The Federal Government has introduced the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), a nationwide initiative aimed at tackling postharvest losses valued at over N3.5 trillion annually and ensuring greater food security.
Speaking at the Nigeria Legacy Programme during the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the project will prioritize modern storage solutions such as household silos, community warehouses, cold rooms, and national grain reserves, to be managed through public-private partnerships.
Kyari emphasized that postharvest inefficiencies remain a major threat to smallholder farmers, noting: “This is not just produce going to waste; it is opportunity lost and livelihoods destroyed.”
According to him, the NiPHaST initiative is designed to stabilize food prices, boost food availability and affordability, and strengthen national food sovereignty.
“It will also drive investments across the storage value chain, from preservation and packaging to marketing, climate-smart silos, and cold-chain facilities,” he said.
He added that the programme is expected to attract private capital, build investor confidence, and expand storage infrastructure nationwide, while also encouraging international collaboration.
“The transformation of Nigeria’s postharvest systems is key to safeguarding farmers’ incomes, reviving agribusiness, and positioning the country as West Africa’s leading food supplier,” Kyari said.
Also present at the Dakar conference were Jigawa State Governor Malam 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 the President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, among others.
