FG trains women, youth on yam processing

By Nneka Nwogwugwu

The federal government has trained youth and women on yam processing.

The training workshop was held recently at the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State.

The Director of Food and Agriculture department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Karima Babaginda in her remarks, said, the objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of women and youth in the modern techniques for processing of yam into different products.

In her address made available on Sunday by the Ministry’s Chief Information officer, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Babaginda noted that one of the cardinal point of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is to increase production and reduce wastage.

She said, “As a matter of policy, there must be 35% inclusion of Women in all the Ministry’s activities.

“It is against this background that the value chain has taken the initiative to organize this training.

“ The training is a practical one, which will lead to the springing up of many small scale yam processing factories. This will reduce post-harvest losses, complement the existing few factories and bring more money to the actors in the yam value chain.

“Besides, post-harvest losses have been the bane of yam production in Nigeria: with a loss of up to 40% on account of inadequate storage and processing facilities.

“The processing of yam tuber has been an age long traditional method with little output. When processed, it can be eaten by hand or mixed with other traditional and modern dishes. Such all factors contribute to make it the most Nitrous food for the individual and commercially very important for any economy.

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“Apart from serving as food, it has a lot of industrial uses. It is used in production of all purpose- adhesives. The adhesives are used by producers of cartons, packaging companies, and leather and shoe producers. The all-purpose adhesive is produced with yam starch. The yam starch is also a good source of Pharmaceutical Grade Starch (PGS).

“Some industries particularly in Europe use yam flour in preparation of high quality biscuits, bread, cakes to mention but a few. In Nigeria also, it is used in production of high quality bread, cakes, etc.”

She stated that the choice of women and youth wouldn’t have been more appropriate when the role of women in nation-building is considered. Women as we know play a special role in the overall development of the country.

“There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.

“ On the part of the youth, they are the engine room of any nation; their participation in a growing economy is an essential key to national development. The world’s biggest power is the youth; therefore meaningful efforts must be put in place to help empower them to contribute sufficiently and competently towards the socio-economic and sustainable development of the country,”” she added.

Babaginda stressed the need for women to be involved in a more Scientific approach to process yams instead of using Traditional methods.

“Over many years traditional processes have evolved which yield a more durable product and in many instances a more convenient product for domestic use. These traditional methods most often are carried out by women and their children.

“These women have developed an empirical knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics and the functional properties of the yam starch.

“The traditional processing techniques are laborious and yet cannot bring the desired output and income hence, a more scientific approach have been developed. The capacity of women and youth who are already involved in the processing of yam need to be developed hence the need for this training,” she advised.

She also informed that NRCRI, the only institution in Nigeria with the mandate of research into root and tuber crops of which yam is one of them has over the years conducted a lot of research into value addition in yam and alternative uses of the yam.

“ The result of the research will be exposed to the participants of the workshop,” she said.