Experts advocate for policies, technology-driven methods to reduce food insecurity

Agricultural experts have stressed the need to curb post-harvest losses through effective policies and technologies in order to boost food production and lower the prices of foodstuffs in the country.

The experts who spoke at a seminar on Feed up Africa held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital urged governments at all level to adopt policies and technology-driven interventions to reduce post-harvest losses stifling food security in Nigeria.

An agro-processing expert, Eric Alao, while speaking at the seminar urged Nigerians to strive hard to reduce post-harvest losses just as he identified wastages on farms and after production as contributing to high prices of agricultural produce and food shortage being experienced in the country.

Alao added that food processing must be encouraged as a way of stopping wastage.

“One of the ways of strengthening food security is by reducing post-harvest losses. African post-harvest loss can be as high as 50 percent in vegetables, fruits and root tubers and 25 percent in cereals.

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“Also, there should be adequate sensitization and education along the post-harvest chain on good agronomical practices. There must also be adequate training or knowledge transfer to agric players of chain in understanding the causes of the loss and adopting preventive approach to reduce loss.

“Economical technological innovation that meets the small holders farmers post harvest needs is also very important as well as responsible consumption to ensure optimal food usage and waste reduction.”

Another expert, who spoke at the seminar, Dickson Orisamuyiwa, said Nigerian investors should move in to reduce wastages to shore up the country’s food production capacity.

He said, “Postharvest technologies can contribute to food security in multiple ways. They can reduce losses thereby increasing the amount of food available for consumption by farmers and poor rural and urban consumers.

“The benefits to consumers from reducing losses include lower prices and improved food security. In addition, postharvest activities such as processing and marketing can create employment and better food security in the agricultural sector.