Nigeria Losing 50% of Agricultural Produce to Post-harvest Waste, Says UNESCO
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology (ICB) has said that Nigeria loses 40 to 50 percent of its produce to post-harvest waste due to lack of
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Centre for Biotechnology in Nigeria has reported that the country loses between 40 to 50 percent of its agricultural produce to post-harvest waste. This is primarily due to a lack of adequate cold storage facilities, drying equipment, power supply, and processing infrastructure. The loss of such a substantial portion of agricultural output highlights the critical need for effective post-harvest management strategies.
During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, the UNESCO agency joined forces with six partner institutions to enhance food security through biotechnology research, innovation, and collaboration. The MoU signing took place at the 5th International Conference on Biotechnology for Food Security and Human Health, held in Abuja.
Prof. Umezurike Linus Opara, the Foundation Executive Director of the Centre, expressed concern over low productivity, which ranges between 30 to 40 percent of global averages. To address this challenge, he emphasized the potential of biotechnology to improve seed quality, pest and disease resistance, and increase yields by 30 to 40 percent through proper irrigation and fertilizer use.
The Centre plans to initiate research on legumes, which are vital for carbohydrate and protein, to study their genetic makeup and transform them into value-added products like baby formula. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed with six organizations, aims to pool resources - including human capital, infrastructure, laboratories, and skills - to combat the significant problem of food insecurity in Nigeria and across Africa.
Opara stressed the importance of a value-chain approach to agriculture, warning that production remains less than half of the global average. He also addressed concerns regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), clarifying that GMO technology is merely a tool, like tissue culture and conventional selection. He assured that Nigeria has regulatory safeguards through the National Biosafety Management Agency, ensuring the safe application of biotechnology.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the timeliness of the conference theme in light of the rapidly growing population, climate change, pandemics, and supply chain disruptions. He highlighted the need for a biotechnology-driven approach to address malnutrition, pest-resistant crops, disease-tolerant varieties, and high-yield crops.
Alausa called for collective efforts from government, researchers, the private sector, and civil society to establish a robust regulatory framework, fund research, and ensure the technology reaches the grassroots level.
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