Post-Harvest Losses Cost Nigeria N3.5 Trillion Yearly, Bank of Agriculture Says

Nigeria loses about N3.5 trillion annually to post-harvest losses, a figure that highlights the scale of waste in the country’s food system. Recent reporting says the losses affect major value chains including tomatoes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, fish and root crops, with millions of metric tonnes wasted each year.

The problem is not just about food spoiling after harvest. It also reflects gaps in storage, transportation, processing and refrigeration, which together make it difficult for farmers to preserve produce long enough to reach markets in good condition.[thecable]

One report says Nigeria loses as much as 30 to 40 million metric tonnes of food annually to these inefficiencies, a waste that translates into huge financial losses and worsens hunger. That level of loss is especially troubling in a country where food prices remain high and many households are already struggling.

Experts say the solution lies in better infrastructure, especially cold-chain systems, warehousing and processing facilities. They also argue for stronger investment in logistics and preservation technology so that farmers can keep more of what they produce and earn more from their labor.

The economic impact is severe because the losses are large enough to swallow a major share of agricultural investment. One analysis noted that annual post-harvest losses exceed the federal agriculture budget over several years combined, showing how much value is being lost before food even reaches consumers.

For farmers, the consequences include lower income, reduced bargaining power and more uncertainty after harvest. For consumers, the result is less food supply and higher prices, since scarcity grows when a significant share of produce never makes it to market.

The warning from agriculture stakeholders is straightforward: Nigeria cannot achieve food security while so much of its produce is being wasted. Reducing post-harvest losses could be one of the fastest ways to improve food availability without necessarily increasing farmland.

In practical terms, this means the country needs more than production support alone. It must also build the systems that protect food after harvest, or else the gains from farming will continue to evaporate before they can benefit households or the wider economy.