FG to Farmers: How you can curtail post-harvest losses

By Muhammad Nasir

The Federal Government has advised farmers to partner with experts in the area of agricultural research and development to curtail perennial post-harvest losses of produce.

Prof. Hussaini Ibrahim, the Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), gave advice in Sokoto at the inauguration of the first Indigenous Onion and Garlic processing plant on Saturday.

Represented by Mr Emmanuel Kwaya, a Director in the council, Ibrahim said having an effective processing plant of agricultural products and initiating research-based storage would improve food security for the country.

“This development will aid our commitment toward zero hunger, promote productivity and profitability among farmers, improve national economy and address the challenges of unemployment,” he said.

The director general added that over the past three decades, the RMRDC has remained the national institutional framework for promoting local raw materials development and utilisation by industries.

“The gesture has achieved tremendous milestones in the development and growth of Nigeria’s industrial sector.

“Today marks an important milestone for the manufacturing industry in Nigeria as we commission the first wholly indigenous onion and garlic flakes processing plant.

“I am particularly delighted that this plant was designed and fabricated by Nigerian engineers following the call by the Council to reduce the perennial post-harvest wastages associated with onion and garlic,” he said.

Ibrahim commended the partners and investors who have made the project a reality.

The Chairman of the company, Dr Saleh Ibrahim, said the idea was conceived by some elites in the state to rescue onion and garlic farmers from their perennial post-harvest losses.

He said that the plant would continue to consider more research and development in order to ease the current hardships experienced by farmers across the state.

(NAN)