FCTA Trains Farmers On Mitigation Of Post-Harvest Losses

By: Victoria Agorom

As part of measures aimed at mitigating the challenge of post- harvest losses, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has organised a training programme for farmers in the Territory.

A statement from the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) stated that the training was part of the Administration’s efforts towards the sustenance of food security, especially as bumper harvest is envisaged in the Territory this year.

The statement states that, the Director of Agriculture Services, Mrs. Francisca Ihekandu, noted that lack of adequate facilities to preserve farm products is a major reason for post- harvest losses, which has grossly affected farmers and agricultural businesses in the FCT.

Accordingly, the Director added that in order to address the challenge, the ARDS has sustained the tempo of outreaches in the six Area Councils through the training of extention officers, Agric. Officers as well as farmers.

She reiterated that the training was not only organised to address post-harvest losses reduction but also ways in which farmers can be assisted to improve their production capacities.

Similarly, the Deputy Director in charge of Crops in ARDS, Mr. Daniel Ekele, revealed that the ARDS has also trained Extention Officers, Agric Officers as well as farmers on orange fleshed sweet potatoes.

Ekele said the orange fleshed potatoe is a new variety introduced to ensure food security in the FCT.

He recalled that in consideration of the potential benefits of the crop, the ARDS deemed it fit to train the officers on how to cultivate the it.

Ekele explained that the goal of the capacity building was to reach the grassroot farmers by educating the officers on ways to reduce post-harvest losses through out the potato supply chain, thereby increasing the average income of farmers.