Reduction in Post Harvest loses key to Food Security – FG 

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the promise during the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones High-Level Implementation Acceleration workshop in Abuja, on Monday.

The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative is a programme aimed at boosting agriculture through investments, integrating farming, processing, and marketing to increase productivity, reduce losses, and enhance value addition for food security.

Speaking at the workshop, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari called for a concerted effort towards addressing the challenges within the agricultural sector.

He said, “Our objective is clear: we must enhance our production capabilities and reduce post-harvest losses from the current 45 per cent to 20 per cent. This is critical not only for food security but also for improving the livelihoods of our farmers.”

He noted that the SAPZ initiative aims to create agro-industrial processing zones across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on key crops like cassava, rice, maize, and cocoa, adding that the programme is expected to generate approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs while also contributing to the nation’s food supply.

“The objective of this two day workshop is to deliberate on the existing challenges and forge an accelerated implementation plan that will enable us achieve Mr. President’s food security agenda.”

On his part, the Finance Minister Wale Edun, said the production of food is fundamental to economic stability. When we achieve our production goals, “we will see a significant impact on inflation, interest rates, and ultimately, our trade balance,” he said.

Edun highlighted the collaboration between the federal and state governments, as well as private sector partners, as vital for the success of the SAPZ programme.

In his contribution, Country Director of the African Development Bank, Abdul Kamara, said the workshop underscored the potential of the SAPZ programme to transform the rural economy.

“By reducing post-harvest losses from 50 per cent to 10-20 per cent, we can make a significant contribution to the economy and improve food security,” Kamara said.

He encouraged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to address challenges impeding implementation.

The Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Dede Ekoue, expressed gratitude for the initiative, and highlighted the leadership of the Finance. Mister, saying, “His leadership in facilitating the finalisation and implementation of the Financing Agreements has been invaluable.”

Ekoue highlighted ongoing efforts in Kano State, where IFAD is supporting an accelerated pilot project aimed at enhancing the capabilities of rice and tomato farmers.

The Director outlined key actions to enhance the programme’s success, including strengthening coordination and technical capacity.