Plastic Crating: PLAN takes Campaign to Idera, Oyingbo

Post harvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition( PLAN) under the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, has taken its campaign on promoting the adoption of Returnable Plastic C rates for handling fresh fruits and vegetables to Idera Model market Agege and Oyingbo market, Ebute Metta in Lagos State.

This was aimed at reducing loss associated with the use of weaved raffia baskets in the transportation and storage of farm produce in the country. PLAN said they would equally educate traders on the advantages of using the returnable plastic crates over weaved raffia baskets.

Also, the PLAN campaign is targeted at educating traders on the need to ensure that perish- able produce obtained in the state could compete favourably in the international market to bring about conformity to international standards in view of theme ga city status attained by Lagos State through the use of approved plastic crates as containers for carriage of perishable agricultural produce.

Speaking at the event, Director Agric Services, Lagos State, Mrs. Ayoade Abiola who was represented by the State Project Officer for Produce Vehicles/ Crate Project A deg bo ye ga A deb isis aid the commonly used weaved raffia basket was considered unsafe and did not conform to standards, in that the material (raffia/palm fronds) was believed to harbor pathogens which bring about microbial contamination that caused illnesses related to fresh produce consumption by humans.