Agriculture in Nigeria’s economy employs a substantial portion of the population and significantly contributes to national development. Farmers cultivate various crops suited to their regions, from the tropical rainforests of the south to the expansive savannahs of the north. 

These include cassava, yams, and oil palm in the south and rice, groundnuts, tomatoes, and sorghum in the north. Many also engage in small-scale livestock farming, adding to the sector’s diversity and importance.

Despite this impressive agricultural potential, Postharvest loss in Nigeria continues to be prevalent due to poor storage facilities, insufficient power supply, inadequate processing industries, and weak rural infrastructure. During harvest seasons, farmers often face low market prices due to producing gluts, and many cannot sell their crops before they begin to spoil.

These persistent losses reduce farmers’ incomes and limit the country’s ability to ensure food security, grow its agro-economy, and compete in regional and global markets. While postharvest losses are a silent drain on the agricultural sector, their impact echoes loudly across the economy, food systems, and livelihoods.

What Is Postharvest Loss?

Postharvest loss refers to the reduction in quantity and quality of agricultural produce between harvest and consumption. Therefore, postharvest losses encompass losses incurred during storage, transportation, processing, and marketing of agricultural produce. 

Postharvest Loss in Nigeria

In Nigeria, a large amount of perishable crops and fresh produce are lost before reaching consumers, primarily due to inadequate storage, poor infrastructure, and a lack of modern preservation technologies.

This issue of Postharvest loss is particularly evident in rural areas without access to modern preservation or processing systems; perishable items, such as tomatoes, mangoes, oranges, and peppers, spoil in large quantities. Scenes of rotting fruits in local markets have become common, underlining a deeper problem within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

It has been estimated that Nigeria loses N3.5 trillion worth of agricultural produce after harvest every year. Nigeria is blessed with agricultural possibilities, producing millions of metric tons of food annually that never reaches the consumer, including yams, cassava, tomatoes, grains, and a wide range of fruits. 

Ibrahim Ishaka, a food system and nutrition specialist with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), estimates that Nigeria loses about 50% of its agricultural products along the food supply chain. He attributes this to challenges such as technological limitations, inefficient harvesting techniques, pest infestations, inadequate storage, poor transportation, and weak processing systems, mainly affecting perishable crops like fruits and vegetables.

Ishaka highlights some FAO interventions, including community-led centres in northeastern Nigeria that produce nutritious local foods, such as ‘tom brown’, to combat malnutrition and food waste. He emphasised that empowering communities with knowledge, tools, and infrastructure is crucial to reducing postharvest losses and strengthening Nigeria’s food system.

What are the Benefits of Reducing Postharvest Losses?

Postharvest losses pose significant threats to smallholder farmers, traders, processors, final consumers and the Country; the reduction of postharvest losses will fetch gains and economic benefits such as:

1. Reduced Food Prices

A significant reason for high food prices in Nigeria is postharvest loss. When large portions of food are wasted before reaching the market, supply reduces, leading to price increases. Reducing postharvest losses means more food reaches consumers, increases supply, and helps stabilise or lower food prices. This benefits the economy and improves household access to affordable, nutritious, and balanced meals.

2. Improved Incomes for Farmers and Entrepreneurs

By reducing post-harvest losses, farmers and entrepreneurs are empowered to sell more of their produce, increasing their earnings and reducing poverty in rural communities. 

3. Job Creations and Business Opportunities

Investing in storage, cold chain solutions, and food processing creates jobs across the value chain, from logistics and warehousing to packaging and retail. This supports youth employment and innovation in the agribusiness sector.

4. Food Security

With less waste, Nigeria can feed more people without necessarily increasing production. This is crucial for a country facing rising food demand and periodic shortages.

5. Stronger National Economy

The annual loss due to postharvest waste could be redirected into other sectors, boosting GDP, supporting infrastructure, and enhancing public services. Reducing these losses will also help Nigeria meet global food security goals and strengthen its position in regional trade.

Reducing postharvest loss in Nigeria is a significant agricultural issue affecting farmers and their operations. This issue not only affects the livelihoods of the farmers but also has broader implications for the economy as a whole. .  

Efforts are currently being made to enhance storage infrastructure in Nigeria, including the development of silo complexes and aggregation centers. This investment aims to tackle the issue of postharvest loss, which presents a significant economic opportunity. By addressing these losses, farmers can achieve higher incomes, consumers can benefit from lower food prices, the national GDP can grow, and overall food security can be improved for the entire population.