The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has taken delivery of rehabilitated warehouses in the Northern Region as it expands storage capacity under the National Food Security Reserve Programme (NFSRP).

The rehabilitated facilities at Yendi, Kumbungu and Wovogu are expected to increase NAFCO’s capacity to aggregate and store rice, maize and gari in the northern part of the country.

At Wovogu in the Sagnarigu Municipality, the 1,000-metric-tonne warehouse has been re-roofed, re-wired and painted. Flight-proof windows have also been installed to keep rodents away.

The facility now has a 24-hour automated water supply system. Its administrative offices, changing room for casual workers and laboratory have also been refurbished, alongside improved security.

At Kumbungu, the warehouse currently holds about 15,000 bags of rice under the NFSRP. Rehabilitation works included fixing roof leakages, rewiring the facility and replacing damaged doors.

The laboratory and offices have also been refurbished, while a drying platform has been constructed.

The expanded Yendi warehouse currently holds close to 40,000 bags of national food reserve grains, comprising rice, maize and gari. It also has 2,097 bags of millet in stock.

The facility has also received two Mobile Storage Units (MSUs) donated to NAFCO by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support government food security initiatives.

Rehabilitation works at Yendi included refurbishment of the laboratory, installation of CCTV and fire alarm systems, construction of a perimeter wall and a drying platform with drainage.

NAFCO Chief Executive Officer, George Abradu-Otoo, inspected the facilities and expressed satisfaction with the work.

He said the additional 250-metric-tonne capacity at Yendi would increase the warehouse’s total storage capacity to at least 4,400 metric tonnes.

“We need the space badly to step up our ability to buy, aggregate and store grains in various parts of the country. Once we buy, the local farmer is incentivised to continue farming to feed all of us”.

Mr Abradu-Otoo commended the contractors and consultants, the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), for the timely execution of the projects.

The rehabilitation works were funded by NAFCO under the National Food Security Reserve Programme.