Nigeria suffers losses of around ten billion dollars every year due to post-harvest waste across fruits, vegetables, grains, and other perishable agricultural products, underscoring a major challenge for farmers and the national economy. Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Farms, Segun Alabi, estimates that between thirty and fifty percent of the country’s agricultural produce spoils annually, a situation that undermines farmers’ incomes, reduces food availability, and limits economic growth. The losses are largely driven by suboptimal harvesting methods, inadequate storage, poor transportation networks, and limited local processing capacity.
He emphasizes that addressing these challenges requires significant investment in modern storage and processing facilities, including cold chains, silos, and local processing units capable of extending the shelf life of rotten products while enabling value addition. The need for transportation infrastructure, such as better rural roads and logistics systems, is also critical to ensure produce reaches markets in good condition.
Additionally, educating farmers on best practices in harvesting, post-harvest handling, and waste minimization can reduce losses at the source, while the deployment of affordable preservation solutions, such as solar dryers and mobile processing units, can further minimize spoilage.
Policies that encourage private sector investment in agro-processing and provide incentives for waste reduction are seen as essential to sustain progress. The reduction of agricultural waste would directly boost the national economy by increasing the availability of marketable produce, enhancing export potential, and strengthening food security. This will enable farmers and agribusinesses to retain more value from their harvests, contributing to higher GDP and building a more resilient agricultural sector. The savings generated from reduced losses can be reinvested to stimulate growth across the entire value chain, offering opportunities for small businesses to expand into logistics, storage, processing, preservation technologies, and related services. As value-added industries grow, they create employment for youth and women, supporting inclusive economic development and helping to alleviate rural poverty.
Sustainable waste management also promotes environmental benefits. Efficient use of land, water, and energy resources, along with reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing organic waste, helps limit environmental degradation. Practices such as composting and recycling can further improve soil fertility and ecosystem health, supporting long-term agricultural productivity.
Moreover, post-harvest waste presents an opportunity for wealth creation. By converting waste into value-added products like animal feed, bioenergy, bioplastics, and organic fertilizers, entrepreneurs can tap into new and emerging markets. These ventures not only diversify income sources but also foster innovation and contribute to national wealth. The financial losses caused by post-harvest waste, though substantial, highlight the immense potential for transformation. Through proven interventions, strategic investments, and a culture of waste reduction, Nigeria can strengthen its economy, create jobs, protect the environment, and unlock new avenues for growth.
