FG Launches ₦3.5 Trillion Postharvest Transformation Programme to Boost Food Security and Farmer Incomes

In a bold step to combat food losses and revive Nigeria’s agricultural economy, the Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST) a far-reaching initiative designed to address the estimated ₦3.5 trillion lost annually to postharvest inefficiencies, particularly by smallholder farmers

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Speaking during the Nigeria Legacy Program at the Africa Food Systems Forum, organized in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Dakar, Senegal, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme comes at a critical time when Nigeria must modernize its food systems to ensure national resilience.

“With an estimated ₦3.5 trillion lost annually to postharvest inefficiencies, especially among smallholder farmers, this initiative comes as a rescue plan,” Senator Kyari declared. “This is not just produce going to waste, it’s opportunity lost and livelihoods destroyed.”

NiPHaST, according to the Minister, is a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at eradicating poverty, achieving food and nutrition security, and promoting sustainable economic growth.

The programme is structured to transform the entire postharvest value chain by: Enhancing storage infrastructure from household to national levels, Introducing modern storage technologies, including cold rooms and metal silos, Encouraging public–private partnerships to manage national grain reserves, Promoting processing, preservation, packaging, and market access,Strengthening the agricultural export base and reducing food imports.

Senator Kyari emphasized that the programme is not only about reducing food waste but also about empowering farmers, especially those in rural communities, by improving income, creating job opportunities, and fostering agribusiness confidence.

He stressed that tackling postharvest losses is critical to achieving food sovereignty, stabilizing food prices, and ensuring availability, accessibility, and affordability of staple food across the country.

Kyari also called for increased international collaboration, noting that transforming postharvest systems will unlock vast opportunities for investment and position Nigeria as a leading food supplier in West Africa.

The event attracted notable dignitaries including Jigawa State Governor, Mal. Umar A. Namadi, Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, and President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, among others.