FG Moves Against Post-Harvest Losses By Farmers

The federal government has launched the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) to reduce food losses, boost farmer incomes and strengthen national food security.

The programme, introduced in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, seeks to build a resilient and efficient post-harvest handling and storage system to cut waste, improve nutrition and drive economic growth.

The minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced the initiative at the Nigeria Legacy Programme hosted by the Africa Food Systems Forum in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Dakar, Senegal.

He said NiPHaST is designed to stabilise food prices, expand access to staple crops, and enhance national food sovereignty.

In a statement issued by the ministry’s head, Information Department, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the minister explained that the programme would prioritise household storage technologies, community warehouses, cold rooms and national silos operated through public–private partnerships.

“The initiative will open new investment opportunities in the storage value chain through improved processing, preservation, packaging, marketing, and climate-smart infrastructure such as metal silos and cold rooms,” Kyari said.

He added that the programme would attract private sector participation, expand storage facilities, strengthen market confidence and improve Nigeria’s export potential.

It is also expected to generate new jobs, raise farmer incomes, improve nutrition, and reduce reliance on food imports.

The minister noted that Nigeria loses an estimated N3.5 trillion annually to post-harvest inefficiencies, a burden that falls heavily on smallholder farmers.