Farm Radio International Brings Succor To Tomato Farmers In Nigeria

Farm Radio International is collaborating in information sharing with two international non-governmental, PYXERA Global and Technoserve  to provide information to tomato farmers so as to end post-harvest loss.

The partnership which is aimed at reducing post-harvest loss project will develop a strategy encompassing radio, television, cellphones and mobile videos that will bridge the gap between farmer’s awareness and adoption of improved farming practices as well as technologies that post-harvest loss.  

Farm Radio International Program Coordinator, Rosemond Ohene stated this in Kano at a news conference on efforts of the Yieldwise initiative supported by Rockefeller foundation to reduce food waste with new partnerships in Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya.

“Yieldwise is working to address food loss through a nexus of four opportunities: connecting farmers to market; helping farmers to access technology and solutions to prevent crop loss; helping farmers access financing and technology to drive market growth and engaging global businesses to address their supply chains, “Ms. Ohene said.

She explained that in sub Saharan Africa 40% of root crops, 50% of fruits and vegetables 20% of cereals are lost before they hit the market with more loss between purchase and consumption.

Rosemond Ohene noted that cutting post-harvest means more food for farmers and communities, more income adding that therefore we collaborating with partners in Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya as part of an international effort to check food loss and create food security.

This she added, would be done by producing program for partnering radio stations in the languages spoken by the farmers, creating a platform to exchange ideas with farmers, with the introduction of toll free lines where farmers can ask for information on measures to reduce tomato loss after harvest, good agricultural and marketing practice.

“We would work through several communication channels to support Africa’s small-scale farmers to reduce post-harvest loss”.

CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW THE FULL CONTENT

Solacebase reports that Farm Radio International is a nonprofit organization that is bringing social and behavioral change communication to an important global issue: food loss.