Nigeria is facing a severe economic and food security crisis, losing a staggering sum estimated between $9 billion and $10 billion every year due to post-harvest losses. This massive financial drain is wiping out nearly half of the nation's agricultural output.
A Stark Warning from Industry Leader
The alarming revelation was made public by Mr. Segun Alabi, the Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited. He sounded the warning during a press conference held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, 2nd December 2025.
Alabi cautioned that without immediate and well-coordinated intervention, these colossal losses will continue to paralyze Nigeria's agricultural sector, despite its vast potential for growth and prosperity.
The Root Causes of the Crisis
The CEO pinpointed several critical failures in the agricultural value chain leading to the waste. He disclosed that Nigeria loses between 30% and 50% of its farm produce annually. The primary culprits include:
- Poor handling of produce after harvest.
- Inadequate storage facilities and systems.
- Inefficient transportation and weak logistics networks.
- Limited local processing capacity.
"These losses undermine farmers' livelihoods, reduce food availability, weaken our export prospects, and ultimately slow down national economic growth," Alabi stated emphatically.
Proposed Solutions and National Call to Action
Alabi, whose agritech firm focuses on pineapple farming and waste-to-wealth innovation, outlined a multi-pronged strategy to combat the menace. His company, Davidorlah Farms—the largest pineapple estate in West Africa—is poised to support national efforts.
The key strategies he highlighted are:
- Investment in Infrastructure: Building modern storage like cold chains and silos, and establishing local processing hubs to extend the shelf life of perishable goods.
- Farmer Training: Educating farmers on improved harvesting and handling techniques to cut waste at the source.
- Tech Adoption: Leveraging technologies such as solar dryers, mobile processing units, and low-cost preservation systems.
- Policy Support: Urging lawmakers to enact policies that encourage agro-processing and reward waste-reduction initiatives across the entire value chain.
He also stressed that fixing poor rural roads and logistics is essential to prevent damage before produce reaches consumers.
Broader Benefits of Curbing Waste
Alabi elaborated on the transformative impact of reducing agricultural waste. The benefits would extend far beyond the farms:
Economic Gains: It would boost marketable output, increase farmers' incomes, enhance export potential, and strengthen agriculture's contribution to Nigeria's GDP.
Job Creation: Large-scale initiatives would generate thousands of new jobs in logistics, processing, storage management, and technology manufacturing.
Environmental Protection: Minimizing waste reduces environmental pressure, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and improves soil health through recycling and composting practices.
The call to action is clear: tackling post-harvest losses is not just an agricultural imperative but a national emergency critical for Nigeria's food security and economic stability.
