Federal Ministry of Agriculture and NSPRI trains ADP staff on post harvest management

By Stephanie Ikanone Odiete

In a bid to curb post-harvest losses among farmers in the country the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigeria Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI) organized a training program for staff of the Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) selected from states in the South-South and South East geopolitical zones of the country began training on technological innovation in post-harvest management in Sapele, Delta State.

The program which started on  October 18th, 2021 is scheduled to end on Friday October 22nd, 2021.

While addressing the participants during the opening of the four-day training programme by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI)  on Tuesday, Dr Mrs Patricia Pessu the executive director of the institute, said that the training programme aimed to step down knowledge on post-harvest management through the ADP staff to farmers in the rural areas.

The Managing Director, who said that post harvest losses have a significant effect on the economy, added that the institute will be taking advantage of the occasion as the excellent opportunity through which to disseminate the experience and achievements developed on post Harvest management to reduce post Harvest losses.

“losses on grains such as maizes, sorghum, millet, cowpea is between 20%, 25%, and 30% in root and tuber crops such as yam, cassava and potatoes while about 50%of fruits and vegetables are lost post harvest, unfortunately this loss are from the rural area, that are in dire need of development

The NSPRI boss, who described ADP officials as partners and stakeholders in the agricultural sector, said that “over the years, they have helped to improve the livelihood of the farmers by helping to provide inputs like fertilizers and seedlings.

“As we know, post-harvest has not been in the forefront of their roles and we, having the mandate to conduct research on post-harvest losses, decided as part of our 2021 project to get the ADPs on board, realizing their importance at their grassroots.

“So, we are able to bring them on board to put them through all the available technologies in the industry realizing that they are close to the grassroots and they will be able to impact on the farmers and to eventually improve their livelihood and then improve the economy.”

She also said that the partnership would continue after the training programme, adding that, “we intend to have some of our technologies in some places that would be identified by the ADPs where the farmers will have access to these facilities and use them free of charge.”

Also speaking, the Delta State coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Mr John Onovughe, in his Goodwill message, said that the training program will enable ADP staff to orient farmers on how to preserve their goods.

"The training is commendable, it will be nice if we can get it right this time around, post harvest storage will boost the Nigeria economy. Technology innovation of post harvest training will enhance the living condition of the farmer.

One of the trainees, Eng Godwin Eze thanked the Ministry and NSPRI for the training assuring that whatever they were taught will be impacted to help others especially farmers help to reduce lost of produce in post harvest.

Declaring the workshop open, the Hon Commissioner of Agriculture, ably represented by Edwin Odiete said farmers are responsible for feeding the nation, adding that they lack post harvest storage facilities, he added that the training will improve the method of how to preserve the food, that the information gathered here by the various ADP staff will be extended to farmers on how to preserve their produce especially those in the rural area.