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

• achieve pro–poor, pro–job growth,
and diversify the economy beyond oil
and gas activities.
Potential Agricultural Activities
Vast possibilities exist in the Niger Delta
region for the commercial cultivation of
rice, cassava, yam, plantains, bananas, pineapples,
oranges, grapes, sugar cane, Irish
potatoes, etc. In particular, the freshwater
swamp forest zone covering parts of
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta,
Edo, Ondo and Rivers states is inundated
annually by floods and has ample capacity
to produce rice, oil palms, vegetables and
fruits. The palm oil yield in the freshwater
swamp forest zone is about three times
that of the dry area.
The following agricultural activities have
significant potential and deserve active
support from governments, oil and gas
companies, and international donors.
Rice production and milling: Rice production
and milling would be especially
suitable in Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and
Delta states. Nigeria is a net importer of
rice, as local rice production is well below
domestic demand. But upland rice can be
cultivated with irrigation facilities and adequate
rainfall, while swamp rice grows
readily along the freshwater rivers and in
the swamp areas of the Niger River and
the delta basin.
Sugar: Sugar can be cultivated throughout
the delta. It has a good local market
value, although current local sugar production
meets less than 10 per cent of national
demand. Informal sector participation
in the processing of sugar remains limited
largely because of the capital-intensive
nature of the business. This is one
possible area for meaningful partnership
between the government and other stakeholders.
Cocoa products: Cocoa production has
potential in Ondo and Edo states. Derivable
products are cocoa beans, and, with
further processing, cocoa powder, liquor,
butter, cocoa-based beverages and
confectionaries. The current output of
cocoa beans is about 50 per cent of the
level in the 1970s.
Roots and tubers: Varieties of these, such
as cocoyam, yam and cassava, are widely
consumed in the Niger Delta. Products
from cassava, the most important root
crop produced in Nigeria, include garri,
flour, chips, flakes, starch, alcohol, yeast,
adhesives and glue. There is a readymade
market for small-scale producers and processing
industries.
Citrus and other fruits: Citrus production
and processing are viable in Edo, Ondo
and Cross River states, and in other parts
of the Niger Delta. The processing subsector
holds great potential assuming the
introduction of careful packaging, grading
and improved varieties. Unfortunately,
quality, transport and distribution difficulties
currently result in wastage and spoilage.
Plantains: These are grown mainly near
the freshwater rivers in the north central
areas. Plantains can be cut into chips or
milled into flour. Possible benefits might
come from research findings on plantain
cultivation being carried out in the Niger
Delta by the International Institute for
Tropical Agriculture.
Rubber and rubber products: Rubber
cultivation and the rubber-processing industry
could take root in Delta, Ondo, Edo
and Cross River states. The rubber products
sub-sector covers tyres and tubes,
rubber gloves, condoms, vulcanized plates,
rubber thread and cords.
Poultry products: Expansion through small
business enterprises needs to be encouraged
through credit and extension schemes.
Animal husbandry: Organized through
individual, family and community enterprises,
animal husbandry has good potential
in all the states.
Aquaculture: The possibilities of this industry
are great, especially for the harvesting
of fish and shrimps, but they have not
been sufficiently explored. Opportunities
for fish farming exist in all the states, particularly
in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
162 NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT