Excerpts From Communiques

Participants were drawn from the Government, Food Industries, International Organization Research Centres, Academic, Government Regulatory Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) press and the public. Lead papers presented by experts covered areas such as:- Post-harvest technology, food processing and production, optimum capacity building and utilization, food security and availability strategic, etc.

Problem of developing viable and sustainable food agro-allied industries in Nigeria by the year 2010 were x-ray and highlighted solutions as follow-up strategies to the identified problems were proposed to all the key players and major actors in the food web.

The following resolutions were made at the end of the conference; viz:

GOVERNMENT - FEDERAL AND STATE

That, government should

1. Designate more land for agriculture
2. Providing more subsidy for organic fertilizers and agro-allied chemical such as Pesticides.
3. Providing credit facilities through designated agricultural development banks to practicing farmers.
4. providing more industrial and Food Processing Incubation Centre with free basic amenities for a period of at least five years per potential entrepreneur.
5. Streamline the number of and or the activities of regulatory agencies in order to avoid duplication of roles and to avoid frustrating entrepreneurs.
6. Continue be support and financing of research and Development in the are of improved crop yield and more importantly, emphasize on post harvest processing of food to minimize wastage.
7. Cut down on the massive importation of Food, in order to encourage local development.
8. Recognize the existence of exports within its country, who are members of NIFST to release the goal of food Security.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATING AGENCIES

That all international collaborating agencies such as UNDP, UNIDO, FAO, etc should:

1. Provide technical supports using mainly Nigerian exports.
2. Providing to designated centers/sites in the rural areas, sustainable modern model plants, machinery, equipments and unit operation systems that local fabricators can copy rather than obsolete models.
3. Involve the beneficiaries more in project formulation and implementation after studying their needs.

PRIVATE SECTOR

That, the private sector should:

• Compulsorily invest part of their declared profit in Research and Development rather than abandon R & D to the Government and that funds so invested should be taxed deductible.
• Make good and effective use of local Researchers and Research Centres and the research results emanating there from.
• Contribution towards the training of Food Scientist and Technologists in our tertiary Institutions towards achieving self-sufficiency.

REGULATORY AGENCIES.

That the Regulatory agencies, such as NAFDAC,SON, FEPA, etc should:

• Cut down o n the long process of product assessment and evaluation prior to registration of product to avoid frustrating processing and manufacturing industries.
• Continue acting as advisers and good supervisor so as to achieve production of quality products in Nigeria.

FABRICATORS

That local Fabricators should be more careful in copying foreign equipment ensuring quality products that will be easy to clean and maintain.

PROFESSIONALS/ RESEARCHERS

That Professionals and researchers involved in food and agro-allied areas should.

• Channel more energy and efforts easily adapted and applicable researchers rather than basic researchers
• Support government in ensuring food sufficiently in Nigeria by offering objectives constructive and useful professional advice whenever the need arises .
• Get involved in government and non- government programs such as FEAP, Training of Armed force officers, wives on food and Agro-allied processing etc to achieve the desired goal of food security in Nigeria.

22^ND ANNUAL NIFST CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUE

The theme of the conference was FOOD SECURITY AND SURVIVAL OF FOOD AND AGRO-ALLIED INDUSTRY IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM. Participants were drawn from the Academia, Research Institute, Food and Allied Industries. Practicing big time Farmers, Government Agencies, Financial Institutions, non-Governmental Organizations, publics and the Press.

The conference discussed the following:

• Problem of sustaining a healthy Nigeria population in the next Millennium through improved and sustainable agriculture production and post-Harvest loss prevention strategies.
• Proper food safety measure and control.
• Manufacture and availability of processed foods with added health promoting qualities.
• Development of viable small and medium-scale and agro-allied industries sector in Nigeria.

At the end of the conference it was revolved that researchers and development professional/ researchers should:

1. Support Government by focusing their research activities on areas relevant to food security and promotion of good health.
2. Get involved in government and non- governmental programs through the various organs aimed at ensuring food sufficiency.

MANUFACTURERS/INDUSTRIES

Should

1. Invest a reasonable part of their profit in research and development to complement governments effort in these areas.
2. Encourage local research initiatives and efforts.
3. Emphasize more on functional foods with added health-promoting qualities

CONSUMERS.

Should:

1. Be more committed to nutrition education so that they can be more informed in healthy food choices.
2. Think more of safety in their choice of street foods especially in this period of economic hardship.
3. Should
4. Provide credit facilities to the would-be small and medium scale food manufacturers through co-operative associated with programme like family economic advancement programme (fear) and agricultural development banks.
5. Establish more incubator centers solely for food processing entrepreneur to facilitate growth in this sector and reduce bottlenecks created by multiple government regulatory agencies in getting real products registered.
6. Recognize and engage the existing indigenous expertise in the Nigeria institute of food science and technology when formulation policies on foods-related matters.
7. Encourage production of better functional foods through the promulgation of necessary food and nutritional policies and guidelines.

