National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Oyo State, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has trained women and youth on mushroom and tomato value chain across three local councils in Delta State.
The training and empowerment, which was held in Kwale, Delta State, was designed to reduce post harvest losses of the horticultural commodities.
Speaking during the training, which was held at Ndokwa West, East Ukwani Local Council, where 35 women and youths were empowered separately, the Director of Research, Dr. Ephraim Nwanguma, who represented the Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr. Mohammed Lawal Attanda, said the training would enhance the Federal Government’s efforts and focus on agriculture, driving diversification of the country’s economy.
He added that the exercise would promote food security, employment opportunities, wealth creation, household income and healthy populace.
He noted that the choice of training on value addition on mushroom and tomato is relevant due to increase in mushroom consumption. He added that this was as a result of the consciousness of their nutritional and medicinal value, as well as to alleviate post-harvest loss for better livelihood of farmers.
