Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) has commenced distribution of improved agricultural storage facilities alongside COVID-19 palliative to five states of the federation to add value and boosting the socio-economic development of farmers in the benefitting states.
Dr Patricia Pessu, the executive director of the institute while speaking at the event said that the agency has the mandate to conduct researches, build capacities and disseminate research output on post-harvest management of locally produced
NSPRI was established to provide advice and training of extension workers in problems associated with stored products and materials in storage structures, new insecticides, new items of equipment and techniques; and any other related matters as may be determined from time to time by the Institute.
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The research findings of the institute have led to the development of structures and technologies suitable for the storage of food crops, while notable developed technologies are for cereals and legumes, roots and tubers, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish among others.
NSPRI boss listed the benefitting states to include Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Edo and Delta, adding that the facilities distributed included: Improved post-harvest technologies, like; NSPRI smoking kiln, Icefish box, and NSPRI hermetic steel drums, among others.
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She boasted that the improved facilities distributed would improve the post-harvest handling, explaining that the NSPRI smoking kiln is an efficient technology for drying fish and meat as she described the Icefish box as a cold chain technology developed for the extension of the shelf-life of fresh fish, adding that the NSPRI Steel Drum can be used at household and small-scale storage levels.
Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Saba Gideon-Issa, at the occasion commended the institute for distributing the storage facilities, advising farmers not to hoard the equipment but put them to good use as this will add value to their agricultural endeavours.
