• As NSPRI, export promotion council, others train stakeholders
Some agencies and institutes of the Federal Government in food research and development have moved to stem rejections of exports of food and industrial crops of Nigerian origin by training farmers, aggregators and exporters in the best agricultural practices during planting, farm maintenance, harvest and post-harvest periods.
The stakeholders were trained according to CODEX Alimetarius Commission and other international standards in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt in cocoa, cassava, yam, leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, tomatoes and palm oil, among others, with much emphasis on planting, storage and preservation good practices.
Facilitators harped on advantages of penetrating international markets such as earnings in forex, balance of trade and employment opportunities for value chain actors, deepening of crop production as demand increases both at home and globally.
Oluchi Chibuzor, in this report writes that the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute’s free distribution of 100 hermetic drums will significantly reduce post-harvest losses in the country
With post-harvest losses in the country currently estimated at about N3.4 trillion based on the statistic released by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigeria’s drive at meeting key international treaties like Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 3 across the country is hinged on efforts directly aimed at tackling food security.
Post-harvest loss, which is seriously affected by climate change and other associated factors, contributes to food insecurity and reduces the income of smallholder farmers and processors as for about 20 per cent loss for grain, 20 per cent for fish and 50 to 60 per cent for vegetable, fruits, tuber respectively.