At the 3rd Post-Harvest Connect and Root, Tuber and Banana Conference held in Abuja, federal lawmakers and agricultural stakeholders have called for urgent action to tackle post-harvest losses, which they described as a major threat to Nigeria’s food security.
The event, organised by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry experts under the theme “Scaling Post-Harvest Technologies for Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness.”
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions and Colleges, Salman Idris, reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to support agricultural agencies through stronger legislation, improved funding, and effective oversight.
He emphasized the need to ensure that relevant institutions remain efficient and aligned with national agricultural goals, while also advocating for increased budgetary allocations to strengthen the sector.
Similarly, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, highlighted the economic impact of post-harvest losses, noting that inefficiencies in the value chain reduce farmers’ income and contribute to higher food prices.
He stressed that improving storage and handling systems would help boost productivity, expand market access, and strengthen national food resilience.
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Adamu Dabban, also raised concerns about the gap between research and real-world application, urging better adoption and scaling of locally developed technologies.
He called for stronger collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and the private sector to ensure that innovations translate into practical solutions for farmers and consumers.
The conference ended with a shared commitment from lawmakers and agricultural institutions to improve food systems through innovation, funding, and better implementation of research outputs.
