The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said that the Federal Government would save over $8 billion through the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, NSPRI, located in Ilorin, Kwara state.
He said that the move was part of government’s commitment to ensure the improvement of the economy and to concretize its diversification to agriculture. Lokpobiri gave this hint when the Executive Director of NSPRI, Professor Olufemi Peters and his team visited the Minister in Abuja.
A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, Mrs. A. B. Lere- Adams, indicated that the minister said that the institute had been able to fabricate and develop technologies that reduces the storage problems of all food crops with the aim of increasing Nigerian’s agricultural self sufficiency through adequate post harvest loss reduction.
Lokpobiri expressed the hope that the technological approach being adopted in the nation’s agric sector would no doubt greatly ensure that agricultural produce will be properly kept within the food supply chain.Expatiating further, the Minister said that findings from 2013 FAO factsheets and NSPRI survey conducted in all geo-political zones in 2013 estimated food losses to be 51.3 MT across all crops valued at 8.9 billion dollars. According to him, the President Buhari-led administration has achieved increased food production and has also identified and is adequately addressing the high percentage losses along all stages in the post harvest value chain as part of the solution to food security and to enhance exportation of agricultural produce to boost Nigerian foreign exchange reserve.
Lokpobiri also assured the team from NSPRI of Governments determination to support and strengthen the Research institute with necessary funding to enable them perform their mandate among which is the development of post harvest technologies for farmers and cottage industries.
Earlier, the Executive Director of NSPRI, briefed the Minister on their efforts and achievements in positioning the institute in playing a critical role in the country’s quest for not only food security and sufficiency but also as a foreign exchange earner and economic booster. Professor Peters also stated that the institute will continue to develop appropriate post harvest technologies for farmers, agro-allied industries and other relevant stakeholders.
The institute has so far carried out research into the improvement and maintenance of qualities of all crops (including fisheries and livestock). The height of the visit was the proud presentation of high quality will processed and package Agricultural food produce ready for export having being certified internationally acceptable.
Some of these food produce are, dried Periwinkle, dried Ugu leaves, Ground Rice, Poundo yam and Plantain flour.