LAGOS – Oluwafemi Oluwadare, the Chief Executive officer of Lectricus Technology Limited has pointed out that the adoption of sustainable and cost-effective technologies, such as cold storage and solar-powered drying systems, could play a crucial role in mitigating food loss and enhancing market access.
He described food losses as a significant threat to food security, financial stability, and environmental sustainability within farming communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, stressing that other nations, including Nigeria, suffer losses of over one-third of their harvested food, primarily due to inadequate supply chain management.
He said that his firm is making substantial efforts to integrate clean technologies to help Nigeria and the rest of Africa address the issue of food waste, which the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates at 1.3 billion tonnes annually.
Smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa generate about 30 percent of various food products.
However, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has indicated that 85 percent of them do not have access to energy. This has led to a food loss and waste rate of 37 per cent across the sub-region.
Oluwadare, said that the company has developed solar-powered solutions to confront issues in agriculture, especially concerning post-harvest storage and processing.
He emphasised that these technologies contribute to improving post-harvest resilience and the productivity of food systems across the dairy, fish, and horticulture sectors.
“Our products aim to minimise spoilage and extend the shelf life, thus reducing overall post-harvest losses. These include solar powered water pumps, grinders, dryers, chillers, milk storage tanks and cameras.”
He also indicated that the company has rolled out technologies that promote the development of microirrigation, solar energy, and efficient water management systems, which will benefit thousands of farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the country.
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