I do agro-processing to pay growing family bills –Female processor
Mrs Patu Jonah is a ginger and moringa (zogale) farmer. She hails from Zango Kataf Local Government but lives in Muku Local Government in Kaduna State. She told our reporters in an interview at the Abuja Trade Fair Ground how she started adding value to agricultural produce in order to earn more money to pay growing family bills. What products do you have on display here and who produced them?
The products you see here I produced them with my ten fingers that God gave me. There is pepper spice mixed with garlic, ginger, aloe vera, cray fish and the rest of ingredients including the wonderful tree God created called moringa.
Do you farm the crops you process?
I farm ginger and moringa but buy garlic and others.
How did you go processing?
I started just like that. I wanted to earn more income because family needs were growing. You know if God wants to give you food, there are many ways He can give you; through your talent, through your research etc.. Through research of the moringa on the internet, from the doctors etc. we get useful information.
How is the market for your products?
The market was moving well
into before, but now it’s slow because many people are farming moringa and they get it from their farms.
After all the value addition do you make gains?
There is a little gain because you know the market is not at higher level.
Can the money you make take care of your family and other things?
Yes. I make some money which we use for the family and pay children’s school fees and other bills.