By Ahmad Saleem
The World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with Self Help Africa (SHA) and with support from the Mastercard Foundation, has launched a N100 million solar drying hub in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and boosting income for youth and women farmers.
Speaking at the commissioning of the facility in Kura, Esther Ogundari, representative of the World Food Programme, expressed appreciation to local authorities and community leaders for their support in implementing the project.
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“On the launching of this project, I want to say a very big thank you to our Association of Local Government Chairman for the support and the access given to us. We also appreciate the community leaders for allowing their people to participate in the project,” she said.
Ogundari also commended the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership and congratulated Self Help Africa for successfully delivering the intervention.
She urged young farmers, particularly women, to take advantage of the opportunity to increase production and boost their income.
“I want to encourage the young farmers and young women farmers to use their energy to promote production and increase their income. Here in Kura, we have everything ready. The water comes from the river, so we are not going to have shortage of water and food,” she added.
Hajara Mohammed, Senior Programme Manager with Self Help Africa and Head of Office in Kano, said the project was designed to strengthen the horticulture value chain in Kura, a major vegetable-producing hub in the state.
She explained that the intervention falls under the Sentinel Food Systems initiative, which promotes increased value chain employment opportunities for youth and women in Kano State.
“This is a N100 million project. Kura is a hub for vegetables and horticulture, so if this kind of intervention should happen anywhere, it should happen in Kura where farmers can have value for what they produce,” she said.
According to her, farmers in the area suffer significant post-harvest losses due to the perishable nature of tomatoes, sweet pepper and other vegetables, which often spoil within hours after harvest.
“This is an opportunity for farmers to reduce losses. Instead of their tomatoes and vegetables perishing, they can now dry them and preserve the nutrients. This innovation is expected to reduce post-harvest losses by up to 50 per cent in Kura and surrounding communities,” she said.
Mohammed explained that the facility consists of two major components: a solar dryer and a UV dryer.
“The solar dryer can dry tomatoes within four to six hours. If you put one tonne of tomatoes in the dryer, within that period it will be dried. That means in a day, you can dry up to three tonnes of tomatoes,” she said.
She added that the UV dryer, which takes between one and two days to complete the drying process, helps to protect the colour and quality of the produce.
“We know that even ordinary materials fade under sunlight. The UV dryer supports the process and prevents deterioration of the tomatoes and other horticultural products, while keeping the nutrients intact,” she explained.
On sustainability, Mohammed clarified that the facility is not a free service but a community-based commercial model.
“This is not for free. Self Help Africa is a non-profit organisation and not doing this for profit, but the hub belongs to the cooperative in Kura. They will use it as an income-generating service. Farmers can dry their produce there, and others can also bring their produce and pay a token. That way, it will be sustainable,” she said.
Country Director of Self Help Africa, Joy Aderele, said the drying hub is a practical response to the recurring challenges faced by horticulture farmers in Kura, particularly during periods of glut when prices crash and produce goes to waste.
“Anyone who knows Kura knows its strength in horticulture — tomatoes, peppers, onions and others feed markets across Kano and beyond. But when there is glut, when storage is poor and prices crash, farmers lose income and produce spoils,” she said.
Aderele said the new facility would enable farmers to preserve their harvest, add value and sell beyond the immediate harvest period.
“Instead of rushing to sell at low prices, farmers now have options. Instead of watching baskets of tomatoes spoil, they can turn them into products with longer shelf life and better market value,” she added.
She noted that beyond reducing waste, the hub is also expected to create employment opportunities for young people in the community.
“This hub is about jobs and enterprise. It is about young people in Kura building sustainable livelihoods within the agricultural value chain. We expect this facility to support over 5,000 youth and create direct employment opportunities right here in this community,” Aderele said.
Aderele acknowledged the support of the World Food Programme and the Mastercard Foundation, describing their partnership as key to the realisation of the project.
“Their commitment to youth empowerment and food systems strengthening has made this intervention possible. Their continued investment in young people and innovative solutions is driving meaningful change in communities like Kura,” she said.
She also commended local authorities, community leaders and market actors for collaborating with Self Help Africa to bring the project to fruition.
“At Self Help Africa, we believe development works best when it builds on local strengths. Kura already has farmers and markets. What was needed was the right technology and support. Today, that support stands before us,” she said.
Aderele charged the youth participants who will manage the facility to ensure its sustainability.
“I thank the youth who will run and sustain this hub. Its success now rests in your hands. Our hope is that this facility reduces waste, increases income and becomes a model that can be replicated in other communities across Kano State,” she added.
The commissioning of the solar drying hub is seen as a significant step towards strengthening the horticulture value chain in Kano, reducing food waste and creating economic opportunities for thousands of young farmers and women in the state.
