The Federal Government says Nigeria leads global root and tuber crop production, with over 60 million tonnes of cassava and yam, representing 68–76 percent of world output.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Aliyu, said this at the 2026 Post Harvest Connect and Root, Tuber, and Banana Conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference, convened by the Nigerian Stored Produce Research Institute (NSPRI) in collaboration with other stakeholders, is themed “Scaling Post-harvest Technologies for Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness.”
The minister noted that despite Nigeria’s global production capacity, significant amounts of produce are lost due to inadequate storage and post-harvest solutions.
“Many farmers lose 30–40 percent of their produce, while losses in fruits and vegetables can reach 60–70 percent. Reducing post-harvest loss even by 10 percent would increase food availability and lower prices,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasized that the conference aims to develop programs that help farmers maximize profits from their produce while ensuring citizens can access affordable food.
“Those involved in the post-harvest ecosystem—whether producing on-farm or off-farm technologies—must work together. Food security encompasses availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutrition,” he added.
He explained that the conference allows stakeholders from industry, academia, research, development partners, and the private sector to collaborate and generate national solutions for the post-harvest sector.
“Being the world’s top producer of roots and tubers, Nigeria has a post-harvest program designed to help farmers reduce losses,” he said.
Prof. Lateef Sanni, Executive Director of NSPRI, highlighted the economic potential of root, tuber, and banana crops, stressing that harnessing their value chains would benefit farmers, consumers, and the country as a whole.
Sanni also noted the importance of public-private collaboration, financial institutions, and donor engagement to address Nigeria’s post-harvest challenges and boost profitability for farmers.
