Niger Delta Human Development Report - UNDP Nigeria - United ...

Box 6.3: Environmental Degradation and Threats to Welfare and Livelihood Activities: The Case of Okoritak,
Akwa Ibom State
According to the respondents from Okoritak, the quality of land, forest and water in the community is poor. The evidence of poor land and soil in the
community is that most of the fruit trees in the area do not bear fruits again and when they do, the fruits are small. Okoritak is surrounded by water, but the
people have no potable water. The people travel by canoe to neighbouring villages to buy water for drinking. There are two wells in the village, but the water from
them is rusty due to high iron content. The people describe their water as containing crude oil.
The main environmental problems in the area include oil spillage, which has considerably reduced fish production; coastal flooding that destroys houses, causing
families to move frequently; and deforestation due to fuelwood extraction activities of the people. These problems have serious effects on the livelihood activities
of the people. For instance, in the past, women used to fish in the Qua Iboe River, but today they have settled for fish processing due to the poor harvest in the
badly polluted water. Also, fuelwood is more expensive now than years ago.
Table 6.4: Summary of Some Available Raw Materials and Possible Uses of the Resources
Raw material Possible uses Processing equipment required
Rice Rice milling,* flour, starch, Thresher, huller, polisher, parboiling
alcohol, livestock feed, matting tank, dryer and milling machine.
Maize Flour,* starch/glucose, confectio Thresher, de-stoner, gritting plant,
nery, cornflake, corn oil, livestock milling plant
feed, pharmaceuticals
Cassava Garri,* starch, flour, chips, livestock Peeler, grater, press, mechanical fryer,
feed, thickener, bakery fermentation tank, sieve
Yam Flour,* yam chips, flakes, livestock feed Peeler, chipping plant, dryer and miller
Melon Packed melon,* vegetable oil, feed Grinder, basin, scale
industry, livestock feed
Cowpea Flour,* bean cake, food and beverages Thresher, dryer, miller and packaging
industry machine
Tomato Canned tomato,* fruit drink, soup making Grinder, stainless steel containers,
steamer, homogenizer
Cocoyam Chips,* starch, flour, livestock feed Grinder, stainless steel containers,
steamer, homogenizer
Pepper Spice Dryer, miller and packaging machine
Okra Thickening soup Slicer, dryer and packaging machine
Sweet potato Chips,* human food, animal feed, Chipping plant, fryer, dryer, packaging
flour, food industry machine
Groundnut Vegetable oil,* groundnut cake, Sheller, extractor, expeller, miller, sifters
livestock feed
Oil palm Palm oil,* palm kernel oil, palm kernel Cooker, sterilizer, digester, screw press,
cake, soap and detergents, margarine, clarifier
lubricating oil, candle, cosmetics
Cocoa Cocoa butter, beverages,* cocoa powder, Dryer, pulverizer, mixer
alcohol from the pod, wine, livestock
feed
Banana Food,* confectionery* Peeler, slicer, dryer, miller
Plantain Food,* chips,* plantain drink, jam, Peeler, chipping machine, fryer, dryer
jelly, soap, livestock feed
Pineapple Fruit juice, jam Continuous juice expeller, pasteurizer,
filtration machine, cooking machine,
packaging machine
Orange Fruit juice “
Sugarcane Sugar Crusher, press cooling machine,
packaging machine
Rubber Tyres and tubes,* belts, shoes, Oven, extrusion machine, roller, mill,
rubber-based vehicle parts, rubber baby conveyor belt
napkins, detergents, shampoo, putty,
crumbs, balls
Mango Fruit juice,* jam Juice expeller, pasteurizer, filtration
machine, cooling machine
Coconut Oil,* feed/food, chips, yoghurt, milk, Shedding equipment, slicer, mill press
cosmetics, drinks, butter
Timber/teak Chip board, particle board,* furniture, Sawmill and furniture equipment
* paper and pulp, toothpicks, rulers,
toilet rolls, electric poles
Bamboo Pulp and paper,* toothpicks, building materials Dryer, paper mill
Cashew Roasted nuts,* juice Roaster, cracker, extractor
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
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