The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), a major initiative aimed at reducing food losses, boosting farmer incomes, and achieving food security in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The programme was announce by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the Nigeria Legacy Program at the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Dakar, Senegal.
According to the Minister, Nigeria loses an estimated ₦3.5 trillion annually due to poor postharvest handling and storage systems, a challenge that mostly affects smallholder farmers.
“This is not just produce going to waste. It is opportunity lost and livelihoods destroyed,” Kyari said. He added that the NiPHaST programme will stabilize food prices, improve storage, ensure affordable access to staple food, and strengthen national food sovereignty.
The initiative will prioritize household storage technologies, community warehouses, cold rooms, and national silos managed through public private partnerships. It will also drive investment in processing, packaging, and preservation, while creating jobs and enhancing agricultural exports.
Senator Kyari stressed that transforming postharvest systems will revive agribusiness confidence, secure farmer livelihoods, and position Nigeria as a key food supplier in West Africa.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Governor of Jigawa State, Mal. Umar A. Namadi, Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, and other top officials in the agriculture sector.
