Farmers Warn Of “Silent Thief” As $3.5 Billion Post-Harvest Plan Faces Transparency Test

NIGERIA, Africa’s most populous nation and one of the continent’s agricultural powerhouses, is grappling with a paradox: while it produces vast quantities of food, a staggering portion of this output never makes it to the consumer’s table. The culprit is post-harvest losses, a problem often described as a “silent thief” because of its ability to rob farmers of income, drain national resources, and exacerbate food insecurity without attracting immediate attention.

A Crisis in Numbers

According to the Federal Government, Nigeria loses ₦3.5 trillion annually to post-harvest losses across crops such as tomatoes, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Estimates suggest that losses range from 30% to 50%, depending on the crop and stage of the supply chain. For perishable produce like tomatoes, the losses are even higher, often occurring within days of harvest due to poor storage, lack of cold chain facilities, and weak transportation networks.

Farmers say the losses are not only financial but also psychological, leaving them disheartened and less motivated to expand production. For consumers, the effect is equally devastating: food scarcity, inflated prices, and malnutrition.

A $3.5 Billion Promise

To address the crisis, the government recently launched the Nigeria Post-harvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), a ten-year initiative projected to attract over $3.5 billion in investments. The program promises to focus on modern storage facilities, value-addition processes, and advanced technologies to reduce spoilage.

Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described post-harvest losses as “a drain on farmers’ incomes and a major threat to national food security,” stressing that NiPHaST was designed to be a game-changer.

Yet, the program has already drawn criticism for its lack of inclusivity. Smallholder farmers, who bear the brunt of spoilage, say they were not consulted before the policy was announced.

Farmers Left in the Dark

Sani Danladi, National Secretary of the National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN), expressed surprise at the initiative.

“Actually, we tomato farmers are not aware of this program. If they require our input to achieve its goals, we are willing to advise them professionally, based on our experience. But for now, our association is not aware, even though we are the most affected,” he said.

This reflects a broader concern that policies are often designed in Abuja without adequate consultation with the rural communities most affected by them.

Stakeholders Call for Strategic Action

Agribusiness leaders say NiPHaST could succeed, but only if properly executed. Adebowale Onafowora, Founder of BIC Farms Concepts, described the current level of losses as “a national crisis that undermines food security, cripples the rural economy, and fuels poverty.”

He praised the program’s focus on technologies like hermetic bags, solar dryers, and on-farm silos, which would give farmers control over storage and reduce the need for distress sales at harvest. However, he warned against “business as usual,” urging the government to adopt public-private partnerships (PPP) that leverage the expertise of cooperatives and agro-social enterprises.

Kabir Ibrahim, President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), also welcomed the initiative, saying it could unlock $3.2 billion worth of storage and processing facilities over the next decade. “It’s a win-win that will bring prosperity to farmers and affordability to consumers,” he said, while cautioning that the program is still in its infancy.

The Silo Controversy

A major point of debate in Nigeria’s food system is the management of silo complexes—33 large storage facilities built with a capacity of 1.3 million metric tons. While 22 of these were concessioned to private operators during the Buhari administration, critics argue that the decision has left farmers vulnerable.

Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), insists that the concessions should be reversed, with silos restored to the direct control of the Ministry of Agriculture. “These silos are vital infrastructure for the current post-harvest mitigation policy. Without them, the policy cannot succeed,” he argued.

The House of Representatives has also raised concerns about transparency in the concessioning process, highlighting the need for accountability in managing national food assets.

Technology and Energy Bottlenecks

While modern technologies such as cold chain systems, solar-powered refrigeration, and sensor-based monitoring could drastically reduce spoilage, their deployment faces hurdles. The biggest challenge is energy. With Nigeria’s erratic power supply, cold chain infrastructure is difficult to sustain.

Farmers and private firms are experimenting with renewable energy solutions, but the high upfront costs limit adoption. Agribusiness groups are calling for targeted government subsidies and donor partnerships to bridge the gap.

WFP Raises Alarm

The World Food Programme (WFP) has also warned that Nigeria’s food crisis could worsen if structural issues are not addressed. David Stevenson, WFP Country Director, revealed that escalating conflict in the northeast has already displaced farmers and disrupted food production. WFP has cut its assistance from 1.5 million people in July to just 850,000 in September, due to funding shortfalls.

“These contributions come at a pivotal moment for Nigeria and the wider region. Farmers are being driven from their fields, and families face hunger and displacement,” Stevenson said, urging donors and the Nigerian government to co-invest in food security.

The Road Ahead

Experts agree that the success of NiPHaST and similar programs will hinge on four factors:

1. Transparency in the allocation of funds and selection of partners.

2. Inclusion of farmers’ associations and cooperatives in planning and implementation.

3. Security on transportation corridors to ensure produce can reach markets safely.

4. Technology adoption tailored to Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure realities.

At stake is not just food security but the very future of Nigeria’s agricultural economy. If well implemented, the program could save trillions of naira annually, boost farmer incomes, reduce poverty, and position Nigeria as a regional food hub. If poorly executed, however, it risks becoming yet another policy that fails to move from paper to practice.