Bwari:A Non-Governmental Organisation, Community Action for Food Security in Africa (CAFS), has advocated for the incorporation of blockchain technology into parabolic solar dryers to enhance traceability and transparency in agricultural commodity processing.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Azeez Salawu, Founder of CAFS, emphasized the benefits of this integration during a workshop held in the Kuchibiyi community, Bwari Area Council, FCT. The workshop focused on implementing blockchain technology within climate-smart solar dryers, a project funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) under the Tadamon Accelerator for Food Security.
The initiative aims to address post-harvest losses in Nigeria’s food supply chain by piloting the project in Ilorin and the FCT. By combining climate-smart infrastructure with digital technology, the project seeks to improve food preservation and access to shared processing facilities. Salawu noted that solar-powered dryers integrated with blockchain technology would reduce food losses while enhancing transparency, equitable access, and sustainability.
The project collaborates with the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), supported by UNDP, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (IsFD). The goal is to introduce a blockchain-enabled platform for tracking usage and democratizing access to shared infrastructure, thereby increasing transparency, trust, and data availability.
Salawu highlighted that the workshop was designed to educate community members about the technology, demonstrate its economic benefits, and introduce a training manual for its use. The integration also aims to discourage traditional drying methods on bare ground, which expose produce to impurities and contamination.
Prof. Lateef Sanni, Executive Director of NSPRI, praised the initiative as a step towards digitalizing post-harvest management in Nigeria. He announced plans to map out 100 locations for digital dryers across the country and integrate blockchain technology to address weight issues and strengthen traceability.
The Kuchibiyi community has welcomed the new facility, noting improvements in the drying and preservation of agricultural produce. Mr. Shaibu Kuchibiyi, speaking on behalf of the local chief, stated that the technology has eliminated challenges associated with traditional drying methods and appealed for additional processing equipment.
Mrs. Ijeoma Enome, President of the Agribusiness Women Cooperative, reported that cooperative members and local farmers are actively using the facility to process agricultural produce. She added that CAFS is collaborating with the cooperative to maintain the facility and use blockchain technology to enhance operational transparency.