Post-harvest management: Over 1bn tons of crops lost annually – NSPRI

The Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) has said that over 1 billion tons of crops are lost annually due to poor post-harvest management.

NSPRI Zonal Coordinator Dr (Mrs) Eunice Bamishaiye disclosed this during a capacity building workshop for youths and women on post-harvest management for perishable crops in Kano State.

• SON Vows To Address Product Cloning In Nigeria
• The Task Ahead Of Professor Mahmood Yakubu

According to her, over the past decades in developing countries, 95% of resources were allocated to production while a little over 20% was committed to post-harvest management.

“Nigeria produces less sufficient food to meet the demand of its current population yet the nation’s insufficient supply of over 1 billion tons of food are lost or wasted every year.

“The highest level of food loss or waste occurs in perishable crops. No doubt food losses and food waste not only have an adverse impact on the region’s food security, but also negatively impact on the environment,” she said.