FG Unveils Postharvest systems transformation program
In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on poverty eradication, Food and Nutrition Security, Economic Growth as well as reduction of Postharvest losses, the Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) for a resilient, efficient, and inclusive postharvest handling and storage system. This is aimed at reducing losses, enhancing incomes as well as achieving 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 not only stabilize food prices and ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability but also improve storage systems, thereby achieving national food sovereignty.
Head of Information Department at the Ministry, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, in a statement, disclosed that the Minister highlighted that the program would focus on household storage technologies, community-level warehouses, cold rooms, and strategic national silos managed through public–private partnerships and more
According to him, other derivable benefits from the initiative include: the creation of a robust investment in the storage value chain (processing, preservation, packaging), marketing, climate-smart metal Silos, cold rooms as well as unlocking of private sector investment, strengthening market confidence, and expanding storage infrastructure
“It also improves agricultural exports, nutrition, household sales, job opportunities, farmers’ incomes, and wealth, while achieving food import substitution in the agricultural ecosystem.” Kyari said
He disclosed 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,”
The Minister, therefore, called for stronger international collaboration, stressing that transforming postharvest systems will secure farmer livelihoods, revive agribusiness confidence, and position Nigeria as a leading food supplier in West Africa
In attendance were Jigawa State Governor, Mal. Umar A. Namadi, Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, among others
