Nigeria Needs 300 Storage Facilities To Address Post-Harvest Losses – NSPRI

The Nigerian Stored Produce Research Institute’s Executive Director, Prof Lateef Sanni, emphasized the urgent need for approximately 300 cold chain hubs nationwide to combat post-harvest losses effectively. Sanni stressed that the country annually suffers a staggering 40% loss and advocated for substantial investments in storage facilities to reverse this trend. He highlighted the necessity for at least 10 cold chain hubs in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to mitigate losses. Currently, there are fewer than 10 hubs nationwide, primarily supported by foreign donors. Sanni urged private sector involvement to expand these facilities, aiming to reduce losses to the bare minimum. He announced the inaugural “Post Harvest Connects” conference in Abuja, slated for April 18 to 19, to address this issue collaboratively. Sanni applauded government support and underscored the importance of partnerships to combat food insecurity effectively. He emphasized the pivotal role of stakeholders, including government bodies and financial institutions, in scaling up investments to alleviate post-harvest challenges nationwide. Source: Daily Trust

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The call by Prof Lateef Sanni for 300 cold chain hubs in Nigeria highlights a crucial strategy to mitigate the country’s 40% annual post-harvest losses. Presently, with less than 10 hubs nationwide, each local government area needs a minimum of 10 to effectively curb losses. Sanni urges private sector involvement, emphasizing the potential to reduce losses from 40% to minimal levels. The upcoming “Post Harvest Connects” conference aims to address these losses collaboratively, stressing the importance of partnerships among research institutions. Government support, including from President Muhammadu Buhari and agricultural stakeholders, underscores the national commitment to combating post-harvest challenges. Collaboration with development partners and financial institutions is vital to scaling up these investments and effectively addressing post-harvest issues nationwide.