By Lola Omowaye & Bukola Olamona
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Government has been charged to fund researches of storage technologies that are less dependent on electricity as panacea to reduce food wastages.
To this end, government is enjoined to have medium to long term plan for sustainable electricity that will enable Nigerians tap into improved technology, expanded storage for perishable goods and therefore improve their nutritional value.
Speaking at the inaugural lecture series 103 of the Federal University of Technology, Akure,Nigeria(FUTA), a Professor of Postharvest Technology, Prof Babatunde Oluwalana said the focus of his research was to minimise post harvest losses through simple control atmosphere storage (CAS),Modified Atmosphere Storage(MAS) which involve food surface coating, waxes and plastic firm wrapping, irradiation and combination treatment.
The HOD of Food Science and Technology assured that the discovery is cheap and affordable and will improve the well-being of the average Nigerian.
In addition the don posited that eating of fruit and vegetable is very good for healthy living, and enjoined people to increase their consumption of fruits with a minimum daily intake of 400 grams for a healthy lifestyle
Intensive public enlightenment on the nutritional and health benefit of fruits should be made by appropriate government and non governmental agencies to the Nigerian populace.
“Many nutritionists and clinicians now consider fruits and vegetable consumption as a solution to many ” ‘’diseases of civilisation.”
This horticultural products bring diversity and stimulate our senses bytheir organoleptic properties such as color,flavour ,texture ,and enhance our appetite.
They have long been recognised for their nutritive value and have variously been reported to be excellent sources of vitamins.
Speaking with The Hope in separate interviews , two members of the audience Mr Sola Akinmeye and Mrs Alo Olapade said they have benefited a lot from the lecture and have been enlightened on the importance of good nutrition and how to store perishables in their homes.
