Nigeria: Middlemen take advantage as several factors limit palm oil production in Akwa Ibom

Published 2024년 6월 18일

Tridge summary

The article delves into the struggles of local palm oil producers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, highlighting the economic challenges they face despite high demand for their product. Farmers like Christiana Akpan and Mrs. Mathew grapple with low income due to lack of government support, exploitation by middlemen, outdated machinery, and high operational costs. The broader issues in Nigeria's palm oil industry, such as low industrial processing capacity and financial constraints, are also discussed. The article calls for government intervention through loans, subsidies, and better market linkages to support these rural communities and enhance their contributions to the local economy.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

A cloud of steam gathered above their heads as Christiana Akpan and Ekaete Okon fetched oil palm fruits from a drum and poured them into a grinding machine. It was a bright Friday morning in March, and the two women were processing palm fruits at a mill in Utu Ikot Ekpo, Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Their tedious tasks demonstrated how local farmers in Akwa Ibom rural communities produce palm oil, a commodity used in homes and industries worldwide. But the women were not concerned about the tedium of their work. “The work is more than the income,” Mrs Akpan said. Palm oil is an edible oil commonly used for several purposes, including cooking and soap making. PREMIUM TIMES visited two local government areas in Akwa Ibom State to see the producers at work and understand why they are impoverished despite a constantly high demand for palm oil. Gospel Mathew lamented that intermediaries buy palm fruits from farmers cheaply because there are no off-takers and ...

Source: Premiumtimesng