World Bank, FG partner food processor to reduce post harvest loss

A newly manufactured multipurpose fruit-processing machine will soon be unveiled by indigenous agro-allied food equipment
fabricator based in Lagos, Nobex Technologies Limited, in collaboration with the Federal Government and World Bank, under West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, WAAPP, Nigeria.

The equipment is a multi-purpose fruits dryer used for preserving excess produce such as, mango, banana, plantain and tomato, which will boost preservation of agricultural produce and reduce post harvest wastage in the country.

A delegation led by Mr. Sheu Salau, World Bank Agricultural Economics Task Team Leader for WAAP Nigeria, and Mr. James Apochi, Ag. National Project Coordinator, WAAP-Nigeria, of the Federal Ministry of Finance, disclosed this, while on an implementation supervision mission to the factory at Egbe, Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

The equipment, which is at 95 per cent completion and adopted from Burkina Faso, is set to be launched in the country within the next three weeks.

Mr. Idowu Adeoya, Managing Director of Nobex Technologies explained that “the minimum and maximum capacity the processor can produce daily varies according to type of the machine and quantity of the produce available for processing.

“Majorly, the aim is to reduce post harvest wastes by adding value to agriculture as well as boost income to farmers and investors.”

On how it could be of benefit to farmers, Adeoya said: “Post-harvest losses in Nigeria agricultural sector is high, hence, the need to reduce this trend.

“If they form cooperatives, it will be better for them to have access to the machine, because they can pool resources together through contributions or ask for government or non-governmental assistance to acquire the processing machine,” he noted.