Experts raise concern over roadside drying of farm produce

It is common occurrence to see farmers and processors of farm produce sun-dry grains, processed cassava and yam, among others by the roadside as one travels through various communities located near tarred roads across the country. This practice, experts say, is very dangerous and poses serious threat to human and animal health as the food […]

It is common occurrence to see farmers and processors of farm produce sun-dry grains, processed cassava and yam, among others by the roadside as one travels through various communities located near tarred roads across the country.
This practice, experts say, is very dangerous and poses serious threat to human and animal health as the food items are exposed to the air and the bare road surface, which contain various forms of micro-organisms, gaseous and solid contaminants that could lead to food poisoning.
Apart from the health implications, the farmers or any member of their households who attend to the items spread on the roadside are at the risk of motor accidents as some of them have been reportedly crushed by speeding vehicles that veered off the road.
“It’s very dangerous to dry food items by the roadside. It has a lot of health and accident implications. In fact, the farmers, members of their households and other end users of the food items in the society are at the risk of food poisoning and of course, many involved in this practice have been reported knocked down by vehicles plying the roads in the past,” an expert in food processing and storage, Mr. Benjamin Ahua, told our reporter in Abuja.
Another expert in mycotoxicology, Prof. Stephen Fapohunda, who is a trustee of the Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria (MYCOTOXSON), told Daily Trust in an interview that it is very wrong to sun-dry food items by the roadside as they are exposed to the air in an uncontrolled environment.
“The foods are not safe. They are exposed to various forms of spores, microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria etc, and even flies which larvae can cause a lot of health problems. The mycotoxins pose serious threat to human and animal health in the food value chain,” the professor said.
Asked if there are safe alternative methods for the farmers and food processors, he said, “Controlled sun drying should be used. Removal of water from the food is a very good attempt to remove some level of micro-organisms because the micro-organisms depend on water to survive, but it should be done in a controlled manner to ensure food safety.” 
He urged the new Agriculture Minister, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, who he described as “known, tested and trusted”, to focus on food storage and safety as well to enhance human health and export as the previous administration, even as they did their best, did not focus much on that aspect of the agricultural value chain.  
Speaking on the issue, a health expert, Dr. Amos Ali, said micro-organisms, gaseous and solid impurities, among other contaminants infiltrate the exposed grains and processed products and when consumed can cause cancer, ulcer, appendicitis, cholera, diarrhoea and a host of other diseases which can lead to death.
“Food poisoning is a very serious issue which has claimed many lives in this country. It can emanate from this kind of dangerous practice, which is harmful to both human and animal health. People who engage in the practice should be enlightened to desist from it to ensure safety of food, human and animal life,” he stressed. 
But many of the farmers seem to treat the risks associated with their dangerous practice with levity as they claim that’s the way they have being doing it over the years as they have no access to modern alternatives.
One of the farmers, who dries her food items by the Abuja-Keffi roadside, Mrs. Halima Abdul, said: “There is nothing wrong with drying farm produce by the roadside. We have being doing it for a very long time and nothing has happened to anybody’s health.”
She, however, admits the accident risk and called on relevant authorities to create the enabling environment for them to access modern produce drying equipment.
According to a micro-processor of cassava, Mrs. Blessing Agu, “We do it because we don’t have any other method of drying the food items. Please, tell the government to assist us. ”
The experts advised smallholder farmers and micro-processors to form groups to enable them acquire improved drying equipment to help themselves and also render service to others at agreed fees.