The National Centre for Energy and Environment (NCEE) says agricultural co-operatives are vehicles through which small farmers could harness potentials for bio-fuel development.

The NCEE Director, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said  in Benin on Monday that farmers could become energy producers, as well as users, through the co-operatives.

Reports say that the energy centre is the research centre of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and that it is situated in the campus of the University of Benin.

“These co-operatives offer viable, equitable and cost-effective ways of harnessing local potentials for bio-fuel-development, which would be of benefit to small farmers, the rural poor and rural women, both as energy producers and users.

“The co-operatives have the institutional capacities to provide relevant information and promote awareness-building at community level, to overcome challenges in bio-fuel development for livelihood improvement,’’ Ezemonye said.

The director disclosed that the centre was planning a national workshop, in collaboration with the African Foundation for Agricultural Development.

He said the workshop is for farmers in the 36 states of the federation on bio-diesel production and would add more value to the expected production.

“It will also ensure that farmers get maximum benefits from these co-operatives,’’ Ezemonye explained.

He added that inadequate or inequitable access to energy affects the livelihood of millions of small farmers, landless and indigenous people.

“The role of co-operatives in bio-fuel-development can be made compatible with current national strategies, priorities and programmes for production, processing and marketing of bio-fuel products and services, with the emergence of favourable trends and conditions,” the Director said.