Reducing post-harvest losses could stabilise food costs — Expert

The Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Professor Lateef Sanni, has stated that post-harvest losses have led to an increase in the prices of agricultural commodities.

He noted that a reduction of post-harvest losses by 25 per cent would resolve the issue of food price hikes in the country.

Sanni spoke during the grant award presentation and the opening ceremony of a five-day training programme for 50 selected serving members of the National Youth Service Corps in Kwara State on Tuesday.

At the event, NSPRI in Ilorin, Kwara State, presented a grant of N2 million to a corps member, Miss Zainab Adam, to boost her smoked fish business.

Zainab distinguished herself in reducing post-harvest losses in her business, according to the agency set up by the Federal Government to research the preservation of agricultural produce in the country.

The corps member, who was the beneficiary of the 2023 grant award, engaged in smoked fish business activities and was unveiled at the training programme, titled “Skills Acquisition for Corps Members on Value Addition to Agricultural Commodities in Kwara State,” organised by Synergy Impact Consultants Limited.

Sanni lamented the effects of 40-55 per cent post-harvest losses of agricultural commodities in the country, stating that close to $200 million is lost globally. He added that 10 per cent of annual post-harvest losses in Nigeria amounts to no less than $5 billion.

He explained that the effects of post-harvest losses in the country are reflected in the high prices of agricultural commodities.

“Why? Because the little we have cannot service over 230 million people. If we can reduce post-harvest losses by even 25 per cent, no one would be claiming that there are high prices for commodities. By that, everyone in all parts of the country will have intermediate products that can be stored for some days before processing.

“One of the beneficiaries displayed tomato paste in sachets. If we could work solely on tomatoes in the country, as they are very abundant in the North, and if some homemade facilities could be established for people, it would help us tremendously,” he said.

The NSPRI director also stated that a reduction in post-harvest losses would decrease the loss of income among farmers and agricultural processors.

“Economically, there will be a reduction in the loss of income, and farmers, processors, loaders, off-loaders, etc., will have more money. This applies to products that can be stored for months and transported over long distances.

“Additionally, there will be employment opportunities. If we can reduce post-harvest losses, the implication is that a natural influx of youth will surround the peri-urban environment for storage and post-harvest haulage activities, creating traffic in that environment,” he said.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, commended the NSPRI for teaching the corps members skills on value addition, post-harvest losses, and the presentation of grants.

The commissioner stated that the organisation’s efforts would significantly propel the corps members towards success in their future endeavours, adding that it could also transform the agricultural landscape in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the NYSC state director, Onifade Joshua, a director in the scheme, Mrs Omolabake Adeniyi, said that 50 corps members were selected from a total of 8,000, advising the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity to the fullest.