Regardless of the thousands and thousands of naira price of waste generated yearly, the nation faces problem of correctly harnessing them for financial profit. From crop residues to unused palm kernel shells, coconut husks, and different by-products, there are such a lot of agricultural wastes that may very well be explored to advertise sustainable, eco-friendly setting, MOYOSORE SALAMI writes.
A rising development on the earth over is reworking agricultural waste lengthy thought of a nuisance into worthwhile and eco-friendly alternate options. From coconut shells to corn cobs and rooster intestines, these by-products are being repurposed into sustainable gadgets resembling spoons, plates and bowls by artisans and entrepreneurs whereas addressing environmental considerations.
Regardless of its promise, the agriculture waste recycling sector faces vital challenges in Nigeria. Infrastructure deficiencies, restricted consciousness, and inadequate authorities assist are main obstacles.
In Nigeria, agricultural waste is not only an environmental challenge however an financial one. The waste that’s discarded or burned has a major price. The sector presently produces massive quantities of biodegradable waste day by day with as much as 227500 tonnes of animal manure produced per day and as much as 84Mt of helpful crop residues produced per 12 months. This affords large potential for bioenergy technology in agricultural communities, particularly on the rural degree.
In line with a report by the Meals and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Nigeria produces over 30 million tons of agricultural waste yearly, a lot of that are discarded or burned, contributing to environmental air pollution.
The World Financial institution additionally states that Nigeria presently generates at the least 32 million tonnes of stable waste yearly, and this quantity is projected to rise to 107 million tonnes by 2050.
Nevertheless, solely 30 per cent of the waste generated is effectively collected and disposed of, primarily as a result of two-thirds of city households in low-income neighbourhoods lack formal waste administration companies, in contrast to middle-class and prosperous neighbourhoods the place waste is usually collected.
A sustainability knowledgeable, Oluwafemi Bakare, stated agriculture waste might assist deal with plastic air pollution by being transformed into biodegradable alternate options like bioplastics.
“This reduces reliance on single-use plastics, promotes a round financial system, and creates financial alternatives. At Ecoflow, we’re dedicated to leveraging these improvements for a cleaner, extra sustainable future. Recycling and repurposing agricultural waste cut back the carbon footprint by minimising methane emissions from waste decomposition, mitigating the necessity for artificial supplies, and creating sustainable alternate options like bioplastics. This course of promotes useful resource effectivity and reduces the environmental influence of the agricultural sector.” He identified that on this a part of the nation; sustainability is extra in regards to the setting than financial. We aren’t at that stage of the pyramid but.
“The fee distinction between producing plastic gadgets and people constructed from agricultural byproducts varies based mostly on components like scale, expertise, and uncooked materials availability. Conventional plastics are typically cheaper resulting from established infrastructure and economies of scale, costing round N1m–N3m per ton to supply. Agricultural byproduct-based alternate options, resembling bioplastics, can price 20-50 per cent extra, starting from N3m–N8m per ton, primarily resulting from increased manufacturing prices, newer applied sciences, and restricted provide chains.” He defined that as demand for sustainable supplies will increase and manufacturing scales up, the price of bioplastics constructed from agricultural byproducts will lower.
“As the marketplace for these alternate options grows, we anticipate the price to drop considerably, making it a extra viable choice for producers,” he stated. This portends a really dire future for metropolis residents in low-income areas, who’re unable to handle the amount of waste they presently produce, leading to a plethora of well being and environmental challenges for these residents.
Burning agricultural waste contributes to air air pollution and local weather change, affecting each the setting and public well being. Nevertheless, past the adverse influence, the dearth of techniques to recycle and repurpose these supplies implies that Nigeria is dropping out on potential revenue. If transformed into value-added merchandise resembling biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and even building supplies, these waste merchandise might increase Nigeria’s financial system and cut back dependence on imports.
World wide, a number of international locations have demonstrated how agricultural waste may be transformed into invaluable assets. In India, for instance, rice husks are used to generate vitality, whereas within the Philippines, coconut husks are remodeled into biodegradable merchandise.
These initiatives present a viable path for Nigeria, the place native companies and farmers might work in tandem to create markets for agricultural by-products. One such mannequin may be seen in Lagos, the place small-scale entrepreneurs have begun utilizing coconut shells to supply eco-friendly plates and cups.
