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National Association of Charcoal Producers Dealers, Exporters Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) has called on charcoal producers to engage in afforestation to curb deforestation in the country.
The Association made the call during a Sensitization Programme between NACPDEAN and some key stakeholders in Minna Niger Niger State capital for collaboration and inauguration of it’s new executives.
The event was in collaboration with the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Environment and Forestry.
The President, NACPDEAN, Mr. Tunde Edu however explained that “one of the reasons why the association exists is to regulate charcoal production and its core aim is to go into aggressive afforestation”.
He stated further that although charcoal has come to stay as a source of cooking energy, adding that the government has not allowed felling of ecoomic trees and destroying the environment because it may lead to deforestation and caused climate change.
“The producers of charcoal engage in the felling down of trees and a lot of them are uneducated to know the consequences of what they are doing, So the organization will fill in the gaps to ensure that we educate our producers on ways to fell trees especially those who fell economical trees,” said Tunde Edu.
Edu stated further that the event was aimed at creating awareness and sensitize producers of charcoal with regards to felling of economical trees.
“According to him, “I am aware that some people use the economical trees like Shea butter, mango, cashew and orange trees among others for charcoal production because they don’t have awareness”.
“There is no education for this people to let them know that all these economical trees are there for the benefits of the community, state and the nation at large. So, we will be giving out a lot of educational tips and awareness in all local languages to let people know that even if you want to go into charcoal production, there are some tress that cannnot be used. Also, in our afforestation programme, we have a design to be planting more of the indigenous trees of that state to ensure that what is fallen is replaced,” he stated. .
He also emphasized that the association would embark on botanical charcoal production that will not come from wood but from chaff, waste, among others .
Accordingly, Edu said, “We are looking at diversifying, going into industrial charcoal which is briquettes and we can use several materials for it. We will also be engaging with Niger State Government to ensure that ban on charcoal is lifted and regulated to put an end to illegal charcoal production and exportation.
“We will also ensure that everyone engaged in charcoal production is licensed yearly in order to have traceability and know how it is produced, ”Edu. maintained .
The State Hon.Commissioner of Environment and Forestry, Mr Daniel Galadima, Commissioner of Environment and Forestry, represented by Mr Musa Sharif, the Director, Forestry Service, Mr. Musa Sharif expressed willingness of the ministry to support the association with the necessary things for afforestation.
He stressed that “With the alarming rate of deforestation across the state, we are saddled with the responsibility of regulating it”, adding that by the coming of this association, “we are ready to give charcoal producers an enabling environment with the consciousness of commitment”, saying, “We are all talking of planting which requires commitment. So,. we are ready to partner with NACPDEAN to see how we can operate under sustainability.
So we are ready to cooperate as long as the organization is committed to afforestation and reforestation project as they indicated in their mandate,” Sharif remarked .
Furthermore, the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Yusuf Mohammad, Commissioner for Agriculture , represented by the Director, Agric Services, Alhaji Adamu Garba while congratulating the new executives of the organization, explained that it was important to always reforestate for food safety.
“I want to congratulate the association for the inauguration of new executives.We at the ministry are usually not happy when trees are cut down because it creates room for desertification with leads to calamity in the sense that there will be wind erosion, water erosion, and no production of crops”.
He further emphasized that “When there is no production of crops, there will be no food and when there is no food, there is no nation. We have decided to develop 800,000 hectares of land for the planting of different trees especially economic trees with low hanging fruits for the benefits of our farmers”.
He also expressed his excitement about the charcoal production, saying, “it will boost economic growth and development on the basis that they will keep replacing all the trees they cut”.
