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SME Guide

Main agricultural commodities grown in Abia State, Nigeria

Abia State is located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria. It has a population of about 2.9 million people. The state covers an area of about 5833 km2. Abia State has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from April to October, while the dry season runs from November to March.

Agriculture is a major economic activity in Abia State, engaging over 70% of the population. The soil and climatic conditions in the state favour the cultivation of many agricultural commodities. The main commodities grown in Abia State include:

  • Cassava
  • Rice
  • Yam
  • Maize
  • Oil palm
  • Cocoyam
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Melon
  • Okra
  • Tomato
  • Pepper
  • Vegetables

This article provides a detailed overview of the cultivation, production, processing, and marketing of the major agricultural commodities in Abia State, Nigeria.

Cassava

Cassava is the most widely grown staple food crop in Abia State, occupying over 60% of the total land area under cultivation. The crop thrives well in the state due to favourable climatic conditions and soil types.

Cassava Varieties Grown in Abia State

The common cassava varieties cultivated in Abia State include:

  • TMS 30572 (UMUCASS 36): high-yielding, resistant to cassava mosaic disease
  • TMS 4(2)1425: high yielding, suitable for intercropping
  • TMS 98/0581: early maturing (10–12 months), resistant to cassava mosaic disease
  • TMS 98/0505: high yielding, early maturing
  • TMS 91/02324: high yielding, good for making gari
  • NR 8082: high yielding, good for making fufu
  • NR 8083: high yielding, good for making gari and fufu

Cassava Production Levels

Cassava production has increased tremendously over the years in Abia State. In 2020, the state produced over 6 million metric tonnes of cassava from approximately 150,000 hectares of land. This represents about 13% of the total cassava output in Nigeria. The average yield is about 40 tonnes per hectare.

The major cassava-producing local government areas in Abia State are Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Bende, Item, Ohafia, and Arochukwu.

Cassava Processing

Cassava tubers are processed into different products in Abia State. The major processing activities include:

  • Gari processing: Most of the cassava in Abia is processed into gari. There are hundreds of small-scale gari processing centres scattered around the state.
  • Fufu processing: Some quantity of cassava is processed into fufu for consumption and sale within and outside the state.
  • Starch processing: small– Small-scale cassava starch factories exist in the state, producing high-quality cassava flour and tapioca for industrial applications.
  • Ethanol production: The state government has established a cassava ethanol plant at Ikwuano LGA, which converts cassava to fuel ethanol.

Cassava Marketing in Abia

Cassava products from Abia State find markets within and outside the state. Wholesalers from neighbouring states troop to major cassava markets in the state, like Ahia Ohuru market in Aba and Ndi Oji Abam market in Arochukwu LGA, to buy gari, fufu, and starch in large quantities for sales in other markets. There is also interstate trade in cassava tubers, as traders move tonnes of tubers daily to markets in Port Harcourt, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River State.

Rice

Rice is an important staple food crop in Abia State. The production of rice has witnessed a tremendous boost in recent years as a result of increased government investment in rice production under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

Rice Varieties Cultivated

The common improved rice varieties cultivated in Abia State are:

  • FARO 44: high-yielding, suitable for upland ecology
  • FARO 52: high yielding, resistant to lodging
  • FARO 57: early maturing, suitable for lowland ecology
  • FARO 60: high-yielding, suitable for lowland ecology
  • IR 8: high yielding, suitable for lowland ecology

Rice Production Levels in Abia State

As a result of improved cultivation practices and high-yielding varieties, Abia State has witnessed a surge in rice production over the years. In 2020, the state produced 96,210 metric tonnes of rice from about 24,000 hectares of land. Rice is mostly grown in the riverine areas of Ukwa East, Ukwa West, and Osisioma LGAs.

Rice Processing

Small-scale rice mills exist in all the rice-producing communities in Abia State. The mills help process the paddy rice into polished, better-quality rice for consumption and industrial use. Major rice mills are located in Obohia, Ohambele, Umuagbai, and Uzuakoli.

Rice Marketing

Rice marketing in Abia State is controlled by private individuals and groups who buy milled rice from rice farmers and mills for sales within and outside the state. The Abia State Ministry of Agriculture occasionally buys up excess paddy rice from farmers for distribution to vulnerable households within the state.

