KSADP, SAA provided machinery reducing post-harvest loss on onions- Farmers
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in collaboration with Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) have said that the Aerated Onion Storage Technology (AOST) is tackling the challenges of post-harvest losses.
Abdurrashid Hamisu Kofar Mata, the Project Coordinator, Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) emphasized the significance of the Aerated Onion Storage Technology (AOST) during a visit to one of the project’s centers in Kano on Tuesday.
Kofar Mata said the innovative technology promises to significantly improve the storage and preservation of onions, thereby enhancing food security and farmers’ livelihoods.
He explained that the AOST, launched last year, has the capacity to store over 200 bags of onions, enabling farmers in the area to preserve their produce for up to six months.
“Previously, farmers suffered losses of up to 50 percent or more due to post-harvest issues. however, with this facility, they can reduce their losses to as little as 10 to 11 percent,” he said.
The facility has been operational since last year, and according to Hamisu, the onions stored have remained in good condition for over two months without any reported losses.
SolaceBase reports that the AOST initiative, a component of the KSADP, benefits from financial support through a loan from the Islamic Development Bank and a grant provided by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), with implementation overseen by the SAA.
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The visit by the project’s founders aims to assess the impact of their financial contributions.
“This visit by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) mission team, a major donor of the KSADP, is to evaluate the interventions carried out under the project. Sasakawa, as a technical partner, is focusing on seven crops—four cereals and three vegetables—and has introduced new technologies and practices to farmers, building their capacity in various agricultural aspects,” Kofar Mata noted.
The mission team’s objective is to review activities across all partners. One of the key initiatives in the rice value chain is the medium-scale rice parboiling enterprise. The team visited enterprises where two groups of women, totaling 50 members, were trained in improved parboiling processes, a significant departure from traditional and small-scale methods.
In a remark, Dr. Gambo Abdulhamid, Deputy Country Director of SAA-Nigeria, highlighted the positive impact of the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) on the lives of farmers and the people of Kano.
He emphasized that SAA has been operating in Kano for over 30 years, during which time it significantly impacted the local community.
Dr. Abdulhamid expressed SAA’s commitment to seeking new agricultural skills globally. Whenever they identify innovative techniques anywhere in the world, they make every effort to acquire those skills and impart them to farmers.
“Our goal is to enhance agriculture and improve people’s lives.”
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“The donors supporting the agriculture sector deserve commendation for their generosity. Based on their expressions, it is evident that they are highly satisfied with SAA’s activities.”
Libabatu Bala, a leader among the beneficiaries of the rice parboiling enterprise center at Fegi, Kura Local Government, Kano State, attested to the intervention’s significant impact on their lives.
“Before the introduction of modern parboiling techniques, we made use of traditional methods that consumed a lot of time. As a result, our children often missed school because they assisted with the labor-intensive process. However, the adoption of modern technology has allowed us to save time and send our children to school. “
Alhaji Ibrahim Gun-Dutse, another beneficiary, praised the aerated onion storage technology. “This machinery enables us to store onions for up to six months without compromising quality.” He extended heartfelt thanks to the project founders for their invaluable support in improving their business.
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