World Food Day: FG Moves To Cut Food Losses From 40% To Below 20%

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

As part of measures to tackle high food prices through improved storage, cold-chain facilities and increased agricultural production, the Federal Government says it is targeting a reduction in post-harvest losses from 40% to below 20%.

Sen. Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this in his statement to commemorate World Food Day 2026, themed “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”

Abdullahi explained that the government was also pursuing aggressive dry-season farming, investments in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) and orderly releases from the Strategic Food Reserve to address food-price pressures.

According to him, a guaranteed Minimum Price mechanism formed part of the government’s measures, alongside irrigation expansion, climate-smart agriculture and efforts to improve farmers’ access to affordable financing.

The minister maintained that the government’s approach focused on increasing food production, reducing losses, strengthening agricultural value chains and enabling farmers to produce profitably.

PerSecondNews recalls that the ministry earlier reported that agriculture recorded 4.39% overall growth in the second quarter of 2026, while crop production expanded by 3.66%, citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to him, the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) had supported smallholder farmers to produce 2.5 million metric tonnes of staple foods across four farming seasons.

Abdullahi also disclosed that Nigeria’s annual domestic wheat production had risen to approximately 420,000 metric tonnes, representing a 3.5-fold increase from the previous baseline of 120,000 metric tonnes.

On mechanisation, he highlighted the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, involving 2,000 tractors and implements, aimed at making farming more efficient, less labour-intensive and attractive to young people.

The minister also identified soil mapping under the National Soil Health and Fertility Programme, the promotion of biofortified crops and the revitalisation of agricultural extension services as other interventions to improve agricultural productivity.

He added that digital extension platforms linked to the National Farmers Registry, harmonised with the National Identification Number (NIN), were being promoted to strengthen agricultural advisory services.

Abdullahi further listed agricultural insurance, pest surveillance and the repositioning of the Bank of Agriculture for affordable financing among measures to support farmers and strengthen food production.

He also highlighted the National Cooperative Identity Reform under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP 2030), designed to improve transparency, digitalisation, cooperative finance and enterprise development.

The programme, unanimously approved by the 8th National Council on Cooperative Affairs in March 2026, provides a seven-pillar framework covering legal and regulatory reform, digitalisation and data management, cooperative finance, capacity building, enterprise growth, socio-economic inclusion and strategic partnerships.

Acknowledging insecurity in some major food-producing areas of Northern Nigeria, Abdullahi said the government was deploying Army personnel, Civil Defence and Agro-Rangers to protect farmlands, alongside enhanced collaboration between security agencies and farming communities.

He called for continued cooperation among stakeholders and expressed appreciation to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners for their support.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a productive, resilient and competitive agricultural sector capable of feeding the population and contributing to economic growth.