However on a bigger scale, the method of changing agricultural waste into helpful merchandise stays underdeveloped, regardless of the huge potential. Nevertheless, Nationwide President of the Affiliation of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM), Olugbenga Adebola, acknowledged, “agricultural waste isn’t waste until you waste it, proper now, we’re sitting on a goldmine of agricultural by-products that, if correctly managed, might considerably contribute to our financial system. We’re losing what might change into vitality, biodegradable supplies, and uncooked supplies for industries.”
Adebola emphasised that agricultural by-products resembling maize and sorghum shafts, usually discarded after harvesting, are extremely flammable and excellent for waste-to-energy amenities.
“These by-products can be utilized to generate electrical energy. If correctly utilised, they may assist energy rural farms that battle with electrical energy entry. Take coconut shells, for instance, they’re typically thrown away, however they are often remodeled into cups, plates, and even decorative gadgets. Sugarcane bagasse, one other typically neglected by-product, can change single-use plastics. These supplies are biodegradable, providing an answer to the plastic air pollution downside.”
He added, “waste is a useful resource, however too many individuals don’t see it that means. We have to change this mindset and start viewing waste as a uncooked materials ready to be remodeled into one thing helpful.
“Over 60 per cent of agricultural merchandise like mangoes, tomatoes, and yams are wasted yearly. Farmers lack correct storage amenities, and when produce floods the market, the costs drop. Farmers are compelled to let their harvest rot, leading to a large monetary loss, managing this surplus higher and discovering new makes use of for it might flip that waste into revenue.”
Adebola stated the answer is not only in higher storage, but in addition exploring various makes use of for agricultural surplus.
“We will create biodegradable packaging and vitality from agricultural waste. This is able to assist cut back waste whereas producing revenue for farmers.
“Waste administration is capital-intensive. With out sturdy authorities insurance policies and assist, we received’t make progress. The federal government must again waste-to-energy initiatives and promote the recycling of agricultural by-products.
“Schooling can be key. If we don’t educate farmers in regards to the worth of agricultural waste, change received’t occur. Farmers want to know that agricultural waste is not only trash, it’s a income alternative.
“International locations like China have developed small-scale waste administration tools tailor-made to their wants. Nigeria must observe go well with by creating inexpensive, locally-built waste processing applied sciences. Supporting small companies and technical colleges is a good way to foster this innovation, in the end, waste is a useful resource within the unsuitable palms; it’s time for Nigeria to cease losing its waste and begin turning it into wealth.”
Nevertheless, current improvements are harnessing this untapped useful resource, particularly coconut. Coconut, a staple crop in Nigeria, producing vital waste within the type of shells.
Historically discarded, coconut shells are actually being repurposed into high-value merchandise resembling bowls, spoons, and activated charcoal. Hand-carved coconut bowls promote for as a lot as $10 in world markets, with artisans incomes a mean of $1,500 month-to-month.
Along with handicrafts, coconut shells gasoline the activated charcoal trade, which is valued at over $4 billion, globally. Nigerian SMEs specialising in coconut shell processing are tapping into this market, contributing to sustainable commerce and decreasing reliance on single-use plastics. A coconut crafter, Nathaniel Hodonu, who started his journey in 2006, noticed a possibility to show coconut waste right into a profitable enterprise.
“After I began, I used to be shopping for damaged coconut shells from individuals for about N1,000 to N2,000, however as I started to point out them how invaluable these shells may very well be, the value elevated. Individuals began holding onto the shells as an alternative of throwing them away.
“Gathering coconut shells has now change into a enterprise for many individuals; and it’s decreasing environmental air pollution. As an alternative of throwing them away, coconut shell sellers now maintain them in baggage to promote to processors like me. As soon as I obtain the shells, I reduce, sand, and polish them into completed merchandise like keyholders, bowls, cups, and complicated art work. The financial advantages are monumental, from one coconut, I could make at the least eight keyholders, and each sells for N750. That’s N6,000 from only one coconut.”
He instructed The Guardian that his coconut shell artwork items, significantly, his intricate coconut portraiture, can fetch costs as excessive as N250,000, relying on the dimensions. This far exceeds his earlier month-to-month wage and has made coconut crafting a extra worthwhile pursuit than conventional employment.
Nevertheless, Hodonu identified a number of challenges confronted by the trade. “The key problem is energy provide. I’ve to run turbines 24/7, which is dear, particularly with the rising value of diesel.”
