NSPRI Urges Small Scale Farmers, Processors and Grain Merchants to Adopt Cutting-Edge Postharvest Technology
The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) has called on farmers and processors to embrace its innovative technologies aimed at reducing postharvest losses and enhancing agricultural productivity. This charge was made during a one-day stakeholder meeting in Abuja themed: Provision of Postharvest Technology to Small Scale Farmers and Processors.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of NSPRI, Professor Sanni Lateef Oladimeji, highlighted the critical need for modern interventions to address postharvest challenges in Nigeria. He lamented that many farmers still rely on outdated methods, such as drying produce on bare floors, which compromise quality and safety. To counter this, NSPRI has developed solutions like the Parabolic Shaped Solar Dryer (PSSD) and small-scale silos with capacities of 2 and 5 tonnes, tailored for small-scale farmers and processors. Professor Sanni disclosed that the Federal Government is pilot-testing the distribution of these technologies nationwide, ensuring only genuine beneficiaries such as practical farmers, processors, and grain merchants are targeted. He also acknowledged the support of development partners like Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Australian Embassy, which have shown interest in scaling these interventions for greater impact.
In his remarks, Professor Zaki Bello Abubakar, representing the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), stressed the economic and food security implications of postharvest losses. He noted that addressing these challenges could resolve 80% of Nigeria’s agricultural problems.
Dr. Omodara A.O, in his presentation, highlighted the urgent need to modernize grain storage and drying practices to combat Nigeria’s food insecurity. He emphasized that grains like rice, maize, millet, and sorghum face significant storage challenges due to poor infrastructure and climate-related factors. Innovative NSPRI technologies, such as the Parabolic Solar Dryer (PSSD) and Improved Inert Atmosphere Silos (IIAS), offer sustainable solutions. For instance, the silos utilize nitrogen gas to create an oxygen-free environment, preventing insect infestation and microbial growth, with grains safely stored for up to three years.The PSSD technology has already been deployed across 28 states under NSPRI’s capital projects, with private investments further expanding its reach. Dr. Omodara projected that the initiative could reduce postharvest losses by 50%, enhance processing capacity by 2,400 metric tonnes, and directly impact over 20,000 individuals and 1,500 households.
The NSPRI interventions aim to bolster food security by ensuring safe, nutritious food supplies, reducing rejections of exported agricultural commodities, and increasing farmers’ incomes. This initiative is set to revolutionize agricultural practices, improve livelihoods, and position Nigeria for a more food-secure future. With stakeholders rallying behind these groundbreaking technologies, NSPRI’s vision of sustainable postharvest management is becoming a reality. Farmers and processors are urged to adopt these innovations to reap the full benefits of a thriving agricultural sector.
