With the estimated N3.5 trillion annual post-harvest loss of agricultural produce in Nigeria, the effort of the government to accelerate policies and program implementation on food sustainability may not yield positive results.
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Country Director, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Dr. Godwin Atser made the observation yesterday while inspecting the post-harvest technology intervention during Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development (KSADP/SAA) media field day in Kano.

The agricultural extension and rural development expert contended that although Nigeria is making significant improvements in food production, however, worried that a larger percentage of the produce is being rendered waste due to the near absence of preservative technology.

“We all know that post-harvest losses is a big issue in Nigeria and Africa in general. In Nigeria alone, about N3.5 trillion is lost to post-harvest annually and that needs to be addressed if the country cares to address food security in the country. Yes on one side we emphasis on production and when you produce what happens,” Dr. Atser noted.
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The SAA boss who led a team of journalists to the local fabricating workshop, one of the beneficiaries of KSADP/SAA intervention, explained that the project is building the capacity of local fabricators to provide sustainable technology solutions.

He said after building the capacity and provided with basic tools, the local fabricators have constructed local technologies including post harvest machines to reduce produce waste. Dr. Atser reminded that KSADP/SAA project is showing a template that Nigeria and other African countries can copy for economic development and job creation.

“So this initiative of building the capacity of local fabricators of equipments designed essentially to preserve farm input is so important to us at KSADP/SAA. We have to ensure promotion of value chain and that is why the initiative of bringing local fabricators become pertinent such that they produce the need technology locally to reduce farmers lost after harvest.
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“This will build the capacity in local content and avoid cost of importing foreign technology which is not sustainable because of the high cost. We get the beneficiaries, trained them and equipped their capacity to fabricate the equipments for local use and export to African countries. The good news is, country like Niger has started placing order on the technology. This would also enhance our GDP.”

One of the beneficiaries of the training, Abubakar Umar who applause the intervention of KSADP/SAA in his life, said the skill enabled him the opportunity to engage 15 youths who are working and recieving training.
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