As a way of reducing harvest losses through storage, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday distributed agricultural storage items to farmers in Akwa Ibom.
The distribution was done through the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI).
The Executive Director of NSPRI, Dr Patricia Pessu, during the distribution of the items to the farmers in Uyo, urged beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the items to enable government do more.
Pessu, who was represented by Dr Idorenyin Nwaehujor, Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, said the way fishes are dried and stored contribute to the reasons why they do not meet international market standards.
The director said the storage facilities distributed would help farmers ensure improved storage for their agricultural products for export.
She said that storage facilities, including hermetic drums, have the capacity to preserve grains and dried products for more than three years.
“Our mandate is to carry out research into storage facilities and you will agree with me that the main problem of agriculture sector is storage.
“Farmers are very hard working in planting and what happened after harvest is the issue.
“So, we have carried out researches over the years and we have come up with some technologies that will help to extend the live of our agricultural products.
“These are the things we have brought today. These things have been distributed in some other states of the federation.
“With these facilities, you can store your agricultural products after harvest and sell when you can make more profit, because during harvest, prices are very low,” she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to ensure proper use of the facilities, stressing that agricultural agents would visit them for regular monitoring to ensure the items were not abused.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet, thanked the FG and NSPRI for ensuring that the storage facilities were sent to farmers in Akwa Ibom.
Edet, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Mary Bassey, said that the state government would continue to partner the FG to enhance agriculture production in the country.
She assured that the beneficiaries in the state would make judicious use of the facilities to improve their farming businesses.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Uyobong Uko, explained that the use of good storage facilities would help prevent the use of chemicals.
“Chemicals are dangerous to the body,” she added.
Uko said that the storage facilities would also prevent harvest losses and improve value addition.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr Emma Ekanem, Acting Programme Manager and Director, Technical Services, Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) lauded the institute and the FG for facilitating the delivery of the facilities to farmers in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Iquo Ubokulo, a Fish Farmer, thanked NSPRI and the FG for the items distributed to them.
Ubokulo said that the facilities would add value to their farming businesses and called on government to sustain the programme in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed included smoking kiln, ice fish box and hermetic drums for storage of grains and other dried products. (NAN)