NSPRI Laments Lack Of Storage Facilities

The Zonal Co-ordinator,
South-South, South East of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, (NSPRI), Port Harcourt, Mr Robert Simon Ikoko, has decried inadequate storage facilities for farm produce in the country.
Ikoko who barred his mind on the contentions issue during a chat with The Tide on the sidelines of the just-concluded World Food Day Celebrations in Port Harcourt, said, farmers produced few but wastage has been on the rise.
He explained that NSPRI was poised to provide the post harvest technology for all agricultural produce for farmers, agro-industry and market women, amongst others.
“We provide the post harvest technologies for all agriculture produce for the farmers, for the market women, agro allied industries and any other group that is engaged in agriculture”, he said.
The NSPRI boss disclosed that if large quantity of produce displayed during such celebrations, could be effectively preserved, there would be abundance of food in the country all year round.
Ikoko explained that no matter the amount of food the country produces without a corresponding plan and process to preserve such produce, it amounts to waste of human and material resources. The agric analytical chemist named some of the products the institute has produced for preservation of farm products to include those for vegetables, sea food like oyster, periwinkle, crayfish and fish amongst others.
Other produce already processed and preserved included plantain chips cassava chips and moringa leaves and seeds.
One major product the institute has come up with currently, according to Ikoko, is called “Multi Purpose Produce Dryer”.
According to him, the dryer could be used to dry anything apart from big fishes.
He explained that the source of energy for heating the device is kerosene stove.
“We use ordinary kerosene stove as a source of energy and the stove heats a box of air in the system.
“The hot air from the box rises to dry the commodities and they come out neat with no need for further drying outside”, he explained.
According to him, drying, products in the open was capable of contaminating them, adding that the multi-purpose produce dryer was capable of drying every produce for packaging with the expectant preservative assurance.