REASONS FOR LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES. (A CASE STUDY OF PREMIER CASHEW INDUSTRY OGHE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            THE GENERAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

The history of Agro-base Industries in Nigeria is relatively long. According to J.E. Botton Industrial Revolution in 19th century gave birth to the existence of Agro-base Industries of the world, most the colonial master.

In late 19th century, the number of Agro-base Industries were increasing in a faster rate due to the improvement in mechanization of agriculture. At that time, there was no laws governing the industries, no ministry of agriculture until later at the end of 20th century when our indigenous entrepreneurs began to set up some of the present industries.

          Between 1959 and 1977, the large the large number of companies were registered and been approved by the ministry of Agriculture of which one of them is Livestock Mill Plc. I was founded in 1947 by a group of individuals who combined as a partnership. It was also incorporated in 1955 with shareholders. At times they were combining the production of feeds and poultry farming now they have numerous branches all over the country with their main branch at Aba.

          Flourmill which specializes in the extraction of flour for production of chocolate was founded in 1964. the company was incorporated in 1972 and undertake the production of flour as from time to time, the company has been performing fine in the production process until 1982 to 1985 when it was faced a lot of problem.

The Premier Cashew Industries was also among the Agro-base establishments in the late 19th century. It was founded in 1952 as “Oghe Cashew Industry” by the former Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (E.N.D.C)

          The first cashew plantation of the industry was established at Akama Oghe. Subsequently, Oji River and Mbala Isuochi Cashew plantation were established.

The plantation at Oghe has an area of 470 hectares which was divided into 5 fields and 150 plots with a total of 36,486 cashew trees. The Oji River plantation has an area of no hectares of plots with 8,100 cashew trees; The Mbala Isuochi plantation (now in Abia state) has an area of 150 hectares of 31 plots with the total of 9,300 cashew trees.