Yam

Yam is a major staple food crop cultivated across all parts of Abia State. The crop performs very well in the state owing to suitable climatic conditions.

Yam Varieties Grown

The most common yam varieties cultivated in Abia State include:

  • White yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is the most widespread variety adaptable to different soils.
  • Water yam (Dioscorea alata) produces very big tubers and is highly valued.
  • Yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis) is rich in beta-carotene and has a sweet taste.
  • Bitter yam: requires staking, low yields

Yam Production Levels

Yam production in Abia State is concentrated in the northern senatorial districts of the state, including Ohafia, Bende, Item, and Arochukwu LGAs. In 2020, the state produced 1.2 million tonnes of yam from 300,000 hectares of land under cultivation. This represents about 5.6% of the total yam output in Nigeria, making Abia State one of the top yam-producing states. The average yam yield is about 4 tonnes per hectare.

Yam Processing

There are several small-scale yam processing facilities in Abia State that produce yam flour, chips, and other products. Yam is also processed by individuals into pounded yam for sale in restaurants, bars, and households.

Yam Marketing

Yam marketing is very vibrant in Abia State. Major yam markets in the state are located at Ekeakpara (Osisioma Ngwa LGA), Ohiya (Umuahia South), Nkwoagu (Ohafia LGA), and Ndi Oji Abam (Arochukwu LGA). Traders from within and outside the state buy yams in large quantities from these markets for sale in other major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.

Maize

Maize is an important cereal crop in Abia State, cultivated across different ecological zones. It is a major source of food for humans, livestock, and industrial purposes.

Maize Varieties Cultivated

Common maize varieties grown in Abia State include:

  • Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs): local varieties adapted to the agro-ecologies
    • Aba early
    • Abakaliki
    • Farz 29
    • Farz 35
    • Farz 42
  • Hybrid maize – High-yielding improved varieties
    • Oba Super 9
    • Oba Super 10
    • Oba 98
    • EV 99
    • Sammaz 15
    • Sammaz 16

Maize Production Levels

Maize production is predominant in the northern senatorial districts of Abia State. In 2020, the state produced approximately 684,120 metric tonnes of maize from 243,000 hectares of land. This represents about 3.1% of the total maize output in Nigeria. The average maize yield in Abia is about 2.8 tonnes per hectare.

Maize Processing

Maize grown in Abia State is processed into various food products. There are small-scale processors and mills that produce maize flour, corn starch, corn flakes, and animal feeds. Maize is also processed by individuals into roasted corn, corn pudding, and other delicacies sold in restaurants and small retail outlets.

Maize Marketing

After harvest, maize farmers sell their produce to local aggregators at farm gates or in nearby periodic markets. The aggregators in turn sell to large-scale traders and processors who ship the maize to major consumption centres within and outside Abia State, like Aba, Umuahia, Port Harcourt, and Lagos.

Oil Palm

Oil palm is an important economic tree crop in Abia State, providing income for farmers, processors, and marketers. The crop produces palm oil and palm kernels, which are highly valued in local and international markets.

Oil Palm Varieties

The common oil palm varieties found in Abia State are:

  • Dura: thick-shelled nuts, low kernel-oil content
  • Pisifera: shell-less nuts, high kernel-oil content
  • Tenera: thin-shelled nuts, high oil yields
  • D x P (DxP) hybrids—commercially grown varieties

Oil palm production

Abia State has great potential for oil palm cultivation owing to favourable climatic conditions. In 2020, palm oil production in the state totalled about 120,000 metric tonnes from 300,000 hectares of oil palm plantations, mostly located in the southern senatorial districts.

Major oil palm-producing LGAs in Abia State are Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa, and Ukwa East. The average palm oil yield is about 0.4 tonnes per hectare.

Oil Palm Processing

There are over 50 medium- and large-scale palm oil mills in Abia State. In addition, every oil palm-producing community has small-scale manual and semi-mechanised processors that convert palm fruits into crude palm oil and palm kernels used locally.

