POST HARVEST LOSSES: Kano partners aviation industry to advance export of agricultural produces
By KEMI KASUMU
The Kano State government has expressed readiness to partner with aviation companies under the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for the purpose of boosting agribusiness through cargo export of perishable produces from the state to neighboring states, African countries and Europe.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the commitment while hosting a delegation of cargo management services from FAAN at the government, on Wednesday December 11, 2024.
A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, dated Thursday December 12, disclosed that Governor Yusuf, who was delighted to collaborate with the cargo transportation of farm produces from Kano, believes the initiative would encourage improved production level.
Yusuf, represented by the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, said the new development scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025 would reduce post-harvest losses that accounted for over 35 percent of total proceed of produce.
The Governor assured the aviation industry players that his administration was prepared to advance the new mode of transporting agro-products to neighbouring Southern states and outside the country, which would drastically reduce security and other risks on movement of produces through road transport.
Earlier, General Manager, General Cargo Service of FAAN, Mrs Alao Mamman Rekiya, said the visit to the government was intended to seek areas of corporation and synergy in the introduction of cargo export of farm produces from Kano to states in Nigeria and beyond.
Rekiya added that the Federal Government ‘s initiative in the aviation sector was part of overall renewed agenda on diversification of revenue generation through cargo export.
She emphasized that with provision of cargo export of vegetables and other perishable produces from Kano, the Federal government is encouraging the farmers to improve on quality production and open up the state for economic viability.
She urged the state government to take advantage of the new down to create job opportunities in aviation ecosystem and reduce annual wastage on post-harvest losses in the sector.
The team agreed to form an inter-agency committee on the project to explore its potentials for the economic prosperity of the commercial state.
