By Oyajimi Kehinde & Adeniyi Sakiru
In a significant stride towards agricultural innovation and food security, the Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso on Thursday, September 25, 2025, commissioned the Harbor Harvest Smart Storage System for Fruit Crops at the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The technology, developed by Professor Olubunmi A. Akinola of Progro Technologies Limited, is a locally engineered solution to one of Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural challenges, post-harvest losses. Each year, the country loses billions of naira to spoilage due to inadequate storage infrastructure for fruits and other perishables.
The Harbor Harvest Smart Storage System introduces a smart, energy-efficient, and cost-effective means of preserving perishable produce. The system is designed to extend shelf life, reduce food waste, stabilize market prices, and ultimately improve food availability and farmer incomes.
Speaking at the commissioning, Professor Nnanyelugo, described the project as “a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.” He underscored the Council’s resolve to scale the innovation across all six geopolitical zones of the country.
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“This is the kind of indigenous innovation Nigeria needs. It will not only reduce waste but also boost farmer incomes, create jobs, and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. RMRDC will champion the replication of this system nationwide,” Professor Ike-Muonso stated.
The system’s inventor, Professor Akinola, emphasized its adaptability and affordability, noting that it was developed specifically with the Nigerian farmer and trader in mind.
“This system ensures that farmers and traders can preserve fruits longer, access better markets, and earn higher returns. It is a solution made in Nigeria, for Nigeria,”he said.
The commissioning event drew stakeholders from across the agricultural, academic, industrial, and financial sectors, including representatives from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB); the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NISPRI); the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE); theBank of Industry (BOI); and the host agency, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), represented by its Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Adedeji Ashiru.
The innovation was hailed by the Nigerian Society of Engineers as “an exemplary application of engineering for national development.” Similarly, the Bank of Industry pledged to explore financing mechanisms that will make the technology accessible to farmers, cooperatives, and agro-processors across the country.
The commissioning concluded with an inspection and formal activation of the facility. Attendees expressed optimism that the project will become a reference point for sustainable storage solutions and catalyze broader adoption of indigenous technologies in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This milestone aligns with the federal government’s broader economic diversification and food security agenda, signaling renewed commitment to reducing post-harvest losses and promoting local solutions in national development.
The Director General of RMRDC was accompanied by members of his senior management team, including Mrs. Rachel Kotso, Director of Planning, Statistics and Policy Development; Mr. Rabiu B.O., Ogun State Coordinator; and Mrs. Uche Orjiakor, Lagos State Coordinator.
