Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Acting Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan has said the federal government is worried about food Wastages and has commenced talks for proper storage of perishable crops.
Hassan stated this in an interview with news men, during the weekend shortly after meeting with Gombe state governor Inuwa Yahaya, at the government house.
He said, “It a product developed in Europe, people who own the equipment have met with Minister of Agriculture and have written to us (BOA). It is basically because anywhere in the world perishable goods, does not give you the kind of value like other goods.
“If you don’t store it, if you don’t preserve it, you will not have much gain, after herculean task of harvesting. Those machines are not cheap but the cooperatives can own them, or the government because it is so large Infact bigger than the Gombe government house, people can bring in their goods and keep and pay a token fee. Like I said tomatoes for nine months it will be as fresh as just coming out of the farm.
“It a very massive equipment that you can put your tomato after harvest and it remains fresh even after nine months. All the losses that comes after harvesting will be minimized.”
Hassan added that since 1972 the bank of Agriculture has provided rural financing to small holder farmers to boost their business.
“Land acquisition is a soon to be launched product, people want to farm but they have no land; they either go borrowing or they go to rent. We believe we can get financing for people that want to own their own land,” he said