23^rd ANNUAL NIFST CONFERENCE COMMUNIQUE

The 23^rd Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Food science and Technology (NIFST) was held at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, form 25^th-27^th October, 1999.

The theme of the conference was Post Harvest Loss Reduction: Setting the Agenda for Food Security in Nigeria for the coming Millennium.

Participants at the conference included Government functionaries, Industrialists, Researcher from Institutions of Higher Learning and Government Parastatals.

2. The conference made the following observations that:

• NIFST Had over the past twenty-three years been focusing, on a yearly basis, on various problems of food insecurity in Nigeria.
• Effort of government is commendable on the approval of the National policy on Food and Nutrition but that not much can be achieved with the policy implementation if the implementation Committee is based in the National Planning Commission as it is presently.
• Government has not been making use of research findings in solving problems of Post Harvest losses.

• Government Policy and absence of regulations in agricultural Produce (such as Kola nut, Cocoa and Groundnut) export trade has resulted in loss of goodwill that Nigeria had enjoyed in the past.
• Important of staples, like maize and rice is brought about by the fact that attention at improving agricultural production had always concentrated on increasing crop production per say, thus, emphasis is being placed on intensive land clearing, fertilizer distribution and other inputs, all at highly subsidized prices, with little attention on storage and preservation.
• Investment capital is the pivot around Post Harvest loss prevention revolves, and that what is required is an environment conducive for processing have remained in the hands of peasant farmers using primitive techniques that are grossly inefficient, largely unsafe and invariable uneconomical.
• Nigeria does not have a National Food Resources Information System that will ensure a coordinated National Food Marketing Infrastructure.

• The nation does not have a Technical Assistance Programme designed to achieve coordination and cooperation in all agricultural issue.
• There is not coordinated and sustainable food processing technological development.
• There is the absence of a recognize the practice of the food profession in Nigeria.

3. Thee conference therefore recommends as follows that:

• Government should pay better attention to suggestions emanating form NIFST's yearly communiqués
• A National Food and Nutrition Planning Commission should be set-up as a matter of urgency under the supervision of the Presidency. This commission should be manned by Food Professionals and not government bureaucrats.
• Government should make use of technical information available in our Research Institute and through the information network on post harvest operations, a dedicated website created by Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO)
• Government should be more consistent in policy implementation and regulatory activities on agricultural produce.
• Government should invest more on appropriate technology for the handling and post harvest processing of agricultural produce.

v Government should provide the necessary capital to embark on improved

Food production and processing activities by establishing an industrial bank which will source its capital base from unclaimed dividends by share holders. The bank could give out loans at very low interest rates (between 3 to 5 %.)

v Nigeria needs an efficient national food resources information system to be put in

Place immediately by government. This will facilitate the development of a viable national food marketing infrastructure

v The nation needs a technical assistance programme that will coordinate and cooperate on all agricultural issues.

v There is a need to establish centres of excellence to coordinate food. Processing and technology development.

v Government must without further delay pass a legislation establishing the institute of food science and technology of Nigeria, a council that will regulate the practice of food profession in the country.

24^TH ANNUAL NIFST CONFERENCE

The Nigerian institute of food science and technology held her 24^th annual Conference\Annual General meeting at the federal polytechnic and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa university between 20 the and 25 the November, 2002.

At the end of the plenary and technical sessions, participants observed and resolved as follow:

OBSERVATION:

v Many Nigeria are living under poverty line despite the fact that more than 70% are engaged in Agriculture.

v The present level of post harvest losses of agricultural produce is alarming and disturbing and need urgent intervention.

v We observed that government is in the process formulating a national policy on food security.

v We observed hat inconsistencies in government policy implementation and leadership are major factors militating against effective post harvest control in the country.

RESOLUTIONS

v Federal government should provide enabling environment for promoting and sustaining efficient post harvest handling practices for commodities such as roots, tubers, etc., where post harvest losses are very high.

v The federal government should support the establishment of strategic atmosphere storage facilities in designated area of the country for horticultural produce with the same vigor employed on cereals and grains.

v Federal government should promote outreach programmes between the institute and various local government agricultural programmes for the establishment of cottage food industries in Nigeria.

v The institute is appealing to the federal government of Nigeria, especially office of the special adviser on food security, facilitate the process of acquiring �charter status� as urgently as possible, to enable the institute play a more significant role in food security and poverty alleviation programme of the present administration.

v The ministry of science and technology should set up a committee to co-ordinate the compilation of available research equipment, findings and new innovations for possible adaptation in the country.

