The Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) has expressed concern over the increasing rate of post-harvest losses among farmers across the state.
The Director of Agricultural Technical Services at BSADP, Mr. Rafilawus Iliya, stated this in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Bauchi.
Iliya said poor handling practices continued to undermine farmers’ hard-earned gains, leading to significant losses each year.
He noted that many farmers lose a substantial portion of their produce annually due to carelessness and failure to adhere to proper post-harvest procedures.
According to him, post-harvest activities — from harvesting to processing and storage — play a crucial role in determining how much of a farmer’s effort translates into actual yield.
“Unfortunately, many farmers lose up to a third of their crops because of poor practices,” he said.
The director identified the inability of farmers to determine the correct maturity stage of crops as a major cause of losses.
“Most farmers still rely on guesswork to decide when to harvest. Without checking moisture content, they store crops that are not ready, leading to rot and spoilage,” he explained.
Iliya added that using blunt or poorly maintained harvesting tools often causes grains to scatter or spill in the field — a factor frequently overlooked but contributing to high wastage.
He further said that substantial losses also occur during transportation, as rickety vehicles drop large quantities of produce on the way to storage facilities or markets.
“Many farmers would be shocked if they knew how much produce is lost between the farm and the store,” he lamented.
The director warned that the cumulative effect of these losses poses a serious threat to food security and farmers’ income.
He, therefore, urged farmers to adopt standard post-harvest handling methods, including proper drying of crops for 24 to 72 hours depending on the type, using appropriate tools, and maintaining clean storage conditions.
“With simple practices such as checking grain moisture and ensuring proper drying, farmers can save a large portion of what they currently lose,” he advised.
