Economic Feasibility Study For The Setting Up And Utilization Of A Multipurpose Food Irradiation Facility In Jigawa State, North-West Nigeria

One proven and efficient method for processing and preserving food is food irradiation. Irradiation is a productive and economical technique that has several advantages over other technologies used in food processing. The technique helps prevent food loss and ensure food safety by getting rid of parasites and bacteria that can make people sick or even kill them. Produce from agriculture and animal food products can benefit from radiation treatment to increase shelf life while maintaining microbiological safety and quality. Based on more than 50 years of research and testing data, a number of national and international food and health organizations have acknowledged and supported the safety of food and products treated to ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility for the establishment and utilization of a multipurpose food irradiation facility in Jigawa state and its environ as a post-harvest treatment for major arable crops cultivated in the state and its environ which include millet, sorghum, groundnut, sesame, rice, maize, tomatoes, pepper, onions, wheat, and dried fish. The study explored ways in which irradiation may be employed for each crops and vegetable with the approved dose rate. The cost of irradiation was also calculated for different sources of colbalt-60. The study results indicate one or more technically economically feasible application points for irradiation in the processing of each commodity considered. The most promising points are the potential for disinfestation of large quantity of crops and vegetables which will ensure food availability all year round and at a cheap rate for citizens as well as the potential for export thereby helping to grow the revenue and GDP of the state.