who can’t afford to set up expensive processing plants, simple food processing ventures can help them add value to their crops, reduce waste, and increase their income.
This article explores simple and practical food processing ideas that require minimal investment and can be started by any farmer in Nigeria.
Simple and practical food processing venture for Nigerian farmers
1. Fresh Fish ⏩ Smoked Or Dried
For Nigerian fish farmers, processing and transforming their fresh fish into smoked or dried products has proven to be a reliable way to not only extend shelf life and access better markets but also earn a higher income.
The process is quite simple and achievable for any farmer. It involves cleaning, brining, smoking, and packaging. Since smoked or dried fish can be stored for much longer and easily transported over any distances, it brings in significantly more profit for fish farmers in Nigeria.
Smoked or dried fish is in high demand locally and even for export. Rural fish farmers can sell their produce in urban areas or even export it internationally, making this a profitable venture for them.
2. Plantain ⏩ Chips Or Flour
Plantain is a popular food item in Nigeria, consumed directly in various forms – boiled, roasted or fried. It’s also among the food crops farmers must quickly sell off because of its limited shelf life. However, it can also be processed into plantain chips and plantain flour for higher earnings and longer storage.
Chips are a favourite snack across Nigeria, while flour can be used for making foods like amala and for baking. Both products have ready markets in urban and rural areas.
Simple processes such as dicing, frying and packaging transform the raw crop into chip snacks that are sold across different economic class customers. While plantain flour serves a smaller market, its specific health benefit helps it fetch a higher income. Farmers can process surplus plantain to reduce losses and increase profits.
This same value addition strategy can be applied to Yam, Potato or Cocoyam, all of which are also widely cultivated in Nigeria. The exodus of Nigerians to foreign countries has also increased demand for these local delicacies, which they can’t access there.
3. Beans ⏩ Flour
Beans are difficult to store for long without adequate storage facilities because of pests. Instead of losing harvested yield to pests or adding harmful chemicals to prolong their shelf life, beans can also be processed into flour for making moinmoin or akara, which are staples in many Nigerian homes.
Bean flour is convenient, has a longer shelf life, and meets the needs of busy urban consumers who can’t always go through the traditional steps of preparing Moinmoin and Akara, thereby fetching a good income in the market.
The processing requirement for bean flour, which involves cleaning, dehulling, drying and milling, can also be met by smallholder farmers. This value addition also opens up opportunities for packaging, branding, and marketing.
4. Pepper ⏩ Dried Or Powdered
Fresh pepper farmers lose most of their harvest due to its perishability. Key players in the pepper value chain face the threat of huge losses daily due to its limited shelf life. These losses significantly reduce profit margins by about 49.83% for farmers, 80.48% for wholesalers, and 88.09% for retailers.
While large-scale pepper farmers can push their potential losses to sellers, smallholder farmers who are responsible for selling their harvested crops aren’t always fortunate.
However, simple processing of fresh pepper into dried or powdered pepper has proven to be a solution. Drying and grinding peppers into powder is a straightforward process with strong market demand.
Proper packaging and branding can further increase value and make the product more shelf-stable and easy to transport.
5. Melon Seeds ⏩ Egusi Or Oil
Melon seed farming and processing is often labour-intensive, making the income from the traditional sales not commensurate with the production effort.
By cleaning, shelling, milling and packaging, smallholder farmers can add value to their egusi harvest and earn more by turning it into packaged powdered egusi or Egusi Oil. Shelled and even powdered Egusi are in high demand by many households in Nigeria, and Oil from the seeds thrives as an alternative to the common groundnut oil.
Packaged egusi is in steady demand year-round and can be sold in local markets or supplied directly to urban retailers, reducing losses and fetching higher prices.
6. Okra ⏩ Powder Or Slices
Okra is another highly perishable crop that can be processed to reduce losses and increase value. However, further processing into okra powder and dried okra slices, which are popular traditional delicacies among Nigerian tribes, is proving to be a profitable venture.
Dried okra can be stored for months and easily transported to even farther markets. The drying process is simple, requiring only slicing, sun-drying or using a basic dehydrator, and packaging, making it accessible to smallholder farmers.
Okra powder is especially useful for urban consumers seeking convenience, as it can be quickly rehydrated for soups and stews. Dried okra slices and powder can be packaged for sale in both local and export markets.
Why you should try these Simple and practical food processing ventures
Agro-value addition through these ventures offers several benefits for Nigerian farmers:
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- Increases farmers’ incomes: Value-added products fetch higher prices in the market, boosting profitability for smallholder farmers. It also eliminates the pressure to sell off their produce at ridiculous prices due to their limited shelf life.
- Reduces post-harvest losses: Proper processing and packaging extend the shelf life of produce, minimising waste and spoilage.
- Creates jobs and new businesses: Processing ventures expand the scope of a farming venture, thereby generating employment and supporting rural economic growth.
- Improves food security: Longer shelf life and diversified products help stabilise food supply throughout the year, helping consumers by providing more varied food options at any time in the market.
- Market Expansion: Value-added products expand the target markets or agribusinesses, from the immediate rural environment to remote urban markets or even foreign export markets.
- Attracts youth: Higher margins and modern agribusiness models appeal to younger generations, supporting sector renewal.
Conclusion
Simple agro-processing ventures offer Nigerian smallholder farmers practical solutions to post-harvest losses and low income. By transforming raw produce into value-added products, farmers can reduce waste, boost earnings, and contribute to national food security and economic growth. With minimal investment and the right support, these ventures can be a game-changer for rural communities across Nigeria.
