Vincent Ezenagu
Nigeria has unveiled a new initiative to significantly mitigate post-harvest losses.
Under the initiative the Government has initiated a plan to invest $3.5 billion over the next decade.
The Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari announced the initiative, known as Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), at the 16th African Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal, held from August 31 to September 5.
The NiPHaST aims to strengthen storage systems by improving existing infrastructure at the household level, as well as community and national strategic reserves.
These reserves will be managed through public-private partnerships.
The program also plans to boost access to technology like solar-powered cold storage, which currently has limited large-scale use.
Kyari stated that the initiative will help stabilize food prices, ensure the availability and affordability of basic foodstuffs, improve storage systems, and achieve national food sovereignty.
The program will initially target strategic agricultural sectors including cereals, legumes, roots, tubers, and vegetables.
While private sector involvement is expected to drive investment in the storage value chain, several structural challenges remain.
The FAO notes that businesses looking to invest in sub-Saharan Africa’s cold chain face significant hurdles, including a lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity and maintenance issues due to a shortage of skilled labor.
Difficulty securing financing is another major obstacle.
Alexander Isong, president of the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), highlighted this issue in April, stating that Nigerian banks often misunderstand the cold chain sector, making it difficult for businesses to obtain loans.
He stressed that without adequate investment, the sector’s growth and potential are severely limited.
Strengthening national storage systems is a strategic priority, as official data for 2024 estimated Nigeria’s post-harvest losses at nearly $10 billion.