Stakeholders in the Nigerian cold chain sub sector during the week gathered to brainstorm on how to improve and develop the sub sector in order to reduce post-harvest losses in the country. The gathering which was the first of its kind, was put together by Organisation for Technological Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA).
Augustine Okoruwa, interim OTACCWA chairman, while speaking at the first West Africa Cold Chain Summit & exhibition held in Lagos, said that the sub-sector remains the missing link in the country’s strategic agricultural programme. He said that food and medicine are critical requirements for Nigerian consumers, and cold chain is important to deliver them, ensure their quality is maintained and make them available for a longer period of time, while significantly reducing postharvest loss.
According to an article on independent.ng, Okoruwa also stated that Cold Chain helps improve the health care of Nigerians by ensuring that the consumption of nutritional foods in the country is guaranteed, while reducing post harvest losses.
“When people consume nutritional food, it helps address the malnutrition problem. Cold Chain helps improve the health care of Nigerians by ensuring the consumption of nutritional foods in the country; as it ensures that consumers get the food in the right conditions while reducing post harvest losses. When people consume nutritional food, it helps address the malnutrition problem.”
