The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), on Thursday distributed improved post-harvest storage facilities to selected farmers’ group in Osun.
In her remarks, at the event in Iwo, Dr Funmi Ilesanmi, the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of NSPRI, said the institute was playing significant role toward ensuring that improved storage facilities get to the right farmers.
Ilesanmi said that distribution of the facilities was an effort to improve the post-harvest handling and safety of agricultural commodities in Nigeria.
The zonal coordinator, while enlightening the beneficiaries on how to adequately make judicious use of the facilities, commended the Executive Director of the institute, Dr Patricia Pessu, for the initiative.
Ilesanmi urged the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the storage facilities for prevention of post-harvest losses.
Earlier, Mrs Gbemisola Fayoyin, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Osun, commended the institute for reaching out to the state in terms of safety and preservation of farm produce.
Fayoyin said that the present economic reality warranted the need to preserve and store food items adequately for the benefit of the masses.
According to her, the more a nation put effort in food security, the more money is being transferred to farmers, both in short and long terms.
She appealed to the beneficiaries to adequately use the storage facilities for them to be financially independent.
Also, Mr Rasak Lasisi, the General Manager, Osun State Agricultural Development Programme (OSSADEP), commended NSPRI for the empowerment programme organised for the farmers.
Lasisi said the modern storage facilities should be a multiplier effect for the preservation of farm produce.
According to him, the state is lucky to have the largest storage facilities distributed to farmers when compared to other states.
Lasisi, however, commended NSPRI and the state government for impacting the lives of farmers in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the storage facilities distributed included: Smoking Klin, Ice Box and Hermetic Steel Drum.
The Smoking Kiln is an efficient technology for drying fish and meat which ensures high quality products with permissible polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
The Ice Fish Box is a cold-chain technology developed for extension of shelf-life of fresh fish and also an effective means of handling fish for transportation, distribution and marketing.
The Hermetic Steel drum is an airtight technology developed by NSPRI for non-chemical preservation of dried crops/products (such as grains, pulses, roots, tubers, fruits, vegetables, fisheries, and livestock.(NAN )