Agriculture
Farmers Laud NSPRI Over Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
Some farmers at the
ongoing 2013 In-House Review Meeting of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, have lauded the post-harvest loss reduction products of the institute.
In an interview with newsmen in Ilorin recently, they said that there had been minimal or no post harvest loss since the adoption of the institute’s drying products.
A fish seller, Mrs Memunat Adisa, said she had been in the fish business for 25 years but had not made profit till she started using NSPRI’s fish smoking kiln.
Adisa from Iliara village, Ilorin-West Local Government Area of Kwara, said that her usage of the kiln for three years had attracted more customers to her.
She said that she had made more profit because of the quality of dry fish she sold.
She said that she used to sell fresh fish at very cheap prices because of the fear of spoilage and loss.
Adisa said with the kiln, she only needed to smoke the fish for four hours and added that the product could last up to three months without the fear that it would spoil.
The fish trader, however, pointed out that the kiln could burn fish if maximum attention was not paid while smoking them.
Also, Mr Jimoh Ayinde, a farmer, commended NSPRI for the cassava processing plant made available to Iliara community.
According to him, the processing plant has boosted the production of cassava flakes, ‘gari,’ in the community and has also created jobs for some persons.
Ayinde said before the intervention of the institute, the villagers used to go to the markets to buy cassava flakes to resell.
“But now, we make our own flakes and other villages have been coming to use our cassava processing plant and they pay a token for the services,” he said.
“Before, we used to go to the market to buy cassava flour to resell and also pay for transportation and our feeding but now, there is nothing like that.
“We go into our houses to eat whenever we are hungry since we now make these flakes by ourselves in our homes,” he said.
The farmer also said that the adoption of the products had increased the popularity of the village, adding that the neighbouring villages had also benefited from the products.
The In-House Review Meeting is an annual event that provides a forum for scientists to discuss and exhibit the results of their researches.
The idea is with a view to ensuring that relevant technologies reach the end users in line with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
It is also an avenue for stakeholders to brainstorm on the various ways to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure food security and sufficiency in the country.
The event has about 100 participants from research institutes, universities, Ministries of agriculture, Agricultural Development Projects and NGOs, farmers’ associations as well as agro-allied and chemical companies.
The theme of the meeting is “Food Preservation Research Transformation through Competitive Technology Development’’.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
