The Federal Government has urged stakeholders in the agricultural sector to collaborate with governments at all levels to minimize the level of post-harvest losses of farm produce currently being recorded in the country.

Dr. Muazu Abdulkadir, permanent secretary, federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, made the call in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, when he paid a visit to the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRl), Ilorin.

Addressing the management of NSPRl, Abdulkadir noted that Nigeria was losing billions of naira annually to post-harvest losses of various farm produce, due to a shortage of well-equipped storage facilities.

He said: “Over sixty per cent of tomatoes, onions, cashew, mangoes, oranges, and watermelon, among others, harvested in Nigeria is lost after harvesting. The Federal Government is working round the clock to address the problem, to allow the country to maintain food sufficiency.

I hereby, call on stakeholders in the agricultural sector to collaborate with the government by coming up with modern scientific approaches on curbing post-harvest losses.’’

Abdulkadir praised the efforts of NSPRl in the preservation of farm produce, fabrication of farm implements, storage facilities, and ensuring reduction of post-harvest losses of farm produce. Guardian