Fairtrade: FG to build sustainable cold chain network in Nigeria , Africa
....Germany, Italy, others evolve lasting solutions to Post-Harvest Loss (PHL) in Sub- Saharan Africa
L-R: Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Ravindra Singh Singhvi; Managing Director, Fairtrade Messe, Paul Marz; Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (CON); President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Dr. Emmanuel Ijewere and President, Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), Mr. Alex Isong, at the opening day of the 8th edition of Nigeria agrofood and plastprintpack international conference held at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Stanley Ihedigbo
Federal Government to build a sustainable cold chain network in Nigeria and Africa, by investing heavily to close the energy gap. Also , government is encouraging public-private partnerships, to find lasting solutions to cold chain challenges in Nigeria and African trade.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th edition of the International Agrofood & Plastprintpack exhibition and conference, organized by Fairtrade Masses , and 5th West Africa Cold Chain Summit & Exhibition, organized by Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, said that the summit is a required catalyst for change, as a great opportunity to bring together critical stakeholders and professionals, showcase the latest capabilities of the global supply chain and allied industries, as well as proffer thought leadership for sustainable solutions provision.
“Government will continue to encourage innovative strategies in the main sub-sectors that constitute cold chains, in order to mitigate the several detrimental economic and environmental effects. We also encourage stakeholders to invest in the cold chain sector, which can be highly profitable and reap from the economic benefits which abound. We are optimistic that if the public and the private sectors work together to uplift the cold chain industries to international standards, it would assist in the diversification of the Nigeria economy, improve job and wealth creation, enhance infrastructural development and technological innovations in the overall interest of the Nigerian and African economy,” he explained.
The Minister further said,” Agriculture is arguably the most important sector in the Nigerian economy, it is a source of raw materials for our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, employing 60% of Nigerian’s workforce, including many rural women, and contributing almost 30% of the country’s GDP. Therefore, any improvement in the agricultural commodity value chains, including addressing the reduction of post-harvest loss (PHL) of perishables, is fundamental and would have a positive impact on Nigeria and the larger African economy.
“Given the global economic disparities, high market requirements in terms of quality standards, increasing competition, constantly changing customer demand, it is paramount for Nigeria to have a robust and innovative strategy for addressing cold chain bottlenecks and to remain globally competitive. You will agree with me that output from this cold chain submit and exhibition is auspicious for the wellbeing of Nigeria and African; with its goal of finding solution to Post Harvest Losses (PHL) in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, identified as one of the major problems facing our agricultural sector.
“Recent studies report PHL data as high as 60%, especially for food and vegetables; resulting in low income for the producers and high price points for the produce. Furthermore, value addition and optimal supply chain processes should be the strategic direction for sustainable returns in the agro value chain. Globally, perishable commodities are made sustainable through efficient management of cold chains (CC), which plays a significant part in modern global perishable industries as it impacts on storage, transportation and distribution, related services and to ensure low cost. As at today there is inadequate cold chain infrastructure in Nigeria and this huge gap and the inefficient supply chain infrastructure within the agricultural sector, particularly in the rural areas where majority of farmers are located, have contributed to the farm gate to consumer postharvest wastages of agricultural produce that we have been experiencing over the years,” he added.
According to the Minister , if the wastage is properly managed, it could feed our growing population and address some of the issues raised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – 1 (End Poverty); 2 (Zero Hunger).
“The impact of climate change on agricultural produce, includes supply chain interruptions and higher temperatures,
which have exacerbated the problem and worsened the postharvest losses. These can be resolved by instituting an efficient and sustainable cold chain infrastructure, coupled with an efficient supply chain network, of which the
private and public sector both have their roles to play in this regard,” he stated.
Citing key data insights in his remarks, the Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Mr. Paul März, stated that Nigeria is the largest continental investor- ahead of Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, and Morocco – in food & packaging technology with an impressive €346 million investment record in 2021.
März noted that the country’s market leadership has spurred global technology champions from 17 countries to visit and showcase adapted technologies and solutions for the Nigerian and West African market in the fields of agriculture, food , beverage processing, ingredients, plastics, printing, and packaging.
“The exhibiting countries include Austria, Bulgaria, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany, France, India, Italy, Lebanon,
the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Türkiye, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the USA,” he further said.
According to him, “Germany is once again participating with an official German Pavilion presented by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs in cooperation with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) and supported by VDMA Food Processing & Packaging Machinery.”
To shore up opportunities for more local content during the annual trade show and foster intercontinental collaborations, leading exhibitors – Germany, Italy and Netherland have indicated their readiness to collaborate with Nigeria in eradicating Post Harvest Losses (PHL) across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), whilst boosting food security and bolstering agricultural value chains.
In his own submission, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in
Nigeria, Mr. Weert Börner said the German government is ready to support agrofood in Nigeria to boost food security and expand innovations in the sub-sector.
The Consul-General stressed that the German government regards food security as one of its key priorities locally and internationally, reiterating that elimination of PHL would be key to food sufficiency in agriculture in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA),Mr. Alexander Isong, said that cold chain as an industry has seen very little penetration into the economy, limiting its potential to significantly revolutionalise agro-tech in Nigeria.
He said: “Cold chain has a multiplier effect on the economy which helps a country in delivering on goods and services that are healthy, certified and helps in the storage and transportation of what a country produces on its farms and safe transport of pharmaceutical products to maintain their efficacy and potency.”
Other speakers include , Managing Director, Bureau Veritas Nigeria, Mr. Jean-Michel Perret; President Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG), Dr. Emmanuel Ijewere; Consul General, Italy, Mr. Ugo Boni and others.
Those in the attendance are , Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social
Development officials, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria & ECOWAS, AHK Nigeria Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Africa Packaging Organisation, German Agricultural Society, Equipment & Leasing Association of Nigeria, German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action & German Consulate General Lagos and Institute of Packaging Nigeria.
Also, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Netherlands Africa Business Council, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, VDMA German Engineering Federation and others.
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