Nigeria loses $10bn yearly to post-harvest challenges —Minister

Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security, says Nigeria loses about $10 billion annually to post-harvest challenges such as flooding and poor storage.

Kyari spoke on Monday at the inauguration of the Green Legacy Rural Community Agriculture and Infrastructure Network (G.R.A.I.N) pulse centre in Kangire community.

The minister said the country’s food security is undermined not only by storage issues but also by weak infrastructure, limited processing facilities, climate change, soil degradation, and erratic rainfall.

According to Kyari, smallholder farmers account for 70 percent of the country’s food production, yet they remain the most vulnerable.

He noted that agriculture contributes about 24 percent to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), adding that strengthening smallholder productivity will boost the economy and reduce hunger.

“By empowering smallholder farmers with modern tools, technology, and markets, we can unlock the full wealth of our land and people,” the minister said.

Kyari also emphasised the role of private-sector-driven interventions in addressing food system gaps.

According to him, initiatives such as the G.R.A.I.N pulse centre provide integrated support across the agricultural value chain (production, processing, and distribution) while also driving rural development.