He additionally talked about that many younger persons are unwilling to have interaction within the labour-intensive means of crafting merchandise from coconut shells, as a result of they need to make fast cash and keep away from the arduous work.
“Extra persons are starting to see the worth in coconut waste; using coconut shells is decreasing plastic consumption and serving to to stop environmental air pollution. The development of utilizing agricultural waste, like coconut shells, is rising throughout the nation. It’s not simply in Lagos, different states are beginning to catch on, too. However we want extra individuals to become involved in turning this waste into wealth,” he stated.
In line with him, the repurposing of coconut waste affords quite a few financial advantages, and will play a key function in decreasing plastic consumption throughout the nation.
“The financial worth of coconut shells is increased than the meat itself, the potential is large, and it’s a sustainable answer that advantages each the setting and the financial system.”
Hodonu added there are different corporations that use coconut shells for merchandise like mosquito coils, charcoal, and even buttons, emphasising that the development of repurposing agricultural waste is gaining traction throughout Nigeria, with growing curiosity from each artisans and shoppers.
“The coconut shell is a flexible materials; it may be used for artwork, purposeful gadgets, and even for industrial functions like charcoal manufacturing. It’s an ideal instance of how waste may be changed into wealth.”
The Basic Supervisor, Lagos State Coconut Improvement Authority, Mr Dapo Olakulehin, stated repurposing agricultural waste resembling coconut shells and corn cobs cut back plastic consumption and contribute to environmental sustainability.
He added that within the mild of worldwide warming considerations, there’s a want for the nation to discover revolutionary methods to transform agricultural waste into invaluable merchandise.
“We don’t have every other choice as a rustic or as humanity. The local weather disaster calls for that we begin creating wealth from waste, not only for financial progress however to make the setting extra conducive for human life, we should begin doing the whole lot we will to cut back plastic consumption, and agricultural waste presents a promising alternative.”
Olakunlehin defined that the coconut, specifically, is a ‘miracle plant’ whose numerous components from the shell to the husk, to the leaves and even the tree itself can be utilized for a variety of functions. Nevertheless, he famous that a few of the processes wanted to repurpose these supplies, resembling changing coconut husks into fiber for merchandise like reusable sacks, require high-end expertise that isn’t available on the state degree.
“Coconut husk may be transformed into fiber that can be utilized to make baggage and sacks, which might considerably cut back our reliance on plastic. This is among the finest uncooked supplies for creating reusable gadgets, however the expertise wanted to supply fiber from coconut husks isn’t accessible on the state degree.”
He added that whereas industrialists might probably play a job in scaling up these applied sciences, there may be additionally the problem of making certain a constant provide of uncooked supplies, as agricultural waste is commonly seasonal and never at all times accessible in ample portions.
“To repurpose agricultural waste on a big scale, we have to be certain that uncooked supplies are persistently accessible. Many by-products, together with coconut husks, are seasonal, which makes it troublesome to maintain industrial manufacturing year-round. We have to spend money on making certain that farmers have entry to markets and storage, to allow them to provide these uncooked supplies all year long.”
Regardless of these challenges, Olakunlehin pointed to the optimistic financial influence of utilising coconut shells within the arts and crafts sector, which has already created jobs and generated revenue for native communities. Nevertheless, he careworn that to really harness the potential of agricultural waste, larger funding in expertise and infrastructure is required.
“If we’re critical about repurposing agricultural waste, we have to spend money on the correct applied sciences, infrastructure, and assist for farmers. For instance, the coconut shell is a superb various to activated carbon or charcoal, and it might change wooden charcoal in lots of households and industries,” he stated.
He defined that increasing coconut manufacturing and repurposing its waste for charcoal might assist cut back the stress on forests and cut back deforestation, as coconut shells present an eco-friendly various to wood-based charcoal.
“If we will ramp up the manufacturing of coconut to satisfy the demand for charcoal or activated carbon, we will considerably cut back our reliance on wooden charcoal and, in flip, assist forestall deforestation. This might have a serious influence on decreasing environmental degradation and preventing local weather change.
“The potential is big, not only for environmental safety but in addition for wealth creation, if we make investments on this space, it may well create jobs, enhance productiveness, and assist tackle a few of the most urgent challenges we face right this moment, together with local weather change and plastic air pollution,” he added.
