The Federal Government says Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of root and tuber crops, accounting for about 68 to 76 per cent of global output, with over 60 million tonnes of cassava and yam produced annually.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Aliyu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Post-Harvest Connect and Root, Tuber and Banana Conference organised by the Nigerian Stored Produce Research Institute (NSPRI) in collaboration with stakeholders.
The event is themed “Scaling Post-Harvest Technologies for Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness.”
The minister, however, expressed concern that despite Nigeria’s strong production capacity, significant post-harvest losses continue to undermine food security and farmer earnings.
“Though our production capacity is high, the country’s challenge is post-harvest losses,” he said.
He noted that farmers lose between 30 and 40 per cent of their produce after harvest, while losses in fruits and vegetables can reach 60 to 70 per cent.
Aliyu said reducing post-harvest losses by just 10 per cent would significantly improve food availability and help lower prices.
“If we reduce post-harvest loss by even 10 per cent, more food will be available, and that will impact affordability because the more you have, the lower the price,” he said.
He added that government’s priority is to ensure farmers benefit from their efforts while also guaranteeing affordable food for citizens.
According to him, the conference was convened to bring together all stakeholders in the post-harvest ecosystem, including technology providers, researchers, the private sector, and development partners, to develop practical solutions.
Aliyu stressed that food security must be viewed holistically, including availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
Executive Director of NSPRI, Prof. Lateef Sanni, said the focus on root, tuber, and banana crops was due to their economic importance and vast value-chain opportunities.
He noted that Nigeria’s position as the world’s largest producer of these crops presents significant opportunities if post-harvest challenges are addressed.
“There is a need to prioritise these crops so that we can maximise their rich potential,” he said.
“We need private sector engagement, financial institutions, post-harvest credit facilities, and donor support,” he said, adding that increased private sector participation would boost investment, improve farmer profitability, and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
