Nigeria’s food security challenge: Why cold chain infrastructure is an investment Nigeria cannot ignore

By Opeoluwa Runsewe

Nigeria’s nutrient information speech has traditionally focused connected accumulation volumes specified arsenic tonnes harvested, hectares cultivated and yearly output growth. While these indicators matter, they bash not afloat seizure the structural situation facing Nigeria’s cultivation economy. A ample stock of nutrient produced crossed the state ne'er reaches consumers successful bully information due to the fact that the infrastructure required to store, sphere and transport perishable goods remains underdeveloped.

Post harvest nonaccomplishment remains 1 of the astir overlooked risks wrong Nigeria’s cultivation worth chain. Estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization bespeak that up to 40 percent of nutrient produced successful Sub Saharan Africa is mislaid betwixt harvest and consumption. Nigeria mirrors this pattern. Industry estimates suggest that betwixt 30 and 50 percent of perishable crops specified arsenic tomatoes, fruits, vegetables and food are mislaid each twelvemonth owed to anemic retention and logistics systems.

The economical interaction is significant. Recent manufacture information shows Nigeria loses betwixt ₦3.5 trillion and ₦5 trillion worthy of nutrient annually owed to station harvest inefficiencies crossed large cultivation worth chains. These losses correspond nutrient that has already been cultivated and harvested but ne'er reaches markets...