Zero Hunger Project-trained fabricators now making money from hammer mills and cassava press

5 January 2023

To achieve sustained technology transfer, IITA–CGIAR, under the IFAD-funded Zero Hunger Initiative, employed the service of her trained fabricators in Ogun State to fabricate equipment for processors under the project.

A fabricator trained by Zero Hunger Project trainee working on an equipment to practice the lessons learned.
A fabricator trained by Zero Hunger Project trainee working on an equipment to practice the lessons learned.

Three early adopters from Odeda and Obafemi Owode Local Government Areas (LGA) out of the 14 fabricators from four LGAs—Odeda, Yewa South, Obafemi Owode, and Abeokuta South—across the state were selected to produce three hammer mills and four cassava presses for processors in the state. This would ensure the sustainability of the technology transfer in the state.

IITA Post-Harvest Specialist Peter Kolawole supervised the processors to build and perfect the machines. They are now fully certified to produce the equipment for processors in the state and beyond.

The machines were donated to three processing centers at Ifo (Success Farmers Association) and Ijebu North (Malete Atikori Ijebu Igbo Farmers Cooperative Society) LGAs. The last set was donated to the Ogun State IFAD-VCDP to use in a cassava processing center undergoing construction at the time of the distribution in December.

Zero Hunger Project team inspecting the installation of a wet hammer mill built by a project trainee at Ijebu North Local Government Ogun State.
Zero Hunger Project team inspecting the installation of a wet hammer mill built by a project trainee at Ijebu North Local Government Ogun State.

The cooperative women and men were thrilled when Kolawole informed them that the wet hammer mill was more durable and efficient than the grater. He also enlightened the women on the essential hygiene practices to keep the machine clean and ensure that the processing center produces clean and healthy food.

he wet hammer mill built by Zero Hunger Project trainee and donated by the project to Malete Atikori Ijebu Igbo Cooperative Society at Ijebu North Local Government Ogun State. Zero Hunger Project-trained-p4.jpg: Zero Hunger Project team with the Executive of the Malete Atikori Ijebu Igbo Cooperative Society.
The wet hammer mill built by Zero Hunger Project trainee and donated by the project to Malete Atikori Ijebu Igbo Cooperative Society at Ijebu North Local Government Ogun State. Zero Hunger Project-trained-p4.jpg: Zero Hunger Project team with the Executive of the Malete Atikori Ijebu Igbo Cooperative Society.

Speaking on behalf of the Zero Hunger Project Lead, Debo Akande, the Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager, Oyewale Abioye, disclosed that the project had trained 14 fabricators across the State. He introduced them to  Segun Salisu of Obafemi Owode LGA and Segun Oyebola and Monday Omaji, both of Odede LGA, who produced the equipment and charged them to take advantage of the capacity in the State to build more machines.

Contributed by Oyewale Abioye