Farm produce: Lagos mulls use of plastic crates for storage, transport

In its effort to find a lasting solution to post-harvest losses of farm produce, the Lagos State Government has said it is considering plastic crates as alternatives for storage and transportation.


Director of Agricultural Services in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, represented by Mr. Adebisi Adegboye, stated this at the Capacity Building/Market Sensitisation on Produce Vehicle/ Crate Project held in partnership with the Union of Perishable Farm Produce Traders of Lagos State and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

The awareness programme which was supported by the Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN), under GAIN is aimed at reducing losses associated with the use of the weaved raffia basket in the transportation and storage of farm produce in the country.

Adegboye lamented the high level of food products waste due to poor storage and transportation method, adding that over 45 per cent of fruits, vegetables along with roots and tubers are lost to improper crating and transportation.

Dr. Augustine Okoruwa, Senior Project Manager PLAN Nigeria, told the produce traders that though the loss of fruits and vegetables occur throughout the value chain; it is more severe during post harvest and distribution stage.

He lamented that in sub-Saharan Africa, more so in Nigeria than in most other countries, almost 60 per cent of all fresh fruits and vegetables produced are wasted, adding that over 20 per cent of this waste occurs at the processing state while crating and transportation accounts for the rest.


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