Gombe laments poor post-harvest losses of farmers
The commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Aishatu Maigari, said over 80 percentage of the population are farmers that need both federal and state governments help in preserving their farm produce presently being poorly managed and preserved.
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Maigari stated that the theme: “Post harvest technologies: Panacea for agricultural losses,” is apt and timely as a lot of farmers lose a lot at the post-harvest stage.
“Combating post-harvest losses is challenging but the immense benefits cannot be overemphasized,” she said.
She however added that the benefits of reducing food loss and waste include: “increased food security, better lives for farmers, women and youth empowerment, healthier ecosystem and more business opportunities for SMEs along the value chain among others”.
The federal government also shared this concern yesterday shared in Gombe at a two-day workshop for 100 selected farmers across the eleven local governments jointly organised by the federal and Gombe governments.
The Permanent Secretary in federal ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI,) Monilola Udoh, explained to the trainees that targeted quality losses include: “those that affect the nutrient/caloric composition, the acceptability and the edibility of a given product.”
She disclosed that the ministry’s Bio-resources technology department would assist farmers and other agro-allied sector in reducing post-harvest losses and encourage productivity “and make agricultural activities profitable.”
Represented by the Director, Bio-resources Technology Department, Engineer Isaac Anum, Udoh promised technical support to the state government.
Also speaking, Anum, whose speech was read by the Assistant Director in the FMSTI, Mrs. Ronnel Dola said only preservation of produce after harvesting can retain farmers in farming business.
