How Nigeria Can Leverage India’s Expertise To Prevent Post- Harvest Losses, Enhance Livestock Production

The Indian government has expressed its readiness to partner with Nigeria to tackle the incessant crisis of post –harvest losses being experienced by Nigerian farmers said to be about 50%, as well as boost food processing and modernize livestock production in the country.

This has been the renewed commitment of the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Abishek Sigh, who in recent times has made extensive efforts to reach more Indian companies to invest in the agriculture and allied sectors in Nigeria.

Nigeria loses roughly 30 to 40 million metric tonnes or ₦3.5 trillion to ₦5 trillion ($3.7 billion to $10 billion)—to post-harvest inefficiencies and perishable foods like fruits, vegetables, and tubers suffer the highest loss rates, reaching up to 60%.

It is on this ground that the Indian Envoy has made investment in Nigeria’s agriculture sector the nucleus of his effort to strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Nigeria.

There are over 200 Indian-owned or operated companies in Nigeria, which have cumulatively invested nearly $30 billion in Nigeria, making India one of the largest economic and investment partners in the country and many of these Indian companies can help reduce these huge losses.

According to the Sigh, agriculture is the foundation of modern economies, stressing that India’s agriculture employs nearly 45% of its workforce and the impact has been impressive as India is the world’s largest producer of milk and spices as well as the second largest producer of rice, wheat and vegetables in the world.

This is the area where the envoy underscores the partnership with Nigeria to grow its GDP, ensure food security, rural prosperity, job creation and climate-resistant farming.

India is the global hub for drip irrigation as agriculture is increasingly being supported by drones, digital farming and finance, which Nigeria stands to benefit immensely.

The High Commissioner delivered very encouraging remarks during the India-Nigeria Trade Forum on Agriculture and Allied Sector with the theme “ Cultivating trade, growing together” in Abuja on Thursday, organized by the Indian High Commission and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
He noted that Nigerian agriculture contributes significantly to the GDP, adding that it is ready to invest in Nigerian livestock, fisheries and food processing to ensure food security, stressing that India will assist Nigeria in the area of climate resistant farming.

“Indian is a global hub for drip irrigation, oil palms seeds and fertilizers. These can help increase Nigeria’s farm activities. Nigeria’s demand for tomato processing, food chain and packaging align perfectly with India’s expertise and food processing technology,” he said.

The High Commissioner said Indian Startups are ready to partner with Nigeria for agricultural transformation by sharing technology and training, which can be boosted with fiancé through NEXIM Bank, Bank of Industry and private partners.

He said further that in the area of livestock production, India offers technical expertise and will improve dairy farming and support Nigeria’s meat and milk production. He added that India is also helping states in Nigeria like Jigawa to modernize its livestock through partnership with focus on artificial insemination and organizing farmers into cooperatives to enhance dairy and milk production.
The envoy disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of agriculture and allied sector has been proposed and shared with the federal government of Nigeria even as he called for speedy attention to the document.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari in his remarks, noted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is open to more collaboration with India to boost its potential in the sector.

Represented by the Director of Agribusiness and Marketing Development in the Ministry Olawumi Ayodele Olajide, the Minister said Nigeria will continue to synergise with India to create opportunities for jobs, value addition and technology.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of ACCI, in his remarks noted that the forum demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation in the agriculture sector, which remains the vital driver of the economy and a push towards sustainable development.

Adesugba, who is also the National Vice President (India) of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), spoke through a representative and emphasized that the forum “presents immense opportunity for technology transfer, value addition, mechanization, research collaboration and innovation.”