By Victor Essang
For decades, jackfruit trees have stood quietly in many Nigerian communities, their massive fruits often left to rot beneath their branches. Despite being one of the world’s largest tree-borne fruits, jackfruit remained largely overlooked and underutilized, regarded by many as little more than a seasonal delicacy with limited commercial value.
Today, that narrative is changing.
In a landmark contribution to agricultural innovation and sustainable development, Mrs. Emem Umoh, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Women in Nature Conservation Organisation (WINCO), has authored Nigeria’s first book on the jackfruit value chain. Titled Jackfruit Value Chain: From Waste to Wealth for Rural Women in Nigeria, the publication chronicles four years of pioneering research, innovation and grassroots interventions that have transformed an underutilized fruit into a catalyst for economic empowerment, food security and climate action.
More than an academic publication, the book is a compelling story of resilience, community development and the immense possibilities that emerge when local resources are harnessed through knowledge and innovation.
Since 2022, WINCO has implemented its Jackfruit Pilot Value Chain Programme in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, training between 84 and 115 rural women to harvest, process and market jackfruit into commercially viable products.
The initiative has demonstrated that jackfruit is far more than a seasonal fruit. It is an economic asset capable of generating sustainable livelihoods while addressing food insecurity.
Women participating in the programme now produce over 13 value-added products, including toasted jackfruit powder, plain powder, chips, soup thickener, porridge, smoothies, wine, swallow and nutritional supplements. These products have created new income streams while expanding healthy food choices for families and communities.
One of the most innovative aspects of WINCO’s intervention is its commitment to the principles of the circular economy.
Every part of the jackfruit is utilized. The edible bulbs are processed into nutritious food products, the seeds are dried and milled into flour, the peels are converted into environmentally friendly briquettes and biochar, while packaging waste is creatively transformed into decorative items and crafts.
This zero-waste model not only minimizes environmental pollution but also creates additional economic opportunities, proving that sustainability and profitability can coexist.
At the centre of this remarkable initiative are rural women whose lives have been transformed through skills development and entrepreneurship.
By equipping women with practical knowledge in processing, packaging and marketing, WINCO has helped improve household incomes, strengthened food security and enhanced economic independence among vulnerable families.
The impact extends beyond income generation. More than 80 per cent of participating households reported improved nutrition after incorporating jackfruit products into their daily diets, underscoring the fruit’s potential as a nutritious and affordable food source.
The programme also illustrates how grassroots initiatives can contribute meaningfully to climate resilience.
By reducing post-harvest losses, promoting sustainable production practices and encouraging the utilization of agricultural waste, the project aligns environmental conservation with economic development.
It is a practical demonstration that climate action can begin at the community level, where local solutions address global challenges
The significance of the publication has attracted widespread recognition.
The foreword is written by Dr. Ibironke Olubamise, National Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP), who commends WINCO’s contributions to advancing several Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, zero hunger, good health, gender equality, decent work, reduced inequalities, sustainable communities, climate action, biodiversity conservation and partnerships for development.
Her endorsement underscores the growing importance of locally driven innovations in addressing national and global development priorities.
Published by the University of Uyo Printing Press, the book is expected to become an important reference for policymakers, researchers, universities, development partners, non-governmental organisations and community groups working in agriculture, environmental sustainability and rural development.
It provides practical insights into building agricultural value chains that create employment, reduce waste, improve nutrition and strengthen climate resilience.
Momentum is already building ahead of the book’s public presentation, scheduled for August 2026.
The event is expected to bring together policymakers, academics, development practitioners, environmentalists, researchers, agricultural stakeholders and private sector actors from across Nigeria to examine how the jackfruit value chain can be replicated and scaled nationwide.
Beyond unveiling a publication, the gathering is expected to stimulate policy dialogue, encourage investment in underutilized crops and promote innovative approaches to agricultural diversification, rural enterprise development and climate-smart agriculture.
Nigeria possesses enormous agricultural potential, yet many indigenous crops remain underdeveloped despite their economic and nutritional value.
Jackfruit Value Chain: From Waste to Wealth for Rural Women in Nigeria challenges this status quo by demonstrating how innovation, research and community participation can transform overlooked resources into engines of inclusive growth.
The publication serves as both a practical guide and a call to action for governments, development agencies, researchers and entrepreneurs to invest in value addition, reduce agricultural waste and create sustainable livelihoods.
Ultimately, this pioneering work is more than Nigeria’s first book on the jackfruit value chain. It is a blueprint for empowering rural communities, strengthening food systems, promoting environmental sustainability and redefining agriculture as a vehicle for national development.
Media Contact
Victor Essang
Phone: 08020610475
Email: vessang2@gmail.com
Website: www.winconigeria.org
ISBN: 979-978-63316-3-8
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