FG, OPS Commit to Addressing Post-harvest Losses with Cold Chain Technology
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the organised private sector (OPS) have announced plans to strengthen partnerships and collaborations in their bid to address post-harvest losses in the country by deploying cold chain technology.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the sixth West African cold chain summit and exhibition, lamented that post-harvest losses remained a pressing concern in Nigeria, with estimates suggesting that up to 40 per cent of Nigeria's agricultural produce was being lost annually due to inadequate storage and transportation facilities.
According to him, the alarming statistics represented not only a substantial economic loss to farmers, but also posed a grave threat to food security and nutrition in the nation.
The Minister pointed out that cold chain infrastructure, encompassing refrigeration, transportation and storage facilities, plays a crucial role in preserving the quality and nutritional value of agricultural produce from farm to fork, stressing that the Nigerian government was committed to fostering partnerships and collaborations with both public and private stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria's cold chain networks.
He bemoaned that despite Nigeria's agricultural abundance, millions of Nigerians continue to suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and deprivation.
"As we strive to build a resilient cold chain infrastructure, we must also prioritise interventions aimed at improving access to nutritious food, promoting dietary diversity, and addressing the underlying determinants of malnutrition," he said.
He added, "As we convene to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities within the cold chain sector, it is imperative to underscore the pivotal role that cold chain infrastructure plays in safeguarding the integrity of our agricultural produce and ensuring food security for our populace.