Aladinma Umukabia Ogodo Multi-purpose cooperative society is an association of over 200 women cassava farmers operating in Imo State. These women come together to help each other pursue economic prosperity for a simple reason: to take better care of their children. Veronica Njoku is the Vice President of the Association.
Stanley Agbuebu has been a palm oil processor in Imo State for more than 20 years.
‘’I started from using the local mill’’ he recalls. ‘’We cook the palm fruits ten foot from the ground. From there we will call people that will carry it to the place that they are going to digest it. From digestion, we proceed to where we will process it and from there we will extract our oil. It is labor intensive, and the cost is too much’’.
When Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) relocated from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State, Uddy Okon, the Executive Director said it was like starting a new Niger Delta grown organization from the scratch. She had to recruit new staff who didn’t have enough skills to support projects. As she was weighing how to solve the problem, she learnt about the PIND Capacity Building for Local Empowerment (CAPABLE) institutional and technical training opportunity for regional non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like herself.
Informed governments can promote inclusive and equitable economic opportunities in the Niger Delta through their decisions, policy and approach.
Back in 2011, stakeholder consultations showed the weak capacity of Niger Delta-based organizations was a major concern as development within the region would be impossible without their engagement and assistance.
For decades, the Niger Delta has experienced significant conflict across the region that have had severe effects on livelihoods.
Access to safe and clean water resources and good water management practices are huge issues in the Niger Delta that contribute to a high rate of water-borne diseases b with its attendant health and economic impacts.
Use of old fashioned methods for production and processing rather than efficient technologies is a constraint to value chain actors in the region.
Common constraints faced by cassava farmers in the Niger Delta include lack of access to and improper use of fertilizers and other crop protective products, poor knowledge of correct weed management practices and improved high yielding stem varieties and poor agronomic practices in general.
When we forayed into the palm oil sector in 2012, we found palm oil farmers were losing about 50% of their available fresh fruit bunches (FFB) for processing due to shortage of and high cost of hiring climbers who face serious health and safety hazards from climbing the palm trees.