**1. Introduction**

Nigeria is reputed to be the largest black nation in the world, blessed with abundance of natural resources such as nickel, gold, tin, iron ore, bauxite, precious stones, bitumen, crude oil and vast agricultural land. Of all the natural resources, crude oil exploration is well developed. The nation depends on it for more than 70% of her income [1]. Due to instability and recent steady downward fall in crude oil price globally, the government of Nigeria seems to be seeking for diversification of her economy via increase in agricultural production. Several programmes have also been put in place to encourage Nigerians to get involved in agricultural production.

Due to poor infrastructural development in rural areas in developing nations of the world, there is the usual migration of people, especially youths, into the cities where they hope to get a "white-collar job" for a decent life. Unfortunately, the migration continues and the "white-collar job" is more of a mirage than reality. In an attempt to find a means of sustenance, some of these youths end up getting involved in one vice

or the other. Due to land tenure system, poverty, lack of incentives, etc., more than 70% of farmers in Nigeria and other developing nations of the world are considered small-scale farmers (land holding of less than 10 ha) [2]. Continuous cultivation of the land has also led to depletion in the nutrient status of the soil. Unfortunately, cost of soil amendments such as mineral fertilizer is gradually getting beyond the reach of average farmer. Hence, if urgent steps are not taken to address the downward trend, developing world will soon be faced with food crises of unimaginable magnitude.

One of the ways of mitigating against this is the step already being experimented by the Nigerian government whereby incentives are provided to encourage women, unemployed youth and other stakeholders to get actively involved in agriculture. This is a right step in the right direction, if pursued to a logical end. However, there must be a holistic approach towards solving this problem. Such approach must include alternative source of input (fertilizer, etc.) that is affordable. It will also be necessary to find a way of forming the farmers into clusters so that processing facilities will be acquired and maximized. The government also must look into the area of packaging and transportation of agricultural produce so as to minimize loss. In a recent survey conducted in selected fruits and vegetable market in Oyo State, Nigeria, the traders complained of losing at least 5% of the purchased products between the farm gate and market due to the way the produce are stacked together during transportation and bad road network. Due to the perishable nature of these produce, a large percentage of the produce will also go into waste. If the traders must break even, they will have no other choice than to increase the price of the remaining items. Hence, buyers will be forced to pay not only for the items bought but also for the spoilt ones. The spoilt ones are usually stacked in designated places within the market community where they serve as breeding ground for disease vectors (**Figure 1**). When it rains, leachates from these dumping grounds are either washed to adjourning streams and rivers where they serve as contaminants to the water bodies or leached down the soil via deep percolation where they serve as contaminants to groundwater. Creating farm clusters will definitely boost agricultural production and encourage siting of medium- to large-scale processing plants that will add value to agricultural produce, thus enhancing the profitability of their products. It will

**89**

*The Use of Waste Management Techniques to Enhance Household Income and Reduce Urban…*

however lead to generation of large volume of wastes which will serve as nuisance to the communities unless alternative uses have been provided long before they are

Under normal circumstances, industrial wastes are to be treated to meet some prescribed minimum standards before discharge. The standards are clearly stated by regulating bodies. Unfortunately, most of the industries scattered all over Nigeria, as well as other developing environments, have been reported not to comply with these standards because the enforcement of the prescribed standard is weak and the penalties are too light to serve as deterrent to others [3–5]. These also pose a great risk to waterbodies. Other sources of contamination to waterbodies include leachates from agrochemicals, industrial discharge, etc. In this chapter, however, we will

