Some farmers under the
aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Rivers State chapter, have called on the state government to establish food processing factories in the state to help prevent waste of excess harvest in the system.
The farmers, who bared their minds on the issue of wastage of farm produce in the state at various interactions with The Tide had posited that attention should be given to agricultural produce processing to add value to it and limit wastage.
According to Mr Samuel Ogbondah, who operates a banana and plantain plantation, much products were being wasted during the harvest season, particularly the banana produce which he said records high wastage during the peak season.
He said that farmers often had excess harvest most of which perish because they lacked means of preserving them.
“The state’s investment in processing factories would not only create more jobs for the unemployed, but will go a long way to add value to agricultural produce, and as well encourage farmers to produce more boost the state’s economy”, Ogbondah said.
On his own part, Mr Prince Amadi said crops like maize, cucumba, have high level of wastage after harvest, particularly during their peak harvest season.
Amadi appealed to government to assist farmers to have value for their products and thereby enhance their revenue profile, which will boost their capacity to greater productivity.
Meanwhile, Mrs Agwasi Worlu, who is an independent farmer has said that she has no other business than farming, and that many wastage had been recorded after harvest due to excess produce.
She said that one challenge they have is that the Port Harcourt market is being flooded with produce court market neigbouring states.
Mrs Worlu, however, appealed to government to buy off every harvest from the farmers to boost their morale, as well as urge the state government to save farmers from middlemen who have been exploiting them.

Corlins Walter