The Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) has called for the adoption of technologically advanced measures in the preservation of perishable foods, to improve their post-harvest life and ensure food security in the country.
The National President, POFAN, Mr. Daniel Okafor, disclosed that agricultural commodities are not only perishable but time-bound, and that they are relatively cheap during the harvesting season because of availability, but only to be out of reach shortly after the season.
The duration of storage can reach 8 to 12 months if the optimal technical conditions are met with technology. This duration is limited to a few weeks when potatoes are stored at ordinary room temperature.
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Okafor highlighted the achievements of POFAN to include promotion of the production, processing, utilization, and marketing of potato products both in local and international markets. He boasted that the association was the foremost agricultural commodity association that had worked hard to develop its value chain in potatoes.
The chairman added that POFAN has produced two books that are meant for training farmers on potato production and value chain development initiatives, adding that the association has also developed potato bread, flour, buns, doughnuts, chin-chin, chips, custard, organic soap and cream.
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He then called on the government for budgetary allocation on potatoes to help accommodate further value chain development of the crop, and asked that potato flour should be made mandatory to be included in confectionery, including bread, to curtail the effect of wheat scarcity due to the Russian/Ukranian war.
He then called on the government to enforce the inclusion of potato flour in confectionery, including bread, to curtail the effect of wheat scarcity due to the Russian/Ukranian war, while asking for budgetary allocation on potatoes to improve storage, processing, and other value chain development of the crop.
