Fish farmers receive free storage facilities in Lagos

About 300 fish farmers in Lagos State have received free storage and food preservation facilities including smoking kilns and iced-fish boxes from the Federal Government.

The facilities were presented at the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) at Oko-Oba in Agege, Lagos, by the Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Dr. Patricia Pessu, represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Olatilewa Oladuntan.

In her presentation, Pessu said the distribution was in fulfillment of the institute’s mandate to distribute storage facilities in some states across the country.

According to her, the first phase of the distribution would begin in five states.

“To improve the post-harvest handling and safety of agricultural commodities in Nigeria to prevent wastages, our institute is distributing improved postharvest technologies Smoking Kiln, Ice Fish Box, Hermetic Steel Drum,” she said.

“We are giving it out freely to selected beneficiaries in the postharvest value chain in selected states across geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

“Smoking Kiln is an efficient technology for drying fish and meat. The use of a smoking kiln ensures high-quality products with permissible polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

“Ice Fish Box is a cold chain technology developed for extension of shelf-life of fresh fish, it is an effective means of handling fish for transportation, distribution, and marketing.”

Meanwhile, the NSPRI Director urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the items to curb food shortage, noting over 50 per cent of farm produce is wasted during harvest due to lack of proper storage and preservation facilities.

On his part, the LSADA Programme Manager, Dr Olalekan Pereira-Sheteolu appreciated the agency for the intervention, noting that it would help upscale fish production and preservation in the state.

He further disclosed that five major fish farmers’ associations benefitted from the gesture in the state.

According to him, the beneficiaries include members of the Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association (LASCAFAN), Makoko Fish Processing and Sales Association, Hope Women Fish Processing, Gods time Women Group and Elepe Women Cooperative Agriculture Multipurpose Society (CAMS).

S.S/ Agro Nigeria