25 TH ANNUAL NIFST CONFERENCES

The Nigerian institute of food science and technology (NIFST } held its 2 th annual conference \Anniversary celebration and meeting at the Sheraton Hotel and university of Lagos, conference centre, Lagos, between 5^th and 9^th November 2001.

The formal opening was held at Sheraton Hostel, Lagos, focusing on the theme:

Raw materials development for the survival of Nigerian food and allied industries in the 21 st century. Under the chairmanship off chief (Dr.} Molade Okoya Thomas and chief Fola Osibo as keynote speaker. About 1000 scientists and policy makers from institutions, industries, and government parastas attended the conference.

At the end of useful deliberation, the following resolutions were arrived at:

• Participants commend government on the recent efforts at promoting adequate food security in the country through credit scheme for small and medium scale enterprises. However ,participants encourage the government to ensure an effective implementation on of the policy
• Government should evolve a food policy that will guarantee a sustainable raw material base for the food industry.

(iii) With geometric population growth in Nigeria, pragmatic measures of producing sufficient quality of foods are needed. Opportunities avail in food production through biotechnological innovation. Government is enjoined to ensure effective implementation of its policy on biotechnology.

(iv) Participants noted the emerging trends and popularity of the fast foods industry and advised the entrepreneurs to ensure Wholesomeness, quality and safety for the health of the consumers. It further stressed the need for Government to put in place a system for regulating and maintaining standard of operation of the industry.

(v) The Federal Government is hereby enjoined to put more interest in the activities of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST). Thus, the Government should assist in grating CHARTER to the Institute and to include NIFST in the various Councils of relevant Government Agencies.

33^RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND GENERAL MEETING HELD IN YOLA 12^TH - 16^TH OCTOBER 2009

A Preamble:

The 33^rd Annual Conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) was held in the Adamawa state capital, Yola from the 12th -16^th October 2009. Food Scientists and Technologists from the food industry, the academia, government ministries, organizations and agencies, international organizations as well as prominent personalities including the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (Rtd.) deliberated on a wide number of issues under the theme: Food Processing in the Semi- arid Regions: Challenges and Opportunities and made the following observations and recommendations.

B Observations

1. The semi arid regions of Nigeria cover about 35 million ha and encompass Borno, Yobe , Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kastina, and Kaduna states.
2. Important staple food products from the region are millet, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, fruits and vegetables, cotton, gum Arabic and livestock.
3. About 90% of the land would require irrigation for full productive capacity in vegetables, rice and wheat.
4. The area is characterized by desertification and low rainfall leading to low productivity in cereals and livestock.
5. The region has a low level of industrialization, a high level of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment.
6. A wide variety of traditional foods consumed in the region presently lack value additions that can attract wealth and positively affect the economic status of the people.
7. There is a low level of SMEs engaged in food processing because of poor infrastructure, inadequate capital, obsolete technology, inadequate linkages between universities, polytechnics research institutes, and local farmers.
8. Absence of an effective marketing system for price stability of value added products.
9. Inability to access funds due to illiteracy and ignorance as well as unfriendly banking requirements.
10. Low agricultural production coupled with high post harvest losses are challenges to food security in the region and Nigeria.
11. The model for development of small and medium scale food production and processing enterprises in Adamawa State is suitable for a developing economy like Nigeria.

C Recommendations

1. The conference noted the importance of SMEs in food processing as engines for economic growth in alleviating poverty and ensuring food security and therefore recommends the mobilization of resources and all stakeholders towards the establishment of SMEs particularly in the rural areas.
2. Governments at all levels are urged to provide technical assistance, concessional finance and subsidy for upgrading cottage / household establishments to SMEs.
3. Provision and improvements in critical infrastructure (power, water, roads, etc.) to promote and sustain the establishment and expansion of SMEs in rural communities.
4. Government funding for food processing research for development efforts should be increased with emphasis on community based SMEs.
5. Government is enjoined to create and sustain marketing opportunities for ensuring price stability for new value added products.
6. There is a need for a more holistic and comprehensive approach to encourage entrepreneurship and innovative presentation of indigenous food products that can enhance income and generate employment.
7. Immediate action should be taken to establish clusters of integrated food processing units to take full advantage of technical assistance, extension services, water treatment facilities, water supply etc.
8. Transparent, realistic and practical measures are required to ensure easy access by genuine food processors to intervention funds and bank credits.
9. The Adamawa example for development of SMEs should serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
10. NIFST, government and other stakeholders must partner to foster the development of enterprises that will enhance value addition to indigenous food products.

Signed

Egbewole O.A ............................................ Adesegha Olubukola

National Secretary ............................................National Publicity Secretary