Don proffers solutions to address Nigeria’s post-harvest losses

A university don, Prof. Faith Ibrahim, has proffered workable solutions to address Nigeria’s growing post-harvest losses.

Ibrahim, a professor of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management of Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

She noted that Nigeria’s post-harvest losses can be reduced to the barest minimum with investment in affordable storage infrastructure.

According to her, Nigeria currently experiences about 30 to 40 per cent post-harvest losses of food produce.

“Looking at critical solutions that will enable government and private sector to tackle post-harvest loss threat will include, but not limited to investing in affordable storage infrastructure.

“This infrastructure includes silos, warehouses, all with proper ventilation.

“Also, access to solar-powered cold storage in rural areas is an initiative that could further be expanded,” Ibrahim said.

She called for the prioritisation of farmer cooperatives for collective storage and bargaining power to reduce post-harvest losses.

“We must as a country invest in improving the rural road networks to reduce transit time for farmers and spoilage for perishables.

“The training of farmers in proper harvesting techniques and timing must be taken seriously to prevent increasing post-harvest losses.

“There must as well be the establishment of more agro processing centres to convert perishables into shelf-stable products that will reduce post-harvest losses to the barest minimum,” Ibrahim said.

She added that the government must increase investment in the sector to boost cold-chain infrastructure in the country.

“In all this, it is expected that the government must come up with incentives for private sector investment in post-harvest infrastructure.

“The incentivising of the private sector could include tax breaks and public-private partnerships to promote investment in the sector,” she said.