Two workshops on Commodity Protection and Management in Silo Storage Systems were successfully conducted in Makurdi, Benue State on March 9-11, 2010 and in Akure, Ondo State on March 15-17, 2010. These three-day workshops were conducted at the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) silo complexes in the aforementioned locations, and they comprised both lectures and hands-on demonstrations. Faculty from the collaborating land-grant universities, Dr. Ileleji from Purdue University, Dr. Opit from Oklahoma State University, and Dr. McNeill from University of Kentucky with expertise in post-harvest engineering of grains and oilseeds and stored-products protection conducted the training. The syllabus covered fundamentals of stored grain management, temperature and moisture management, grain aeration, closed-loop fumigation, stored-product insect identification, insect monitoring, pesticide resistance, fumigation and residual pesticides for insect pest control, integrated pest management, and workers’ health and safety in large storage facilities. The hands-on training demonstrated the use of simple, affordable, and appropriate techniques, as well as advanced stored-grain monitoring techniques for the safe management and protection of stored grain, with the goal of reducing losses in stored grains in silo systems. Conducting the workshop at the silo complexes afforded participants the opportunity to see first-hand the application of relevant techniques in a facility similar to theirs. It also provided the instructors with practical examples of concepts that were presented in the lectures, which made assimilation and understanding by the participants easier.

A total of 110 participants attended the two workshops (58 and 52 participants attended in Makurdi and Akure, respectively).  In Makurdi, the attendees by category were made up of 31 from NFRA, 8 from the industry, 17 from the state government ministries of agriculture from Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna, and Benue states, and 2 from the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI). In Akure, up of 31 were from NFRA, 16 from industry, 2 from NSPRI, and 3 faculty members from three Nigerian universities, namely, the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin and University of Uyo. Industry participants were from the brewery and flour and feed Industries.

Based on the brief one-page survey conducted at the end of the workshop, the feedback from the participants was very encouraging. The overall rating of the instructors was very high. Most participants indicated that they had not received training in the past year and about one-half indicated that management would allow them to implement the new knowledge they had acquired from the workshop. Participants assured the instructors that they would initiate some very low cost measures learned to reduce storage losses at their facilities such as the implementation of good sanitation and integrated pest management practices which would reduce pest infestation and subsequent residual insecticide and fumigation use at their plants. The concept of looking at stored grain as a valuable commodity with a financial value to be managed and to maintain its value while in storage was introduced to help participants see the overall economic impact on bad storage practices.  The instructors empowered participants with new skills and encouraged them to interact with their team members on-site and with management to work through their obstacles and challenges in order to implement the new management practices they had learned in order to positively impact their operations. During the farewell dinner speech, the  instructors were encouraged by the words of Engr. A. Isiedu, the Deputy Director, Food Reserve and Storage Department, NFRA, Abuja, who spoke on behalf of the agency Coordinating Director, Dr. M.I. Lawal and stated that “Silo Managers have been directed to start with immediate effect in their respective facilities those activities that do not require injection of funds like the stepping up the cleanliness of the complexes”.  We believe that the enthusiasm we observed among participants from NFRA and industry to make such managerial changes is the first positive sign of the potential benefits from the training.

While we envisage engaging with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in working toward long-term monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the training activities on this program, we will continue to highlight and pursue capacity building activities as they evolve. Already, some long-term research and advanced training opportunities in US universities and consultancy and capacity building have been identified as a result of these workshops. We look forward to engaging with the NFRA, USDA-FAS, and USAID in developing such opportunities depending on the availability of funding. A comprehensive report on  this training will be submitted no later than 45 days upon our return to our respective bases.