‘Insufficient storage facilities hampering farming’

The Abia State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ude Oko Chukwu has identified insufficient storage facilities as a major factor hampering farming in the country.

Chukwu disclosed this during the flag-off of distribution of equipment for preserving harvested produce, donated by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), to female farmers in the state, held at the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) head office, Umuahia.

The equipment includes Automated Solar Dryers; Processing and Storage Kits – Stationary Multi- Crop Dryer, built in the ADP premises.

Chukwu urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the facilities, expressing optimism that they would boost farming, prolong the shelf lives of their harvests, add more value to them and thus save them from their hitherto early decomposition.

The NSPRI Coordinator for South South and South East Zones, Dr. Idorenyin Nwanehujor, represented by the Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Pessu said the items were produced following researches undertaken by the Kwara State based Institute, to address the shelve life of agricultural harvests.

She said instead of using chemical preservation, the Institute came up with non- chemical technology certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in line with international standards.

According to her, 60 per cent of harvested tomatoes in the country rot away shortly, due to absence of appropriate preservation facilities, adding that the donated items can be powered by gas, charcoal or electricity.

The host state ADP Manager, Chief Israel Amanze, while lamenting post harvest losses due to lack of preservation facilities, said the facilities would impact farmers and all year harvest availability positively.