Fumesua: Government has been asked to invest in the building and expansion of modern and high-technology storage facilities to help improve the storage and shelf lifespan of food crops. Mrs. Faustina Okyere, a Food Technologist at the Crops Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Industrial Research (CSIR), who made the call, highlighted the limitations of existing storage facilities, which are predominantly located in urban centers, making them inaccessible to smallholder farmers.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Okyere pointed out that many current storage facilities lack technological advancement and suffer from poor maintenance, leaving them susceptible to unfavorable conditions and pest infestations. The limited capacity of these facilities further exacerbates the issue, as they are often unable to accommodate larger quantities of produce during peak seasons.
Speaking in an interview with the agency at Fumesua in the Ejisu Municipality, Mrs. Okyere stressed the importance of state collaboration with relevant stakeholders to construct modern warehouses and silos. This initiative aims to tackle post-harvest losses and storage deficits in Ghana. She emphasized that crop storage facilities should be strategically located for easy access by farmers and serve as convenient packing points for buyers.
Addressing the specific needs of fruit and vegetable storage, she advocated for the provision of cold vans to transport these commodities from farms to nearby cold storage facilities. She suggested that existing facilities, such as those in Ejura, should be expanded to incorporate cold storage systems, thereby extending the shelf-life of perishable fruits and vegetables. Mrs. Okyere also recommended promoting the use of hermetic bags for storing cereals and grains for extended periods.
She further highlighted the necessity of training Ghana's agrarian population in simple post-harvest technologies to prolong the lifespan of their produce. Mrs. Okyere advised against mixing different types of harvested commodities in storage, as this could lead to cross-contamination and significant losses for farmers.
Mrs. Okyere also called for equitable attention to all crops, noting that cocoa, cereals, and grains often receive preferential storage treatment over fruits and vegetables. She acknowledged that some farmers rely on traditional storage methods, such as using sacks, gallons, and barns, but warned that these practices are vulnerable to pest and disease invasions.
