Some fruit traders in Lagos have improvised ways to keep fruits fresh and minimise losses despite inadequate storage facilities and erratic power supply.
The traders shared their experiences in separate interviews with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos while discussing how they cope with post-harvest losses.
Fruits such as oranges, pineapples, bananas, watermelons, pawpaw, and apples are highly perishable and require proper storage to maintain freshness and quality.
However, prolonged exposure to heat, inadequate cold-chain facilities, and unstable electricity supply continue to accelerate spoilage, leading to significant financial losses for traders.
Mrs Mujidat Giwa, a fruit trader at Oyingbo Market, said the high cost of operating cold storage facilities had forced many traders to sell ripening fruits at reduced prices.
“When fruits begin to ripen too fast, we reduce the prices so customers can buy them before they spoil,” she said.
“If we keep them for too long, we lose money because we eventually throw many away. We would like to preserve them longer, but storage costs are beyond what many of us can afford.”
Mr Garuba Hassan, another trader at Oyingbo Market, said he occasionally rented space in commercial cold rooms when electricity supply improved.
“Most times, we simply rely on selling quickly because paying for storage reduces our profit,” Hassan said.
At Lawanson Market, Mr Isa Mohammed said covering fruits with wet sacks and sprinkling water on them helps preserve freshness temporarily.
“We keep the fruits away from direct sunlight and sprinkle water from time to time. It helps for a while, but once the weather becomes very hot, there is little we can do,” he said.
Mr Musa Ibrahim, a pineapple trader in Surulere, said sorting fruits according to their stage of ripeness has helped reduce waste.
“The fruits that are already ripe are sold at cheaper prices while the fresher ones are kept for later sales,” he said.
Some consumers have also adjusted their buying habits. Mr Ganiyu Rasheed said he prefers buying fruits early in the morning when they are fresher.
Mrs Amarachi Arinze said she buys discounted fruits provided they are still safe for consumption, noting that it helps her save money and reduces waste.
The traders, however, called for improved cold-chain facilities, reliable electricity supply, and affordable storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the profitability of fruit trading.
