Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses: A Gateway to Improving Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers and Ensuring Food Security in Nigeria

doi:10.7176/jbah/11-22-04

Abstract

Nigerian smallholder farmers suffer huge losses on annual basis in terms of monetary value as a result of postharvest losses due to factors such as inadequate storage/processing facilities, poor transportation system, lack of power supply and unorganized marketing network. With the largest population on the African continent and a spiraling increase, a corresponding increase in food supply is inevitable. The food security situation in Nigeria is already challenged by a growing pressure on land and water resources due to population increase, farmers-herders clashes and terrorism which has adversely disrupted farming activities particularly in the northeastern part of the country. With all these challenges, high loss of farm produce due to post-harvest loss is indeed another great threat to the attainment of food security in Nigeria. This paper focused primarily on postharvest losses which are like a recurring decimal in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, it discussed the driving factors, highlights its impacts and suggest some viable solutions and measures that can be adopted to tackle the problem with a view of increasing farmer’s income and ensuring food security in Nigeria. Keywords: Post-harvest loss, Smallholder farmers, Livelihood, Food security and Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-22-04 Publication date: November 30 th 2021

Highlights

Food is one of the most vital and basic need of life
Resources Wastage Waste of farm produce without satisfying the purpose of feeding a final consumer is a complete waste of resources, time and effort that was employed in the entire production cycle
This includes land, capital used in purchasing of all inputs used, wages for labor and managerial efforts are all wasted on futility due to lack of storage/processing facilities and market for produce

Summary

Introduction

Food is one of the most vital and basic need of life. It’s a basic component of life regardless of class, belief or race. Due to so many factors such as lack of good storage and processing facilities, poor power supply, poor access and linkage roads and lack of modern post-harvest handling skills among farmers in Nigeria, a lot of agricultural produce; especially the perishables end up as wastes rather than table of consumers as a result of deterioration and spoilage.

Results

Conclusion