ABSTRACT
From the first chapter; Agro-Based Industries is seen as one of the forerunner of mechanization of Agriculture in Nigeria. It is made clear from the research carried out that Agro-Based Industries play a very vital role in the economic development of the country most especially in the level of National Income.
Moreover, the effect of low productivity was also discussed and a lot of suggestions given which had to be taken by government to wipe out this irritating problems being faced by Agro-Based Industries.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER THREE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
References
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The history of Agro-base Industries in Nigeria is relatively long. According to J.E. Botton Industrial Revolution in 19th century gave birth to the existence of Agro-base Industries of the world, most the colonial master.
In late 19th century, the number of Agro-base Industries were increasing in a faster rate due to the improvement in mechanization of agriculture. At that time, there was no laws governing the industries, no ministry of agriculture until later at the end of 20th century when our indigenous entrepreneurs began to set up some of the present industries.
Between 1959 and 1977, the large the large number of companies were registered and been approved by the ministry of Agriculture of which one of them is Livestock Mill Plc. I was founded in 1947 by a group of individuals who combined as a partnership. It was also incorporated in 1955 with shareholders. At times they were combining the production of feeds and poultry farming now they have numerous branches all over the country with their main branch at Aba.
Flourmill which specializes in the extraction of flour for production of chocolate was founded in 1964. the company was incorporated in 1972 and undertake the production of flour as from time to time, the company has been performing fine in the production process until 1982 to 1985 when it was faced a lot of problem.
The Premier Cashew Industries was also among the Agro-base establishments in the late 19th century. It was founded in 1952 as “Oghe Cashew Industry” by the former Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (E.N.D.C)
The first cashew plantation of the industry was established at Akama Oghe. Subsequently, Oji River and Mbala Isuochi Cashew plantation were established.
The plantation at Oghe has an area of 470 hectares which was divided into 5 fields and 150 plots with a total of 36,486 cashew trees. The Oji River plantation has an area of no hectares of plots with 8,100 cashew trees; The Mbala Isuochi plantation (now in Abia state) has an area of 150 hectares of 31 plots with the total of 9,300 cashew trees.
The cashew tree in the plantation started to bear fruits in 1957 (five years after they were planted) from 1957 to 1964. Then the nuts were shelled ans pealed manually obtain cashew kernels. However in 1965 the method of processing cashew nuts were mechanized following the procurement of a medium seized processing plant from Great Britain. The plant was installed at Akama Oghe and was producing both kernels and cashew nut shell liquid.
The kernels which is generally known as the fruit of cashew is delicious and nutritious. It is highly esteemed as food stuff. Cashew nuts is as large as the tip of a finger in a shape of crescent fade us kidney shaped and is made up of spongy mesocarp of about 1/8 inch or 4cm in thickness. It consists of a network of honey comb cell which contain dark brown viscous resinous liquid called cashew nut shell liquid. This liquid is obtained by extracting through the process of roasting the nut shell to obtain the kernels.
The cashew nut shell liquid consist chiefly of the naturally produced phenolic compounds, one is anacardic acid and the other is carol. Both of them are of non-drying in nature. They cannot be dried unless by means of either the process of chemical reactions. Every activity of the industry stopped at the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil war of 1967 and expatriates employees of the industry all fled to their home countries.
The industry and its three plantations were severely devastated by the civil war. The processing plant as completely vandalized so also were the building and other infrastructural facilities. As the plantation were not proud or wedding during the war years, they grew into forest thus providing good habitat for antelopes and monkeys.
At the end of the war in 1970, then East central state owned Agricultural Development Corporation (A.D.C.) attempted to reactivate much success.
Following the creation of additional states in 1996 th former East central state was split into two states, Enugu and Imo, Mbala Isuochi was carved into Imo state. Consequently the cashew plantations at Mbala became vested in Imo state government. Enugu state government was thus left with Oghe and Oji River cashew plantation. The two plantations have a total land area of 580 hectares of 179 plots and 44,586 cashew trees.
Between 1980 and 1989, a new factory built at Oghe in which a gigantic processing plant of Japanese make was installed. The plant has the capacity to process up to 1,500 metric tones of cashew nut annually. The factory was officially commissioned in 1989 and it therefore went into processing of cashew nuts harvested at Oghe and Oji River plantations. As the plant could not be adequately feed with cashew nuts supplied by the industry arrangement were made for contract processing to meet the optimum capacity utilization level of the plant.
The industry is fully owned by the Enugu state government following the creation of more states; new Anambra and Enugu. Being immovable assets ownership of the industry and its plantation fell on the government of Enugu state.
The title of this project work is “Reasons for low productivity in Agro-base Industries” cashew industry Oghe being the case study.
Management of establishment like this is often characterized by inefficiency and poor administration with the resultant effects of this low productivity and demoralization of employees. A lot of factors could be attributed to these. The objectives of this research work therefore to identify those factors responsible for the inefficiency and ineffective performance of this Agro-base industry and also to find ways of ameliorating them so that the establishment cannot be viable but also be able to face the challenge of the modern establishment. It is my view that if all the problems facing this establishment or industries are addressed that they will start functioning for the overall healthy living of entire populace.
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