People involved in food value-chain have been urged to plant pest resistance crops, treat harvested crops with appropriate chemicals, transport foodstuffs on time from farm to storage facilities and market to reduce food loss and wastages.
A lecturer in the department of crop production, Ekiti State University, Professor Ayodeji Salami gave the advice in an exclusive interview with Radio Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti, to commemorate this year’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
Professor Salami said fungi, bacteria, weevils and nematodes, if not well treated could lead to one hundred percent loss of crops, hence the need to plant pest resistance crops.
While noting that food loss occured during harvest, transportation and storage, the crop scientist also stressed that food became wasted when cooked food were not consumed, but thrown into dust-bin.
He emphasized that if food loss and waste is not addressed, it would lead to hunger, high cost of food items, and called on Nigerian youths to embrace farming, as most of the farmers were already ageing.
“Nigeria is blessed with vast arable land that is good for farming, while many youths are unemployed, their ability take bold steps to venture into crop production will reduce unemployment” he said.
Professor Salami who allayed the fear that involvement of youth in food value-chain would not give desired results, added that crop production would reduce hunger, create wealth and employment.
The United Nations’ General Assembly in December 2019, designated September Twenty-Nine as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to enhance efficient use of natural resources, and the theme for this year is “Stop Food Waste! For People and Planet”.
Lanre Omotoso
