KENAF (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.) is an annual herbaceous fiber producing crop capable of revolutionizing the nation's agricultural and industrial sectors if the potentials are well harnessed.The journey towards vision 20:2020 will be easier and quicker if this wonderful crop is accorded its pride of place in the agricultural transformation agenda of the present government. Kenaf is a wonderful crop that matures in just 120 days and can be grown virtually in all agro-ecological areas of Nigeria.As an agrarian country, we have long celebrated our agricultural prowess, which has sustained our existence as a nation and the provenance of our cultural heritage and identity. But in our headlong pursuit of materialism with the discovery of the oil wealth we seem to have forgotten the numerous value chains embedded in Kenaf, a versatile plant with promising potential for industrial uses.It is possible and feasible to develop and modernize without cutting down every tree in our forest reserves and we don't have to be enslaved to injudicious consumption and pollution of the environment through petrochemicals and synthetics. The conceptualization and genesis of introducing kenaf into this country was based on this perception and premised on its belief and philosophy.Kenaf is about sustainable management of our forest and its plethora of resources and potential wealth, kenaf is about innovating and producing green products to augment our massive wood-based industry, and it is also about looking into every avenue to safeguard our forest resources and extend globally our marketing reach and prowess.Efforts at rejuvenating the production of kenaf in Nigeria is also tantamount to stopping the nation's capital flight in terms of importation of pulp, paper and jute bags.Kenaf is capable of bailing the country out of its present economic doldrums, increase the foreign exchange earning of the country, improve the standard of living of farmers, serve as source of employment generation especially for the youth and boost the nation's agro-allied industries by looking at its numerous value chains.Kenaf can be used in the production of biodegradable bags for exporting agricultural produce such as cocoa, grains, oil seeds, salt, sugar and cashew seeds. It should be noted that the use of synthetic bags in the packaging of agricultural and allied products has been globally banned since 2002 and there is great demand for the bags made from kenaf in haulage industrial and agricultural goods all over the world.An investment in a plant for the production of jute bags will create employment for over five million persons up stream and over 25,000 farmers down stream. The technologies for running the jute bag plant are not far fetched; they are available within the country.The story of the Nigerian paper and pulp manufacturing sub-sector of the economy, especially in the last three decades at best, resonates with the familiar tale of the comatose operational state of the manufacturing sector in general. No doubt, the failure of the sector, which was caused in part by a number of known factors, has inflicted colossal losses on the economy. For about 30 years, the nation has been counting losses in trillions of naira.The amount could be saved, once the major operating firms in the sub-sector are revived. The industry's revamp would, however, require a combination of infrastructure revival, power sector reactivation and a programmed institution of well tailored and will-backed policies capable of stirring the operating firms in the industry from their current doldrums.Nigerian paper and pulp manufacturing sub-sector of the economy; an industry with over 300,000 people in its regular employment and having investments worth N100bn, the revitalization of the sector had become imperative. The need to resuscitate it was further underscored as being in line with the industrial, social and educational development aspirations of Nigeria, especially as encapsulated in the country's Vision 20:2020. Attempt has been made to analyze the current position in the industry. Accordingly, 'Estimates of imports of finished products in the sector amounts to over N500bn, thus if the sector works optimally, Nigeria stands to save up to N400bn annually, and at the same time create over 200,000 jobs for young Nigerians.'Nigerian paper and pulp manufacturing sub-sector of the economy can be bailed out by kenaf plant instead of the initial dependence on imported long fiber pulp, that the mills were planned in such a way that with time it would be producing long fiber pulp from pines species, established in plantations in different locations in the country. It is imperative that a deserved attention is paid to the production of this miracle crop as kenaf can be used in the production of newsprint and other grades of paper.The plant is also useful in the production of building materials such as roofing tiles, binding agent in interior decoration ceiling (popularly called POP), tiles and particle boards. Kenaf offers a wide variety of environmentally sound wood-plastic product flows that can be marketed at many levels from raw materials to finished products. Unlike other products, kenaf's product is a unique eco-friendly product that already has name brand recognition as being natural and environmentally sound. It is of no need trying to convince people about kenaf's natural value since it is already seen as an alternative to the most pressing problems recognized by many who are involved in the environmental business since it is an attempt to stop the cutting of forests and producing tree - free products. Kenaf plant is also used in bio-remediation of polluted soils such as the oil polluted lands of the Niger Delta. The core fiber of the kenaf plant has indigenous oil eating microbial that solve many long term spill disposal solutions. The product is all natural, non toxic and completely bio-degradable. Other varieties of products such as biofuel, automobile interior panels, textile composite, animal bedding, fiber glass substitute, plumbing yarn, ropes etc are made from kenaf plant fiber.Kenaf is commercially cultivated in more than 20 countries, particularly in India, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Nigeria can also join the league of nations commercially producing kenaf to make this a reality the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR& T), Moor Plantation Ibadan saddled with the national mandate on kenaf genetic improvement and utilization has done a lot of research work ranging from its genetic improvement, increase in yield as well as its industrial utilisation.
Click here to read full news..
