Technologies to eliminate post-harvest losses introduced
Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss (PHLIL) has handed over two cutting-edge technologies to Sesi Technologies (ST).
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The technologies, namely Zero Fly Hermetic (ZFH) storage bag and GrainMate moisture meter would help eliminate post-harvest losses in commodities such as maize and cowpea to ensure food security in the country.
The ZFH bag is a deltamethrin-incorporated polypropylene hermetic storage bag that effectively offers protection to stored commodities against insects, pests and mycotoxins.
The GrainMate is a simple moisture meter manufactured with a specification of a probe that can enter a filled bag to measure moisture level in the middle of the bag, without the possible bias of a hand/bowl-fetched sample from a storage bag.
Speaking at the stakeholder and handover workshop in Accra, today (March 15), the Director for PHLIL, Dr Jagger Harvey, said since 2014, his outfit has researched and piloted the introduction of the technologies in eight countries, including Ghana.
The workshop assembled Sesi Technologies and BagCo Nigeria (a zerofly bag manufacturer in Nigeria), with key scaling pathway stakeholders, to discuss ongoing scaling efforts and plans, moving into the future.
He said Ghana is one of two countries with continuous funding from USAID because of the success of partners like ST.
He said to ensure sustainability, the technologies were being handed over to a local partner ST here in Ghana, who will implement the scaling of the technologies through commercial distribution to ensure food security.
“We have designed the technologies so that they can be locally produced, locally sold and locally scaled. So, it is our hope that we can reach millions of people and eliminate post harvest losses in Ghana and around the world,” Dr Harvey said.
Accessibility
The Founder of Sesi Technologies (ST), Isaac Sesi, said although the technologies were introduced into the country in 2014, they would be taken to the next step to make them accessible and available across the country.
He said bringing new technology to the market was very difficult, adding that “in fields like agriculture, farmers and other stakeholders are not quick to adopt new technology.”
“So, a lot of effort is required when introducing these technologies in all of the different communities that we work in.
It involves getting them to appreciate the efficacy and the importance of these technologies and how it can improve the quality of their grains and reduce losses and improve their business as a whole,” he said.
About Sesi
Sesi Technologies (ST) is a company incorporated by young graduates from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
It develops affordable technology solutions to help farmers reduce losses and increase productivity.
The ST team was nurtured, trained and supported by PHLIL over a period of three years. The GrainMate is assembled in Kumasi, Ghana.
