INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AS A CRITICAL FACTOR FOR REDUCTION OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES BY PROFESSOR CHARLES CHUKWUMA ARIAHU DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI

1.0 INTRODUCTION Infrastructures are systems and services used to achieve specified objectives. Examples of infrastructures include: - Power supply(Nuclear reactors, hydro and gas turbines. - Water supply (potable, process). - Transport system e.g Air, land (road, rail) and water. - Security system (Insurance, guards) - Health services (Human and Animals

- Applied technology (Processing, preservation, storage) - Extension services - Information and communication technology (ICT) - Farm power and machinery - Strategic services (Grain Reserves, NERMA, Soil and Water Conservation) - Feeder industries (Iron and Steel, Cement, Paper Mill) - Fire Service - Technical know how

2.0 WHAT ARE FOOD LOSSES? Non availability of food both in quantity and quality for human and animal nutrition. Food losses could be accidental or non-accidental. Agents of food losses are presented in Table 1. Estimated food losses in Nigeria are presented in Tables 2-5.

3.0 METHODS OF MINIMIZING POST HARVEST LOSSES Dehydration (Sun, solar, atmospheric, vacuum, freeze, fluidized bed, osmotic) High temperature (Blanching, Pasteurization, Commercial Sterilization) Low temperature (Chilling, super chilling, freezing e.g plants, high altitude freezing Fermentation (Acids, alcohol, antibiotics) Modified- and controlled- atmosphere storage (MAS and CAS)

Packaging (Rigid, flexible, semi-rigid, active). Energy needs ranges from 293MJ/kg (Aluminium) to 22MJ/kg (Glass). Irradiation (Ionizing radiations e.g Gamma-rays). Chemicals (Salt, sugar, antioxidants, pesticides). Oils and spices (Micro-aerophylic and anti-bacteria). Fermentation (Acids, alcohol, antibiotics). Products transformation (e.g. Palm nuts to oil, sugar cane juice to sugar cubes) Concentration (Production of intermediate moisture foods e.g. jams and jellies).

4.0 ROLE OF INFRASTRUCTURES IN FOOD SECURITY AND THE NIGERIAN SITUATION This is summarized in Tables 6 and 7.

THE FOOD HANDLING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM This is presented in Figure 1.

PROBLEMS OF FISH COLD CHAIN Poor road networks Inadequate and irregular power supply Traditional means Unhygienic handling Poor insulated vans and cold stores Lack of technical know how Lack of spare parts

CONCLUSION Infrastructural development is critical for post harvest food losses reduction The public sector bears the brunt of infrastructural development and administration in Nigeria. The infrastructures in Nigeria are grossly inadequate and in some cases non-existent. Inadequate or lack of appropriate infrastructures is largely responsible for huge postharvest losses in Nigeria.

Recommendation Active public-private sector partnership is advocated for infrastructural development in Nigeria. Strategic Food Reserves should include other essential food commodities. Food Processors should have more functional buffer stock programmes to mop farmers excess produce during harvest at economic prices. Nigeria should as a matter of urgency develop a rail transport system for effective distribution of food commodities and reduction of current pressure on the roads.

Federal Government should expedite action on the Bill for Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) Charter for effective monitoring and control of food handling.

References La Gra, J. (1990). A Commodity Assessment ; Methodology for Problem and Project Identification . College of Agriculture, University of Idaho, Moscow. Idaho Press: pp 83-84. MOA (2010). A Hand Book of Agricultural Resources. Ministry of Agriculture, Benue State. Nkama, I., Adamu, D.J.M and Igene, J.O. (1994). Food loss and conservation under arid environment. Annals of Borno Journal, 11 (12):191-204.

Usman, M. (2009). Reducing postharvest losses through appropriate methods of food preservation : An imperative for actualization of the millenium development goals (MDGs) by the year 2015. The Voice of Teachers, 1(2):56-62.