Valentine Okafor
The Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), has advised authorities in Nigeria to focus on providing key infrastructure that will reduce post harvest loss in the agriculture industry.
Mr Alexander Isong, President of OTACCWA, was quoted as saying that Nigeria needs 5,000 cold trucks and 100 cold rooms to tackle its N3.5 trillion annual post-harvest losses.
Isong said Nigeria produces approximately 55 million metric tonnes of food annually with 40 per cent of it lost due to poor cold chain infrastructure.
This, he said, translates into an economic loss of over N3.5 trillion annually.
Isong said Nigeria needs 5,000 cold trucks and 100 large cold rooms, with a 500-tonne capacity each, to enhance the country’s cold chain infrastructure.
According to him, Nigeria has small minute cold rooms at the moment.
“Nigeria is next to zero, we have very small minute cold rooms that don’t scratch the surface. The produce that has some cold room is imported fish,” he said.
Isong said that cold chain can play a vital role in combating food insecurity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, especially harvest-losses.
“If the government’s primary concern is not combating post-harvest losses, achieving the goal of completely eradicating food insecurity in Nigeria will indeed be challenging.
“The cold chain infrastructure in Nigeria is woefully inadequate, posing significant challenges for organisations.
“The primary obstacle is the lack of adequate cold storage facilities, which severely hampers efforts to address post-harvest losses.
“Cold chain is an integral part of agriculture, and without sufficient investment, the sector’s growth and potential is severely limited.
“One major issue is the funding and investment gap. Nigerian banks often lack understanding of the cold chain sector, making it difficult for organisations like OTACCWA to secure loans,” he said.
He also lamented the poor awareness and adoption of cold rooms.
“Many people view cold chain as a “fancy” aspect of agriculture rather than a crucial component,” Isong said.
He said this misconception necessitates awareness campaigns to educate farmers, middlemen, marketers, and the general populace about the importance of cold chain in agriculture.
“The industry faces further complications due to inadequate logistics and market ties. Without a continuous cold chain, produce certification is unattainable, severely limiting export opportunities.
“The goal is to strengthen logistics and increase the appeal of Nigerian produce in the market by establishing solid market linkages and maintaining a consistent cold chain.
“The absence of policy guidance and regulatory frameworks for cold chain in Nigeria is another significant obstacle.
“With various agencies and bodies having fragmented roles, a comprehensive cold chain policy is essential to bring the sector up to par with global standards,” he said.
He explained that the sector’s reliance on small-scale farmers and lack of cooperative aggregation makes it challenging to implement large-scale cold chain solutions.
“Additionally, middlemen who dominate the market may be hesitant to adapt due to limited knowledge or concerns about disrupting their existing business operations.
“The industry faces further complications due to climate and environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures and humidity.
“These factors can cause produce to spoil quickly in the absence of a cold chain. Seasonal production cycles lead to price fluctuations, further complicating the sector.
“Cold chain can help increase the variety of food available in Nigeria, particularly for perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, and proteins,” Isong said.