The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, has stated that advancing Nigeria’s onion value chain could improve the nation’s economy by reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing export capacity, and encouraging investment in related raw material sectors.
He made this assertion during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry (BoI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, in Lagos on Wednesday.
The visit was aimed at forging a partnership between the two institutions to tackle the challenges facing onion preservation and processing in Nigeria.
According to Professor Ike-Muonso, this partnership is part of efforts towards repositioning the country’s onion industry. He revealed that a core focus of the collaboration is to set up a processing plant that will convert surplus fresh onions into value-added products like onion flakes and powder for both local and international markets.
He noted that over half of Nigeria’s onion harvests are lost post-harvest due to the absence of proper preservation systems, lack of processing infrastructure, and inefficient market access. He emphasized that this situation not only affects food security but also deprives farmers of income and limits the nation’s potential as a major onion exporter.
“Transforming the onion value chain will serve as a catalyst for agricultural industrialization,” Ike-Muonso explained. He added that such initiatives will not only curb wastage but also stimulate job creation, promote rural industrialization, and boost foreign exchange earnings through exports.
Furthermore, Professor Ike-Muonso stated that success in the onion sector could spur renewed interest in other raw material-based industries with high market potential, such as jute bag manufacturing, thereby supporting the government’s drive for industrial diversification.
In his remarks, Dr. Olasupo Olusi of BoI expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting that the Bank of Industry is committed to supporting initiatives that align with national development goals.
However, he stressed the importance of thorough planning, pointing out that a detailed feasibility study and research must precede any significant investment to guarantee the project’s sustainability and impact.
