Investing in palm kernel shells export is lucrative venture – Brightflow boss

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Chief Executive of Officer (CEO) of Brightflow Logistics Services, Mrs Aniefiok Iton, has said that investing in Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) export was a very lucrative venture.

Iton said this in her presentation at a one-day workshop on Products Development and Financing – PKS Value Chain for Export organised by the International Farmers Community Development Association (IFCDA) in Uyo on Saturday.

She said that palm kernel shells have been of high economic value to generate and conserve heat than charcoal and should not be wasted.

Iton, who is the MD/CEO of Brightflow Logistics Services Ltd has been in the export business since 2013, said PKS has the density to reserve heat more than charcoal.

She said that palm kernel shells were in high demand in countries with extreme cold temperature as it is used to generate heat.

“Palm kernel shell are the shell fractions left after the nut has been removed after crushing in the palm oil mill.

“Palm kernel shells are fibrous material and can be easily handled in bulk directly from the product line to the end use.

“Moisture content in kernel shells is low compared to other biomass residues with different sources suggesting values between 11% and 13%.

“Palm kernel shells are good quality biomass fuel with uniform size distribution, easy handling, easy crushing and limited biological activity due to low moisture content. Palm kernel shells used as concrete by some countries for tarring of roads,” Iton said.

She said that the sensitisation workshop was to create awareness on numerous investment opportunities in the country in palm kernel shells export.

In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom Director of National Orientation Agency, Mr Enoh Uyoh, said the Federal Government has intensified efforts to diversify the economy from oil to Agriculture and Solid Minerals.

Uyoh said the federal government was providing credit facilities to assist farmers and small-scale businesses to produce at optimal capacity and add value to themselves and the economy.

“Since Agriculture is capital intensive, the private sector, financial institutions including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have offered to assist genuine and committed farmers with loans and other facilities to help in the production of agricultural produce for home consumption and for export,” Uyoh said.

He urged the farmers to mobilise themselves and form cooperative societies or join existing ones to benefit from government credit facilities and improve on their businesses.

In his welcome address, Mr Odudu Samson, President of the International Farmers Community Development Association in Akwa Ibom, said the workshop was to sensitise farmers on products development and financing and how to export palm kernel shells for profit.

Odudu said agriculture remained the available option for industrialisation and a source for citizens to enhance their income, which was the focus of the present administration.

He said the farmers’ association would continue to sensitise its members on agriculture production and value chain for local consumption and for export and wealth creation.