Assessment of Agricultural Waste Management Practices in Processing Centres in Imo State

This study assesses agricultural waste management practices in agro-processing centres in Imo State, South East Nigeria. Agro-processing activities generate significant volumes of organic waste including cassava peels, palm press fibre, rice husks, and vegetable trimmings that present both environmental pollution risks and potential resource recovery opportunities if properly managed. In Imo State, where cassava and palm oil processing are major agricultural industries, waste management practices at processing centres have not been systematically evaluated. This study uses a survey and field observation design, collecting data from 45 agro-processing centres in Owerri North, Mbaitoli, and Ngor-Okpala local government areas. Waste generation volumes are quantified by processing activity type, and current waste disposal practices are documented. Awareness of waste valorisation options including biogas production, compost making, and animal feed use is assessed among processing centre operators. Environmental impact observations document water pollution, air quality, and land degradation associated with waste disposal practices. Findings reveal that open burning (42 percent of centres) and indiscriminate dumping (38 percent) are the dominant waste disposal practices. Biogas production potential from processing waste is estimated at 2.8 cubic metres per tonne of cassava waste. Only 6 percent of centres practice any form of waste valorisation. The study concludes that agro-processing waste management in Imo State creates significant environmental hazards and foregone resource value. It recommends training programmes in waste valorisation and environmental compliance enforcement.

Keywords: agricultural waste management, agro-processing, Imo State, waste valorisation, environmental pollution.