The Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Julius Oluwamuyiwa Oloro, has called for increased development and fabrication of agricultural preservation equipment to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.

Oloro made the call in Ilorin, Kwara State, while addressing staff of the centre, urging researchers, engineers and other technical personnel to deploy their ingenuity towards designing and fabricating machines capable of preserving agricultural produce, particularly perishable fruits and vegetables.

He said the development of preservation technologies should be a priority in the centre’s efforts to fulfill its mandate and enhance the productivity of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The NCAM Executive Director commended his predecessors for sustaining the vision and mission of the institution’s founding fathers, but stressed the need for renewed attention to technologies that would extend the shelf life of farm produce.

“We need more equipment that can help us preserve perishable foods and fruits in Nigeria,” Oloro said.

He noted that the seasonal nature of agricultural production in many parts of the country often resulted in periods of abundance and scarcity, creating challenges for farmers, consumers and food processors.

According to him, farmers frequently experience a glut during the peak seasons of crops such as mangoes, tomatoes, vegetables, onions, guavas and pepper, adding that the resulting oversupply could depress prices and cause significant losses where adequate preservation and processing facilities were unavailable.

“When the seasons are over, prices escalate due to scarcity, occasioned partly by inadequate preservation facilities. We need to address this area as an agricultural mechanisation institute,” he said.

The call comes against the backdrop of concerns over food losses along Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security disclosed in September 2025 that Nigeria loses an estimated N3.5tr yearly to post-harvest inefficiencies. The ministry identified improved storage, cold rooms, processing facilities and preservation technologies as important components of efforts to reduce the losses and strengthen food security.

Similarly, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations reported that fruits and vegetables recorded the highest global food-loss rate among major commodity groups, reaching 25.4 per cent in 2023. The figure underscores the vulnerability of highly perishable produce to inadequate handling, storage and transportation.

The statistics highlight the importance of Oloro’s call for greater investment in locally designed preservation and processing equipment.

Oloro also pledged to sustain periodic engagements with departments, units and sections of NCAM as part of efforts to reposition the centre for improved productivity, innovation and service delivery.

He said the engagements would provide opportunities to assess institutional performance identify operational challenges and develop practical solutions to enhance the centre’s contributions to agricultural mechanisation.

The NCAM boss further reaffirmed his commitment to building on the achievements of previous administrations, while fostering teamwork, research, technological innovation and institutional excellence.

He added that the centre would pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening its contribution to agricultural mechanisation and food security in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.