Federal government is set to construct eight solar dryers with four in each of the Federal Constituencies to ease the ways farmers dry their farm produce for an enhanced hygienic food production and sufficiency.
A member representing Ilorin East/ Ilorin South Federal Constituency Hon. Abdulganiyu S. Cook Olododo who stated this at the official opening of the training on pilot post seasonal intervention programmer in Ilorin East/ Ilorin south Federal Constituency at Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute ( NSPRI) headquarters Ilorin said two of solar dryers is ready for used.
Olododo who spoke on his special 2020 Zonal intervention ( Constituency) project in Ilorin East/ Ilorin South Federal Constituency, reiterated the government commitment to economic diversification to non- oil sector as agriculture play a leading role
“we cannot be left behind and there is no other time than now to acquire the skills needed in Agribusiness, that is why we involved NSPRI and other consultant to train our people on post seasonal management of roots and cereals and also on how to do business in agriculture.” He said.
Olododo who said one of the strategies to increasing food production is to empower the farmers with skills which include the modern ways of drying agricultural produce was the reason he brought the intervention programme to his people in Ilorin East/ Ilorin South Federal Constituency.
he added that post harvest management was targeted for poverty alleviation, job creation, food security and improved livelihood as part of effort to revamping economic activities of its constituency and Kwara state.
“One of the failures of agricultural policies for addressing developmental challenges in developing countries particularly Nigeria is the lopsidedness of concentrating efforts on production at the expense of post harvest activities. Yet, it is the agricultural activities such as storage and small scale processing after harvest that involves massive human engagement, which creates more small scale and family based business. Therefore, if agriculture is to be used for the development of the state, effective post harvest management and value addition must be put in a place to complement the agricultural production activities. This way, agriculture will have direct bearing on the economic viability of the zone and be beneficial to the nation” he said.
He enjoined the 40 participants to be serious on the training and be free to interact
“I thank the management of NSPRI and synergy impact consultants limited for organizing this programme for my people. I’m also most grateful to the Elders, my political associate, royal fathers and community leaders for their support and cooperation. ” he said
Speaking further the Executive director Nigerian Stored Products and Research Institute ( NSPRI) Dr Patricia Pessu who stressed the mandate of NSPRI on improve storage, post harvest processing on perishable crops, storage facilities for dry product, impact on the livelihood of the people, improve economic wellbeing, urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity accorded them.
Earlier, the Principal Consultant of Synergy Impact Consultants limited Mr Lanre Babalola who said the aim of the training/intervention programme was to broaden the skills and knowledge of the selected participants in the area of post harvest management with concentration on the use of solar dryer tent in order to ensure food hygiene and prevention of post harvest loss added that production of food crops in the country has increased due to recent advocacy for the diversification of the economy as high percentage is lost due to lack of proper post harvest management in the areas of drying and storage component which required to guarantee food security noted that the losses cause low return for farmers on annual investment, reduce internally generated revenue, low family income and create food scarcity added that conscientious effort has to be employed to ensure that wastages that usually result from the lack of in-depth knowledge and simple adherence to the basics of good agricultural practices are avoided.
He urged the beneficiaries to sustain the knowledge acquired for the benefit of the project to accrue for a long period.
“It is my wish that our partner on this project, Nigerian stored product research Institute ( NSPRI) will lay emphasis on the sustainability of the project by expending it to other farmers in the state.” He said
