By Faridat Salifu
Agricultural stakeholders recently convened the inaugural “1st Post-harvest Connect Conference and Exhibition” in Abuja to advocate for heightened investment in post-harvest management within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Themed “Scaling Appropriate Post-Harvest Solutions for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security,” the event emphasized the critical role of technology and infrastructure in bolstering post-harvest practices.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), highlighted the necessity for increased investment to address post-harvest challenges faced by smallholder farmers across Africa.
His presentation, titled “Scaling Appropriate Postharvest Solutions for Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security,” underscored the potential of improved post-harvest management to drive commercialization, enhance climate resilience, and mitigate revenue loss.
Representing Dr. Kanangire, Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin stressed the importance of strengthening technology transfer processes to ensure smallholder farmers have access to affordable post-harvest solutions tailored to their financial constraints.
Dr. Alfred Dixon, Chairman of the Governing Board at the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), emphasized the dual benefits of enhanced post-harvest solutions: increased food availability and improved nutrition distribution.
He urged stakeholders to prioritize sustainable post-harvest practices to reduce food losses and promote community well-being.
Dr. Simon Ehui, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), highlighted the transformative potential of collaborative efforts in revolutionizing post-harvest management.
He emphasized the need for partnerships to reduce food waste and ensure equitable access to nutritious food.
Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Foundation, underscored the pivotal role of curtailing post-harvest losses in achieving food security in Nigeria.
He pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at bolstering food security and agricultural prosperity.
Organized by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other stakeholders, the conference serves as a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a more sustainable agricultural future.