A pilot waste-to-resource project that will convert swine dung to organic fertilizer and biogas is about to kick off at the Oke-Aro Pig Farm Estate (OPFE), the largest concentration of pig farmers in West Africa, established by the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, SRADev, made the disclosure at the workshop on Thursday, April 22, 2021 in Lagos.
Read also: NiMet forecasts cloudy to sunny skies, thunderstorms condition
According to ecogreennews, the project being executed by SRADEV Nigeria, aims at preparing a demonstration and feasibility model on the utilization of piggery waste for biogas generation, production of organic fertilizer, product marketing, and employment creation.
He said, “The project will operationalize the utilization of piggery waste for biogas generation, production of organic fertilizer towards increased economic empowerment of pig farmers for improved public health.
“Other benefits of the project will include: generation of 1.5-2.0 tons (30-40 bags of 50kg) per day of organic fertilizer and cleaner biogas of about 7-10 cubic meter (m3); savings in waste management disposal cost of about N20,000 monthly; increased awareness of 2,000 pig farmers on agro-waste sound management, biogas, and organic fertilizer production; employment and empowerment of at least 100 persons; over 2000 farmers will be provided with assess to off-grid energy solutions on long term through captive energy from biogas use at scale-up; it will lead to about 60% reduction in the odor/foul smell, rodents and fly nuisance and reduction by half disease and deaths of pigs associated with poor sanitation in the farm environment.”
An inception meeting kick-started the project in January 2021, where the executive members of the association were debriefed on the timeline, objectives, and project deliverables.
Also, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, National Coordinator, UNDP-GEF SGP, said that UNDP Global Environment Fund (GEF) was created to support environmental initiatives globally.
Olubamise said that part of the objectives for setting aside the GEF was to reduce poverty as well as strengthen governance and gender sensitive issues.
According to her, the project is country driven and the community must take ownership of the project.
She expressed delight in working with SRADev in making sure that the Oke Aro project was realised.