By Obot Etang
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), alongside other key stakeholders, has converged in Cross River State to explore strategies for transforming local raw materials into sustainable sources of wealth and economic opportunities for communities, while addressing critical rural development challenges.
The meeting, held recently at the BRCI Hall, Federal Housing Estate, Calabar, was organised by the Inclusive Forum for Accountability Society (IFAS) in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and a private sector partner. It attracted participants from 10 communities across the Biase, Obubra, and Ikom Local Government Areas, as well as representatives of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), civil society organisations (CSOs), and private-sector stakeholders.
The gathering focused on promoting the value addition and commercialisation of locally available raw materials as a pathway to economic empowerment, job creation, and sustainable community development.
The event commenced with a welcome address by the Coordinator of the Inclusive Forum for Accountability Society (IFAS), Mrs. Joy Adebayo, who underscored the need for collective commitment to community development, accountability, and inclusive economic growth.
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In his remarks, the Cross River State Coordinator of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Mr. Obot Anozeng Eteng, highlighted the critical role of value addition in driving rural industrialisation and economic prosperity. He stressed that the local processing of abundant resources such as cassava, palm kernel, plantain, cocoa, limestone, clay, and bamboo would not only minimise post-harvest losses but also increase household incomes, create employment opportunities, and stimulate sustainable development across rural communities.
A major highlight of the meeting was an interactive session during which community representatives identified the raw materials available within their localities and outlined the challenges hindering their effective utilisation. Participants reported that between 30 and 40 per cent of agricultural produce is lost annually due to inadequate storage and processing facilities. They also cited limited access to processing equipment, dependence on middlemen, poor market access, insufficient knowledge of product preservation and packaging, and difficulties in meeting collateral requirements for credit facilities.
Responding to the concerns raised, Mr. Eteng assured participants that RMRDC’s intervention would extend beyond advocacy to practical support and capacity development. He disclosed that the Council would facilitate hands-on training and on-site demonstrations of affordable processing technologies tailored to rural environments. These include the conversion of cassava into garri and flour, palm kernel into oil, and plantain into chips, among other value-added products. He further noted that RMRDC would provide technical guidance to attract public and private sector investments into viable community-based enterprises.
The State Coordinator also reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to strengthening the capacities of local processors through training in hygiene, quality assurance, and packaging standards required by regulatory agencies and modern markets. According to him, the initiative is aimed at improving product quality, reducing market rejection, and enhancing competitiveness. He added that RMRDC would facilitate linkages between community cooperatives and relevant government programmes, research institutions, universities, and funding opportunities, including those offered by the Bank of Industry and other development finance institutions.
As part of its immediate intervention strategy, Mr. Eteng announced that two pilot communities would be selected for intensive training and equipment support. He further revealed plans to establish a monitoring mechanism to track implementation progress and provide periodic reports, while also advocating for the inclusion of rural processing centres in future development plans and budgetary allocations of the Cross River State Government.
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