Kwara government commends NSPRI for emplacing agric technologies

The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Kwara State, has been commended for impacting on its immediate environment through it’s proven agricultural technologies.

The Technical Assistant (Agriculture) to the Kwara State governor, Mr Abdul Qawiy Olododo, gave the commendation while commissioning the fish processing centre constructed by the institute for the Araromi-Ipo community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The technical assistant asserted that NSPRI boss, through various interventions such as construction of grain dryers, portable storage facilities, training and retraining of farmers across the state, had helped in moving the country nearer to achieving good post-harvest management of crops.

In his address of welcome, the Executive Director of NSPRI, Dr Patricia Pessu, said the benefit of fish processing is constrained in traditional practices. Such practices include contamination in unkempt processing environment, poor sanitation and hygiene in the use of equipment and personnel and drudgery of fish smoking sitting at the fire place with lots of smoke in excess of requirement for flavouring, manifesting in high Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) content above allowable limit.

Represented by the Director, Perishable Crops Research Department in the institute, Dr Adeola Oyebanji, the NSPRI boss declared that the institute’s smoking kilns in the processing centre had been designed, constructed and provided with needed facilities, including water supply and electricity wiring to support improved handling activities.

She, therefore, enjoined the benefitting community to make judicious use of the centre to boost fish processing and enhance their socio- economic status.

The community leader, Chief Oyewole David Oparinola; the leader of the fish smoking stakeholders, Mr Babatunde Ilufoye and the coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Mission, Rural Developmental Programme, Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Ekundayo, appreciated the institute for opening the centre for use.