Nigeria partners with AGRA to scale post-harvest technologies and reduce agricultural losses across six geopolitical zones

In a move aimed at tackling one of the most pressing challenges in Nigerian agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has joined forces with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to scale priority post-harvest technologies.

The collaboration was highlighted during a recent validation workshop in Abuja, which reviewed the Market and Business Case Analysis for Priority Post-Harvest Technologies under the Nigeria Post-Harvest Legacy Programme (NiPHAST).

The goal is clear: modernise Nigeria’s mid-stream agricultural segment and reduce the staggering N3.5 trillion lost to post-harvest waste annually.

Agriculture remains the backbone of the Nigerian economy, contributing about 24% to GDP and employing more than 40% of the workforce, primarily in rural communities.

Yet post-harvest losses for perishable crops can reach 60%, directly affecting food availability, market stability, and farmer incomes.

A Shift From Production to Post-Harvest Solutions

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasised that past initiatives largely focused on boosting production while neglecting the post-harvest value chain.

“For too long, our efforts have focused primarily on production, leaving a vacuum in the post-harvest value chain that erodes farmer incomes and threatens our national food security,” he said.

He described the NiPHAST validation as a shift toward a demand-driven, technology-led approach, noting that mobilising the $2.8 billion portfolio outlined in the report could save food, create thousands of jobs for women and youth, stabilise market prices, and enhance value chain resilience across the country.

Private Sector and Innovative Financing at the Forefront

Dr. Rufus Idris, represented by Theophilus Raymond, stressed the importance of private-sector engagement and innovative financing in scaling post-harvest technologies.

Solutions such as hermetic bags for perishables, solar-powered cold rooms, smart metal silos, and Warehouse Receipt Systems for grains were highlighted as practical ways to improve storage, ensure market access, and empower smallholder farmers and MSMEs.

The message was clear: investing in post-harvest technology is not only socially transformative but also financially attractive.

Suggested Readings (News continues below)

Federal Ministry of Agriculture Partners With AGRA to Scale Post-Harvest Technologies and Reduce Nigeria Agricultural Losses Nationwide

Dangote Group reaffirms commitment to customer-led growth and supply chain strengthening while celebrating distributor partnerships at NASCON 2025 dinner in Abuja

Generation Z transforms dating culture in the United States by embracing situationships and avoiding commitment in the age of social media

Investigative Journalists Reveal How Four Divers Died During Offshore Pipeline Maintenance in Trinidad and Tobago

With projected internal rates of return exceeding 40% and payback periods as short as two years, the business case is strong for both local and international investors.

Mapping Nigeria’s Post-Harvest Landscape

The study underpinning the initiative mapped 72 storage facilities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and identified nine high-impact investment nodes, including solar-powered cold storage, hermetic bag production, and smart silos.

These nodes are expected to catalyse a nationwide network of post-harvest service enterprises capable of professional drying, storage, and aggregation services.

Dr Lekan Tobe added that prioritising post-harvest management would significantly boost productivity, improve farmer incomes, and strengthen national food security.

Proper storage and aggregation can also reduce spoilage, improve supply consistency, and increase market opportunities for smallholders.

Building an Inclusive Post-Harvest Ecosystem

Workshop participants endorsed a framework for commercialising post-harvest services, enabling cooperatives and MSMEs to offer fee-based drying and storage services at market hubs.

Policy recommendations included import duty waivers and tax relief for equipment, alongside a focus on women-led cooperatives and youth-driven digital monitoring tools.

Stakeholders emphasised that professionalising storage infrastructure could transform Nigeria’s agricultural value chain into an investment-ready ecosystem.

The plan also calls for national laboratories, quality assurance frameworks, and aggregation warehouses, enhancing food safety and resilience while stabilising prices.

What’s Next?

• Mobilising the $2.8 billion investment portfolio to scale post-harvest technologies nationwide.

• Launching pilot programs across the nine high-impact nodes for storage and cold chain solutions.

• Encouraging private-sector investment in hermetic bag production, smart silos, and solar-powered cold rooms.

• Expanding women-led cooperatives and youth-driven digital platforms for monitoring and aggregation.

• Strengthening national laboratory networks and warehouse infrastructure to professionalise post-harvest management.

Summary

Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture has teamed up with AGRA to tackle the country’s staggering N3.5 trillion annual post-harvest losses through the Nigeria Post-Harvest Legacy Programme.

The initiative focuses on modernising storage, aggregation, and market access for farmers, while encouraging private-sector participation and inclusive investment models.

With over 72 storage facilities mapped, nine priority investment nodes identified, and projected returns above 40%, the programme aims to create jobs, stabilise market prices, and improve national food security.

Emphasising women- and youth-led solutions, the initiative seeks to professionalise the post-harvest sector, making it both socially and economically transformative for Nigeria’s agricultural future.