Stakeholders in Anambra State have urged the Federal Government to complete the 25,000-tonne silo complex located in Igbariam, among others still under construction in various parts of the country.
A survey by The Tide source revealed that the agrarian Igbariam community in Anambra East Local Government Area hosts the largest farm settlement in the South-East zone.
According to our source, 10 gigantic silo cones of 2,500-tonne each had been erected while the necessary fittings inside the silos had yet to be fitted.
However, other structures meant for support services for the silo complex had reached 70 per cent completion.
The site foreman for Mecca Nigeria Ltd, the company handling the project, Mr Vincent Umeh, said that the project had been under construction for over two years because it was being executed in phases.
Umeh attributed the delay in the completion of the project to paucity of funds.
He said, “As you can see, about 70 per cent of the work had been done on all the structures as well as the 25,000-tonne capacity silos; I believe the work would be completed soon.
“We are always on ground to continue but you know the issue of funding by phases of work done is affecting the straight completion of the project.
“It is primarily meant for grain storage as the temperature of the silos would be artificially modulated to preserve grains.”
The Anambra State Government had recently constructed a road linking the Onitsha-Enugu Road, the silo complex and the farm settlement area in the community.
Umeh urged the government agency supervising the project to push for its completion due to its socio-economic and agricultural benefits to the people of the area and Nigerians in general.
Similarly in Kano, a silo under construction in Gaya Local Government area of Kano State, had yet to be completed, an official said.
Acting Federal Director in the state, Alhaji Adamu Muhammed, said ”The Federal Government has only one silo in Kano State, which is yet to be completed.”
He said when completed, the silo, located behind the local government Secretariat, would store 25,000 tonnes of grains.
The ministry had commenced the training of farmers on post-harvest preservation of produce, he added.
According to him, the training is aimed at refreshing the minds of farmers on the importance of local silos, with a view to making the best use of it.
He said, “For now, there is no measure in place to prevent post-harvest losses except the normal traditional way of storing farm produce in most parts of the north, especially in rural areas.
“Local silos are still being used for storing large quantities of farm produce, especially in the rural areas.”
Meanwhile, in Katsina, the Federal Director of Agriculture in the state, Dr Abdu Aminu, has advised farmers to package grains for storage inside air tight sacks, to prevent insect infestation.
Aminu said that grains being stored for a long time should not be stored in sacks that allowed air passage.
He said that the ministry would continue to enlighten farmers on modern storage methods because poor food storage was one of the greatest challenges of agriculture in Nigeria.
The director noted that the 250,000-tonne capacity silo located in Dutsin-ma local government area of the state was not yet functional.
Aminu added that the silo was for the storage of grains such as maize, guinea corn and millet.
He said the government purchased grains from farmers during glut to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Price and prevent post-harvest losses.
In Lokoja, our source learnt that construction work on the 25,000-tonne silo had been completed.
Consultant to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the project, Mr Isaac Ogwuche, told newsmen that completion of the project was delayed due to paucity of funds.
He, however, said the challenge had been overcome.
Ogwuche said that the silo was designed for the storage of grains only.
In Ilorin, the Silos Manager, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Atofarati Usman, also said the 25-tonne facility was functional.