Poverty thrives in Nigeria, as it is in other developing nations of the world. Nigeria is rated as one of the poorest countries of the world and occupies the 152nd position out of 188 countries on Human Development Index (HDI) ranking [6]. About 80% are reported to be living below poverty line [7]. Pipe-borne water is non-existent in most cities due to the breakdown of public water supply. Hence, several households depend on shallow wells and streams for their potable water. Some are dying of avoidable diseases. Unfortunately, others are ill but are too poor to be able to access health facility. On the contrary, the wastes that litter the place, serving as breeding ground for disease vectors and contaminating the streams and shallow wells, could be turned into incomegenerating ventures via waste-to-wealth programmes. The government structures are failing in the developing world due to the combinations of factors. Empowering households through waste-to-wealth programme will not only rid the environment of debris, etc. but will also take care of major source of contaminants to waterbodies (surface- and groundwater). Hence, our world will be a better place to live in and pollution will be minimized. Some of the ways of converting the menace of indiscriminate dumping of wastes into money-spinning ventures include but are not limited to:

Across the globe, wastes are being generated from agriculture, industries, etc. To combat food security, efforts are being made to increase agricultural productivity and economic yield with little or no attention given to its disposal. When wastes are poorly managed or disposed, it may result in outbreak of disease and untidy environment, characterized with offensive odors, resulting into increase in the population of rodents and insects that could constitute threat to lives and properties. Over time, what has been considered as wastes in some enterprises, especially in agro industries, is found to be useful, thereby adding value to the supposed wastes.

Mushrooms are a group of fungi and are distinct from green plants because they lack chlorophyll and therefore cannot manufacture their own food as other plants do but rather produce extracellular enzyme which digest various kinds of dead organic matter on which they grow [8]. It contains all the essential amino acids (for humans) as well as most commonly occurring non-essential amino acids and amines. These include phenylalanine, valine, theanine, tryptophan, isoleucine, methionine and leucine [9, 10]. Mushrooms are a good source of protein that can enrich human diets, especially in some developing countries where meat may be rare or expensive. Many mushrooms are considered to be healthy food because they contain large amounts of qualitatively good protein, vitamins (B1, B2, B3, C and D) and minerals (potassium and phosphorus) in addition to folic acid, an ingredient known for enriching the blood stream and preventing deficiencies. They have a low fat content ranging from 0.6 to 3.15%. The protein content ranges between 19 and 37%, depending on the

generated to avoid outbreak of diseases in an epidemic magnitude.

limit ourselves to agricultural wastes and its management.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85580*

**2. Mushroom production**

#### *The Use of Waste Management Techniques to Enhance Household Income and Reduce Urban… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85580*

however lead to generation of large volume of wastes which will serve as nuisance to the communities unless alternative uses have been provided long before they are generated to avoid outbreak of diseases in an epidemic magnitude.

Under normal circumstances, industrial wastes are to be treated to meet some prescribed minimum standards before discharge. The standards are clearly stated by regulating bodies. Unfortunately, most of the industries scattered all over Nigeria, as well as other developing environments, have been reported not to comply with these standards because the enforcement of the prescribed standard is weak and the penalties are too light to serve as deterrent to others [3–5]. These also pose a great risk to waterbodies. Other sources of contamination to waterbodies include leachates from agrochemicals, industrial discharge, etc. In this chapter, however, we will limit ourselves to agricultural wastes and its management.

Poverty thrives in Nigeria, as it is in other developing nations of the world. Nigeria is rated as one of the poorest countries of the world and occupies the 152nd position out of 188 countries on Human Development Index (HDI) ranking [6]. About 80% are reported to be living below poverty line [7]. Pipe-borne water is non-existent in most cities due to the breakdown of public water supply. Hence, several households depend on shallow wells and streams for their potable water. Some are dying of avoidable diseases. Unfortunately, others are ill but are too poor to be able to access health facility. On the contrary, the wastes that litter the place, serving as breeding ground for disease vectors and contaminating the streams and shallow wells, could be turned into incomegenerating ventures via waste-to-wealth programmes. The government structures are failing in the developing world due to the combinations of factors. Empowering households through waste-to-wealth programme will not only rid the environment of debris, etc. but will also take care of major source of contaminants to waterbodies (surface- and groundwater). Hence, our world will be a better place to live in and pollution will be minimized. Some of the ways of converting the menace of indiscriminate dumping of wastes into money-spinning ventures include but are not limited to:
