Post-harvest losses (PHLs) remain a significant challenge in Nigeria, where an estimated 20-40% of harvested crops are lost due to poor handling, inadequate storage, and inefficient processing. These losses impact farmers’ incomes, food security, and the nation’s agricultural economy.
However, innovative technologies are emerging to combat this issue, and Nigerian farmers can also adopt these innovations to preserve more of their produce and improve productivity. Here are ten ways technological innovations that are helping to prevent post-harvest losses:
1. Hermetic Storage Technologies
Hermetic storage solutions, like Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, are airtight containers that prevent moisture, air, and pests from entering. This technology has proven to be highly effective for grains such as maize, cowpeas, and rice in Nigeria. By eliminating the need for chemical pesticides and reducing spoilage, hermetic storage can extend the shelf life of grains and ensure better quality for longer periods.
2. Solar-Powered Cold Storage
Nigeria faces major electricity challenges, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is dominant. Solar-powered cold storage solutions, such as ColdHubs, provide farmers with a reliable way to store perishable products like fruits, vegetables, and dairy without relying on the national grid. These off-grid cold storage units extend the freshness of perishable produce, significantly reducing spoilage before reaching markets.
3. Mobile Applications for Market Access
Digital platforms such as Farmcrowdy and AgroMall connect farmers with market information, allowing them to sell their produce at the right time and price. These mobile apps provide real-time updates on market trends, weather conditions, and demand, enabling farmers to make informed decisions about when and where to sell, thus reducing losses due to oversupply or poor market conditions.
4. Mechanized Harvesting Equipment
Inadequate and manual harvesting techniques often result in damage to crops, contributing to significant losses. Mechanized harvesting tools, including combine harvesters and threshers, ensure that crops are harvested efficiently and with minimal damage. These machines are especially useful for grains and other staples in Nigeria, where manual labor is prone to inefficiency.
5. Drones for Precision Agriculture
Drone technology is increasingly being used in Nigeria for precision agriculture. Drones help farmers monitor crop health, identify pest infestations, and determine the optimal time for harvest. By providing detailed aerial imagery, drones reduce the likelihood of harvesting crops at the wrong time, improving yield quality and reducing post-harvest losses due to premature or late harvesting.
6. Automated Drying Systems
Traditional sun-drying methods are prone to contamination, uneven drying, and weather dependency, all of which contribute to post-harvest losses. Automated drying systems, such as solar dryers, ensure uniform and controlled drying of grains, fruits, and vegetables. These systems reduce losses from spoilage, mold growth, and insect infestation, ensuring higher-quality produce ready for storage or market.
7. Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency
Blockchain technology is being tested in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to improve supply chain transparency. With blockchain, the journey of produce from farm to market is tracked, ensuring accountability and reducing inefficiencies. Blockchain also helps prevent delays and fraud in transactions, which can lead to spoilage during the transportation and storage phases of the supply chain.
8. Post-Harvest Processing Equipment
Post-harvest processing plays a crucial role in reducing losses, particularly for highly perishable goods like tomatoes and yams. Small-scale, affordable processing equipment—such as tomato paste machines and yam processors—allow farmers to add value to their produce, reducing losses by converting perishable goods into more stable products that can be stored and transported over longer distances.
9. Agri-Logistics Solutions
Efficient transportation is key to preventing post-harvest losses, especially in a country like Nigeria where poor road networks delay the movement of produce. Agri-logistics platforms such as Hello Tractor connect farmers with transport providers, ensuring timely and efficient movement of crops from farms to markets. By minimizing delays and reducing exposure to harsh environmental conditions, these logistics solutions help reduce spoilage.
10. Warehouse Receipt Systems (WRS)
The Warehouse Receipt System allows farmers to store their harvested produce in certified warehouses, where the quality is maintained under controlled conditions. Farmers receive warehouse receipts that can be used as collateral for loans, enabling them to wait for better market prices before selling. This system helps reduce losses caused by the pressure to sell immediately after harvest, when prices are typically low.
Hence, the use of technological innovations in Nigeria’s agricultural sector is crucial to minimizing post-harvest losses, improving food security, and increasing farmer incomes. By adopting cold storage, mobile apps for market access, blockchain, and mechanized harvesting tools, Nigerian farmers can better preserve their harvests and reduce waste.