The federal government has concession 17 silos with 6,000 metric tons of storage capacity to the private sector to provide farmers with access to storage facilities in an effort to alleviate the difficulties of post-harvest losses. Also, the government has set up green aggregation centers that would clean, dry, process, and bag finished products, generating about N18 billion for the country’s economy. It has been revealed that post-harvest losses adversely affect over 30% of Nigeria’s annual food production owing to inadequate infrastructure for storing, processing, and transporting food.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, at the Second West and Central Africa Post-Harvest Congress and Exhibition (WCAPHCE) 2022, tagged “Upscaling and Promotion of African Indigenous Food to global standards” in Abuja. The minister stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to drive the economy. He said that the government is working to address food security challenges in the country and Africa.
Post-harvest losses are due to a lack of access to equipment.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Director of Food and Strategic Reserve at the Ministry, Dr. Haruna Suleiman, said that post-harvest losses are the most challenging issue for the farmers due to lack of access to necessary equipment and facilities. However, he explained that the green aggregation centers would enable farmers to be able to clean and dry their agricultural produce during harvests, increasing the value of the goods generated there and reducing post-harvest losses.
Furthermore, Benue State University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Tor Lorapuu, has said that the university is collaborating with other partners to increase domestic food production and reduce post-harvest losses as much as possible. Research and practical techniques supplied to small and large-scale farmers, as stated by Lorapuu, might help achieve this goal. He went on to praise the federal government for supplying silos around the nation. Lorapuu said that the goal is for the private sector to increase local farmers’ food storage capacity and reduce post-harvest losses.
Institute is building models that will index all food crops.
On his part, Barnabas Ikyo, Director of the Center of Food Technology and Research at Benue State University, said the center prioritized reducing post-harvest food losses in West and Central Africa. Therefore, he underlined the need to focus on local produce foods by creating and improving their market viability to encourage farmers to increase production, which would ultimately lead to a decrease in the trade imbalance (import and export). He said that the country’s market and pricing control authorities were rendered ineffective due to a failure to enforce existing laws and regulations.
According to Ikyo, the institute is building models and online platforms that will index all food crops in Nigeria so that anyone who wants to purchase or sell wherever they are can go online and check the amount they are sold in various regions of the nation. With this strategy, he added, farmers would be informed of how much groceries are sold in different regions. Ikyo highlighted that with the farmers’ backing, the project would gain more attention and value, which would draw more individuals into the food processing chain and add considerable value to food items.
Center’s focus is imparting farmers with technical knowledge.
Farmers will be enlightened on how to process food products like tomatoes at the farm level and be preservable for four months, how to dehydrate some other fresh vegetables and keep them to still maintain the fresh taste when they are cooked. Ikyo said that the center’s mission includes imparting this kind of technical knowledge to local farmers. Farmers who know their harvests will keep for months will be less likely to give in to the cheap offers of merchants.
Related Link
Wikipedia: Website
The content on AskNigeria.com is given for general information only and does not constitute a professional opinion, and users should seek their own legal/professional advice. There is data available online that lists details, facts and further information not listed in this post, please complete your own investigation into these matters and reach your own conclusion. AskNigeria.com accepts no responsibility for losses from any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of content contained in this website and/or other websites which may be linked to this website.
Fact Checking Tool – Snopes.com
FG to reduce farmers post-harvest losses – Post-harvest losses affect over 30% of Nigeria’s annual food produce. – Express your point of view.
If government can actually address the post-harvest losses experience by farmers then Nigeria is ready to reduce food shortage this year. The lack of processing and storage facilities are the factor responsible for this losses which federal government is proposing to create storage facilities and train farmers on processing and storage techniques.
Federal government will be able to help the farmers reduce the post production losses so far the relevant things needed are provided for the farmers. When the support is there, maximum food production won’t be far fetched.
FG to reduce farmers post-harvest losses. Federal Government of Nigeria like talking of about solution of problems in Nigeria. Yet they can do any about it. This present Government of Nigeria has not solution to Nigeria problem. They are not supporting farmers at all. So what solution this present government render
The farmers have experiencing serious losses due to lack of processing, storage infrastructure and transportation. With the promises made by the government we are sure of reducing these losses. The training of farmers on storage and processing will also go along way in benefiting them financially.
It is encouraging that tons of storage capacity has been made available to the commercial sector in order to give farmers access to storage facilities. This is being done in an effort to reduce the challenges posed by post-harvest losses.
The lack of suitable infrastructure in Nigeria for storing, processing, and transporting food contributes to post-harvest losses, which have a negative impact on the country’s annual food production.
It is the role of the government to create conditions that make it possible for the private sector to propel the economy forward.
Food insecurity is a problem that affects not only this country but also Africa, and the government ought to be striving to solve it.
Losses that occur after the harvest are the most difficult problem for farmers to solve because they do not have access to the appropriate equipment and facilities.
It is the intention of the private sector to bring about an increase in the food storage capacity of regional farmers and a decrease in post-harvest losses.
Green aggregation centers would make it possible for farmers to clean and dry their agricultural products while they are harvesting them. This would increase the value of the products made there and reduce losses after harvest.
Urgent action needed to be taken concerning the losses farming incore during post harvest of their farm products and this losses is the major reason why farm produce are more expensive when those produce is no more available as such.
It would make a lot of sense, if FG give supports to the farmer. The farmers are experiencing serious losses due to lack of processing, storage infrastructure and transportation. When necessary support is given, we should expect beautiful outcomes.
The FG should help the farmer reduce the loss of the harvest if the farmer continue lossing their harvest it will affect the people because it will cause shortage of food in the country
The government should help and assist the famers so maximum food can be produce and available
To encourage farmers to raise production and, ultimately, reduce the trade imbalance (between import and export), it is crucial to concentrate on local produce foods by enhancing their market viability.
The institute, according to Ikyo, is developing models and online platforms that will index all food crops in Nigeria so that anyone who wants to buy or sell wherever they are can go online and check the amount they are sold for in different parts of the country.
If the federal government provides the necessary resources, farmers can reduce post-production losses. Support ensures optimal food production.
Because farmers lack the right equipment and infrastructure, post-harvest losses are the hardest to fix.
Lack of processing, storage, and transportation has cost farmers dearly. We’ll cut losses with government promises. Farmers will profit from storage and processing training.
This loss is caused by a lack of processing and storage facilities, as such federal government is planning to build storage facilities and teach farmers how to use them.