ActionAid to FG: Losing N3.5trn to post-harvest losses negates agriculture investment

ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to scale up investments and interventions aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, warning that the country loses an estimated N3.5 trillion worth of food annually due to poor storage, handling, processing, and market inefficiencies.

Azubike Nwokoye, Food Systems Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, made the call on Thursday in an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security in Kaduna.

He said that while recent government claims of declining food prices may hold true in some markets, the wider food system remains under pressure, especially for farmers who are struggling to recover production costs.

“There are different narratives. Farmers in some areas are saying prices have dropped because borders have opened, meaning they are not recovering what they spent on planting. In other places, prices are still high. But the key issue is the massive level of post-harvest losses in Nigeria,” Nwokoye said.

According to him, Nigeria currently loses between 40 and 50 per cent of food produced each year. This loss, valued at N3.5 trillion, translates to an average of N94.5 billion per state annually.

“If we reduce our post-harvest losses, more food becomes available, farmers’ incomes are protected, and the food supply chain stabilises. It means we need substantial investment in storage, aggregation, processing, and market linkages,” he said.

Nwokoye welcomed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s new post-harvest loss reduction programme but insisted that implementation must be sustained and adequately funded.

He also urged the government to introduce a guaranteed minimum price policy to stabilise markets at harvest time, ensuring farmers receive fair returns and are not forced to sell at a loss.

“A proper analysis must be done so that farmers make profit and not losses. In many states today, what we are seeing is largely the farmers’ effort, not government support. This has to change,” he said.

He stressed that while many states allocate funds to agriculture on paper, actual spending remains far below requirements, calling for adherence to the Kampala Declaration, which encourages African countries to dedicate at least 10 per cent of public expenditure—not just budget allocation—to agriculture.

Nwokoye also revealed that Nigeria is developing a National Strategy on Agroecology, following approval at the last National Council on Agriculture.

“Agroecology is a sustainable way to produce food, reduce reliance on costly external inputs, and limit hazardous pesticides,” he explained. A national validation meeting on the strategy is scheduled for the first week of December.

ActionAid has presented a political economy analysis at the Council meeting, highlighting how increased investments in agriculture can boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for states.

“We have identified key areas where investment in agriculture produces measurable revenue and employment outcomes. This is not just about food; it is about building wealth and economic stability,” Nwokoye said.

Stakeholders at the Council are expected to deliberate on recommendations and issue policy resolutions aimed at strengthening food security and agricultural resilience nationwide.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE