NSPRI reterates commitment to preventing post-harvest losses

The Executive Director, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Dr Patricia Pessu, has said the Federal Government is determined to ensure reduction in post-harvest losses through storage.

She disclosed this during the distribution of agricultural storage materials worth millions of naira to farmers in Akwa Ibom State in Uyo, last week.

Represented by Dr Idorenyin Nwaehujor, Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, she urged beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the items to encourage the Federal Government to do more.

She said farmers dry their fish wrongly in such a way that when taken to international markets, because of wrong storage, it does not meet the approved standards.

The executive director said the storage facilities distributed would help farmers to store their agricultural products and export for value addition, adding that the storage facilities, such as hermatic drum, has the capacity to preserve grains and dried products for over three years.

“Our mandate is to carry out research into storage facilities and you will agree with me that the main problem of agricultural sector is storage. The farmers are very hard-working in planting and what happens after harvest is the issue.

“So, we have carried out researches over the years and we have come up with some technologies that will help to extend the shelf life of our agricultural products.

“So, those are the things we have brought today. These things have been distributed in many states of the federation.

“With these facilities, you can store your agricultural products after harvest and sell when you can make more profit, because during harvest prices are very low,” she said.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet, thanked the Federal Government and NSPRI for ensuring that the storage facilities were sent to farmers in Akwa Ibom.

Edet, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Mary Bassey, said the state government would continue to partner with the Federal Government to enhance agriculture production in the country.

The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Uyobong Uko, said that the use of storage facilities would prevent the use of chemicals, stressing that chemicals are dangerous to the body.

Emma Ekanem, Acting Programme Manager and Director, Technical Services, Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), lauded the institute and the Federal Government for facilitating tools to farmers in the state.