In Nigeria today, you cannot separate farming from factory. The garri you eat, the Peak milk you drink, the school uniform you wear — all of them started from farm produce before machines processed them. That connection between farm and factory is what we call agro-allied industries. In Port Harcourt for example, you will see oil mills, saw mills and pure water factories all depending on what farmers bring from the farm.
Performance Objectives
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
- List agro-based industries.
- State the raw materials used in each industry.
- State the relationship between agriculture and industry.
Meaning of Agro-Allied Industries
Agro-allied industries, also called agro-based industries, are industries which depend on agriculture for their raw materials in order to operate successfully.
In other words, agro-based industries require the supply of agricultural raw materials in order to produce finished products that are essential for human and animal consumption.
Agro-Based Industries and Their Raw Materials
The following are some agro-based industries and the agricultural raw materials they use:
| Agro-Based Industry | Raw Materials Used |
|---|---|
| Oil mill | Oil seeds |
| Soap industry | Oil seeds / oil |
| Cigarette / tobacco industry | Tobacco leaves |
| Textile / ginnery | Cotton |
| Breweries | Cereals |
| Fruit canning industry | Fruits |
| Paper industry | Pulpwood |
| Sugar industry | Sugar cane |
| Plywood / saw mill | Wood |
| Flour mill | Cereals / grains |
| Starch industry | Cassava / maize |
| Tyre industry | Rubber / latex |
| Feed mill | Groundnut, maize, etc. |
| Beverage industry | Coffee, cocoa, tea |
Relationship Between Agriculture and Industries
There is a positive and wide range of relationships between agriculture and industries. These relationships include the following:
1. Provision of Market
Agriculture provides a market for industrial products, such as farm machinery, chemicals and fertilizers. When farmers buy these products in large quantity, it helps factories to keep producing and employing more workers.
2. Provision of Food
Agriculture provides food for industrial workers. Without food from agriculture like rice, beans, yam and fish, workers in factories cannot have the strength to work daily.
3. Provision of Raw Materials
Agriculture provides raw materials such as cocoa, cotton, palm produce and groundnut for industries. These raw materials are the foundation on which most agro-based industries operate in Nigeria.
4. Shifting of Factors of Production
Agricultural development allows for a shift of factors of production such as land, labour and capital to industry. For example, when farming becomes profitable, more capital moves into building processing factories.
5. Competition for Labour
Both agriculture and industry compete for labour. Many youth prefer to work in industries in Port Harcourt or Lagos rather than stay in the village farm, so both sectors struggle for the same labour.
6. Development of the Industrial Sector
A rise in agricultural income due to efficient and economic combination of factors of production brings about the development of the industrial sector of the economy. When farmers earn more, they buy more industrial goods.
7. Provision of Essential Goods
Industries provide a large range of desirable goods that farmers want to buy. Goods like clothes, shoes, cement and roofing sheets are produced by industries for farmers and their families.
8. Provision of Agro-Chemicals
Industries produce agro-chemicals for agricultural use. Examples include pesticides, fertilizers, vaccines and herbicides. These chemicals help farmers control pests and increase their crop yield.
9. Provision of Storage Facilities
Industries provide storage facilities for agricultural produce such as milk, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Facilities like cold rooms and silos help prevent post-harvest losses.
10. Provision of Processing Facilities
Industries provide processing facilities such as grinders and millers for agricultural purposes. These machines help farmers process cassava to garri, palm fruit to oil, and maize to flour.
11. Provision of Agricultural Tools and Machinery
Industries produce machinery and equipment for agricultural use. Examples include tractors, ploughs, cutlasses and hoes. These tools reduce manual labour and make farming easier.
Importance of Agro-Allied Industries in Nigeria
In Rivers State and Nigeria in general, agro-based industries help to create jobs for youth, reduce waste of farm produce like tomatoes and fish, and provide income for farmers. If we have more factories that process cassava to starch or palm oil to soap in Port Harcourt, farmers will not lose their harvest.
Revision Questions
1(a). Define agro-allied industry. Name six agricultural products that are used by industries as sources of their raw materials.
2. Discuss the relationship between agriculture and industries.
3. Citing five specific examples, explain how raw materials depend on agriculture.
4(a). List six relationships between agriculture and industries.
(b). Explain six factors affecting the success of commercial agriculture in Nigeria.
5(a). In a tabular form, state six differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture.
(b). Mention two industries that use each of the following agricultural produce as raw materials:
(i) Cotton seed
(ii) Groundnut seed
(iii) Coffee seed
(iv) Palm kernel
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between agro-allied and agro-based?
No difference. Both names mean the same — industries that use farm produce as raw materials.
2. Give two examples of agro-allied industries in Rivers State?
Pabod Breweries that uses cereals, and oil mills in Eleme that use palm fruits.
3. Why are agro-allied industries important?
They prevent food spoilage, create jobs and turn raw farm produce to finished goods.