Dissecting the Key Postharvest Activities of Kaspharyn Solutions, Nigeria

Agribusiness involves several stages in getting food from farm to table which includes planting, growing, harvesting, processing, and distributing. One of the most critical stages in this process is postharvest activities, which are value-added activities that extend the shelf life of perishable produce and preserve it for long-term storage.

Postharvest activities are essential for reducing food waste and increasing food security, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Benin-Republic, Togo, Cameroun, Niger etc. where food waste is a significant problem. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nigeria loses about 40% of its food production to postharvest losses each year.

Postharvest activities are not only important for reducing food waste but also for maintaining the quality and safety of the produce. Improper postharvest handling can lead to spoilage, contamination, and loss of nutrients, which can negatively impact the health of consumers.

Our mission at Kaspharyn Solutions is to boost food security through the establishment of sustainable agribusinesses concerned with safe & eco-friendly food production, postharvest loss reduction and waste valorization.

Our postharvest solutions are designed to be accessible and affordable to farmers of all sizes. We understand that smallholder farmers in Africa often lack the resources and infrastructure to implement the expensive postharvest technologies, hence we are focusing on developing solutions that are practical, locally adaptable, cost-effective and sustainable.

At Kaspharyn Solutions Nigeria, we recognize the importance of postharvest activities in agri-value chain development and offer a range of solutions to help farmers in Africa reduce postharvest losses and increase their income. Our postharvest solutions include the Natural Cold Store (or Charcoal Cooler), Solar Dryer (Active and Hybrid), and Cabinet Dehydrator.

1 Natural Cold Store is an indigenous storage technology with a carbon wall used for keeping fresh fruits and vegetables. It works on the principle of evaporative cooling technology.  Fresh produces can be kept for 1-3 weeks or more depending on produce type. This indigenous technology requires zero energy to work i.e. no need for constant electricity to run the system. The system removes field heat, ethylene gas and odorous gases from harvested produce. This technology could be modified to fit in into various environmental conditions.

2 Solar dryer is an indigenous drying technology that uses solar energy/radiation (Sunlight), natural convection, forced convection and greenhouse effect to dry agricultural materials. Solar dryer often uses plastic covering materials which are transparent enough to absorb solar radiation that generate heat in the drying chamber. The food materials subjected to solar drying have well-preserved nutrients, taste, colour, essential oil and other inherent properties. We have permanent structures of solar dryers (Greenhouse Solar Dryers and Parabolic Greenhouse Solar Dryers) and movable structures of solar dryer (Low cost Solar Dryer and Hybrid Solar Dryers).

3 Cabinet Dehydrator is a specially designed metallic structure dryer that mostly uses charcoal or gas to dry bulky agricultural materials to a reduced moisture level fit for long-term storage.

Our postharvest solutions not only benefit farmers but also create opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in rural communities. For example, the production and sale of dried fruits and vegetables can create income-generating activities for women and youth.

In addition to our postharvest solutions, we also offer training and consulting services to help farmers and food processors improve their postharvest handling practices and reduce losses. Our team of experts works closely with farmers and food processors to provide tailored solutions that meet their specific needs and help them increase their income.

Finally, we believe that by improving postharvest activities, we can help farmers and food processors increase their income and contribute to the country’s food security. Our commitment to delivering quality and innovative solutions in agribusiness is rooted in our core values of trust and customer satisfaction.