Major palm oil mills are located in Ukwa, Obeaku, Omoba, Isiala Ngwa South, Owaza, Uzo-Owaza, and Olokoro communities.

Oil Palm Marketing

Crude palm oil and palm kernel are in high demand within and outside Abia State. Products are sold to local traders, retailers, and industrial processors based in Aba, Umuahia, and Port Harcourt. Palm kernel is also exported to Europe and Asia in exchange for foreign exchange earnings.

Cocoyam

Cocoyam is a staple tuber crop widely cultivated and consumed across Abia State. The crop grows very well in the state and provides food and income for rural farming families.

Cocoyam Varieties

There are two major varieties of cocoyam grown in Abia State:

  • White cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) grows bigger cormels and matures between 7 and 12 months.
  • Yellow cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) matures earlier, within 5-8 months.

Cocoyam Production

Cocoyam production is mostly concentrated in the southern senatorial districts covering Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Osisioma Ngwa, and parts of Ikwuano LGAs. In 2020, Abia State produced 462,825 metric tonnes of cocoyam from 94,300 hectares of land. Average yields are about 5 tonnes per hectare.

Cocoyam Processing

Cocoyam cormels are processed into various delicacies and pastries by small-scale processors across the state. It is also consumed boiled, fried, and roasted by households and restaurants. The leaves of white cocoyam provide vegetables widely cherished by locals.

Cocoyam Marketing

Cocoyam offers great marketing opportunities in Abia State. It is sold fresh in rural and urban markets within the state, where there is huge demand from households, restaurants, and food vendors. Traders also move cocoyam to neighbouring states like Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom State, where it is sold in wholesale and retail markets.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato is an important tuber crop, providing food and income for rural farmers in Abia State. It serves as a substitute for yam and cassava, supplying cheap dietary carbohydrates.

Sweet Potato Varieties

The common sweet potato varieties grown in Abia State are:

  • Yellow sweet potato: soft texture, sweet taste
  • White sweet potato: firm texture, rich in vitamin C
  • Orange-fleshed sweet potato is rich in vitamin A.

Sweet Potato Production

Sweet potato performs very well in the sandy-loam soils across Abia State. In 2020, the state produced 536,000 metric tonnes of sweet potatoes from 135,000 hectares of land. Average yields are about 4 tonnes per hectare. Major production areas are in Item, Bende, Umuahia North, and Ikwuano LGAs.

Sweet Potato Processing

There are small-scale processors engaged in producing sweet potato flour, chips, candy, wine, and other products mainly for home consumption.

Sweet Potato Marketing

After harvest, sweet potato farmers sell their produce to local markets for consumption by households and restaurants. Traders also ship sweet potatoes from rural assembly markets to urban centres like Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, and Arochukwu.

Melon

Melon is an important fruit crop, providing nutrition and income for rural farmers in Abia State. The crop grows very well across different agro-ecologies in the state.

Melon Varieties

The common melon varieties cultivated in Abia State are:

  • Egusi melon is cultivated for its high oil and protein content.
  • Sweet melon is cultivated for its sweet, sugary fruits.
  • Bitter melon, grown for medicinal purposes
  • Wild melon, adapted to poor soils, serves as a famine crop.

Melon Production

Melon production is predominant in the drier northern parts of Abia State. In 2020, melon seed production totalled 160,000 metric tonnes from 120,000 hectares of land. Major production areas are in Item, Bende, and Isuikwato LGAs.

Melon Processing

Melon seeds are processed into melon oil and egusi soup by small-scale processors using simple equipment. The oil is used for cooking, while the oily, proteinous egusi seeds are used to prepare delicious local soups.

Melon Marketing

Melon farmers sell their seeds to local buyers, who aggregate and sell them to commodity merchants that ship to major markets like Aba, Umuahia, and Port Harcourt. Melon is also traded across state boundaries, satisfying strong demand in neighbouring south-eastern and south-south states.

Okra

Okra is an important vegetable crop, providing nutrition, food security, and income for smallholder farmers in Abia State. The crop is adapted to the climatic conditions in the state.

