FG launches programme to cut N3.5tn postharvest losses

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST).

The initiative is designed to reduce postharvest losses, strengthen food security, and enhance farmer incomes in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

A statement by the Head, Department of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, stated that the programme was launched during the Nigeria Legacy Session of the Africa Food Systems Forum, held in Dakar, Senegal, in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The statement disclosed that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said NiPHaST would ensure a resilient, efficient, and inclusive postharvest handling and storage system to stabilize food prices and achieve national food sovereignty.

The statement reads, “In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to eradicate poverty, attain Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Growth as well as reduce Postharvest losses, Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), to ensure a resilient, efficient, and inclusive postharvest handling and storage system that reduces losses, enhance incomes as well as achieve food sovereignty.

“Speaking at the Nigeria Legacy Program, organized by the Africa Food Systems Forum in Partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), in Dakar, Senegal, recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari stated that the NiPHaST Program would stabilize food prices, ensure availability, accessibility, affordability of stable food, improve storage system as well as achieve national food sovereignty

“The Minster said that the program would focus on household storage technologies, community-level warehouses, cold rooms, and strategic national silos managed through public–private partnerships, among others.

“He pointed out it would create robust investment in the storage value chain in terms of processing, preservation, packaging, marketing , climate, smart metal Silos , cold rooms, among others.

“He added that the initiative would unlock private sector investment, strengthen market confidence, and expand storage infrastructure.

“He noted that it also improves agricultural exports, nutrition, household sales, job opportunities, farmer’s income, and wealth as well as achieved food import substitution in the agricultural ecosystem.

“He revealed that Nigeria loses an estimated ₦3.5 trillion annually to postharvest inefficiencies, largely affecting smallholder farmers. ‘This is not just produce going to waste. It is opportunity lost and livelihoods destroyed’.”