By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria is losing an estimated $9bn–$10bn worth of agricultural produce every year due to post-harvest losses, agriculture entrepreneur and CEO of Davidorlar Nigeria Ltd, Segun Alabi, has said.
Speaking during an interactive session with House of Representatives correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Alabi said 30-50 per cent of the nation’s annual food output is wasted after harvest because of poor handling, weak storage systems, inefficient transportation, and inadequate processing capacity.
He noted that the losses affect fruits, vegetables, grains, and other perishables, reducing farmers’ incomes and weakening national food supply chains.
“Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest producers, yet billions of dollars in produce never reach consumers,” he said. “This undermines livelihoods, constrains food availability, and slows economic growth.”
Alabi called for urgent investment in cold-chain systems, silos, and decentralized processing centres, alongside better rural roads and logistics networks to move produce quickly from farms to markets. He also advocated farmer training on modern harvesting and storage techniques and wider use of low-cost preservation technologies such as solar dryers.
He added that supportive government policies especially those encouraging private sector investment in agro-processing are essential for closing the infrastructure gap.
According to him, reducing waste offers new opportunities for agribusiness, including converting agricultural by-products into animal feed, bioenergy, bioplastics, and organic fertilizers.
Post-harvest losses remain one of Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural challenges, particularly for fruits and vegetables, where spoilage rates often reach 40–60 per cent before produce gets to market. The lack of cold storage, poor road networks, weak electricity supply, and seasonal surpluses further worsen the problem.
Beyond economic impacts, Alabi said the losses intensify food insecurity, raise prices, and limit nutritional access. He emphasised that strengthening storage, processing, transportation, and market linkages is crucial for unlocking the full value of Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