Okra Varieties

The major okra varieties cultivated in Abia State are:

  • Clemson Spineless: Produces smooth okra pods with no spines.
  • NHAe 47-4: high yielding, tolerant to major diseases
  • Lady Finger: slender, long pods, spineless
  • Local varieties, adapted to local conditions

Okra Production

Okra is widely cultivated across the state, with significant production in densely populated areas like Umuahia, Aba, Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa North, and Isiala Ngwa South LGAs. In 2020, Abia produced 253,600 tonnes of okra from 60,800 hectares of land. This represents about 9% of the total okra output in Nigeria.

Okra Marketing

Okra farmers sell their produce through local rural markets, roadside markets, and urban markets to various buyers, including households, restaurants, food vendors, and industrial processors based in Abia and neighbouring states. High demands exist within the state as okra is widely consumed in local delicacies like “abacha” salad and soup thickeners.

Tomato

Tomatoes are a popular vegetable crop that provides vitamins, nutrition, and income for rural farmers in Abia State. It serves as a major ingredient in stews, soups, salads, and many local delicacies.

Tomato Varieties

The major tomato varieties cultivated in Abia State are:

  • Roma VF: medium-size, determinate variety, resistant to Fusarium wilt
  • Rio grande: large oval fruits, indeterminate variety
  • UC 82B: high-yielding, large, firm fruits, tolerant to diseases
  • Local cultivars, adapted to local conditions

Tomato Production

Tomato production is predominant in the northern parts of Abia State, especially around Item, Bende, and Umuahia North LGAs. In 2020, the state produced approximately 315,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes from 105,000 hectares of land. Major tomato-producing communities include Amuda, Amankalu, Eluama, Lokpaukwu, and Olokoro.

Tomato Processing

Small-scale tomato processors exist in tomato-producing communities, providing processing services like crushing, blending, and packaging tomato paste for sale to traders who market them in cities within and outside the state.

Tomato Marketing

After harvest, tomato farmers sell their produce either directly in nearby rural and urban markets or to traders and wholesalers who aggregate and transport it to high-demand markets like Aba and Umuahia. High tomato imports also exist from neighbouring Benue State to satisfy industrial demand for tomato concentrate and puree.

Pepper

Pepper is an essential vegetable crop cultivated in Abia State. It serves as a major ingredient for flavouring stews and oups. The crop adapts very well to the climatic conditions across the different agro-ecological zones.

Pepper Varieties

The major pepper varieties cultivated in Abia State are:

  • Tatase produces small, hot red peppers.
  • Sombo grows tiny yellowish peppers and is very hot.
  • Sweet bell peppers produce large, bell-shaped peppers.
  • Local varieties: well-adapted, variable heat intensity

Pepper Production

Pepper is widely grown across different locations in Abia State. However, significant production occurs in Item, Bende, Umuahia North, and Ikwuano LGAs. In 2020, the state produced about 126,000 metric tonnes of fresh pepper from 42,000 hectares.

Pepper Processing

Pepper is processed on small scales into pepper powder, flakes, and paste used locally for flavouring soups and other dishes. Women are mostly involved in sun-drying, grinding, and packaging pepper products.

Pepper Marketing

After harvest, fresh pepper and processed products are sold in local rural and urban markets across Abia State. Dry pepper is also traded across state boundaries to meet industrial demand in food processing companies based in Port Harcourt, Aba, Onitsha, and Lagos.

Other Vegetables

Apart from the major vegetables already discussed, other vegetables cultivated on small scales in Abia State include garden egg, cucumber, bitter leaf, water leaf, pumpkin leaf, fluted pumpkin, and spinach. Most of the production is for subsistence and local markets.

Conclusion

Abia State is endowed with a favourable climate and soils that support the cultivation of diverse food and cash crops. Cassava, rice, yam, maize, oil palm, cocoyam, and vegetables are the major agricultural commodities produced in the state, providing food, employment, and income for the rural farmers. There are ample opportunities to increase productivity and improve value addition through better farming practices, the provision of inputs, mechanisation, and agro-processing initiatives. The commodity markets are also vibrant, connecting production areas to consumption centres locally and nationally. If well harnessed, the agricultural sector in Abia State could immensely contribute to broader economic growth and development.

 

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