National Assembly Pledges More Research Funding to Curb Post-Harvest Losses

News in Brief

-The National Assembly has committed to increased funding for NSPRI at the 3rd Post-Harvest Connect Conference in Abuja, targeting losses threatening food security.

-Leaders called for scaling technologies, partnerships, and oversight to boost farmer incomes and competitiveness in root, tuber, and banana chains.

The National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to increasing budgetary support for the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) to deliver effective post-harvest solutions and bolster food security nationwide. This pledge was made during the 3rd Post-Harvest Connect and Root, Tuber and Banana Conference, held on Wednesday in Abuja, themed Scaling Post-Harvest Technologies for Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness. Organised by NSPRI alongside key stakeholders, the event highlighted the urgent need to tackle massive losses that undermine farmers' livelihoods and national agricultural competitiveness.

Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions and Colleges, Rep. Abiodun Akinlade, represented by his deputy, Salman Idris, underscored post-harvest losses as a major threat to Nigeria's food security. He assured continued legislative support for NSPRI and similar institutions via enhanced budgets, advocacy for more funding, and robust oversight to ensure accountability and alignment with agricultural transformation goals.

“We are determined to ensure that institutions under our purview remain accountable, efficient and aligned with national priorities for agricultural transformation. I reaffirm our committee’s commitment to robust oversight functions,” Akinlade stated.

Akinlade described the conference as a vital platform that fosters synergy among policymakers, researchers, and industry players to showcase innovations, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships. This collaboration aims to elevate Nigeria’s standing in global agriculture by turning research into scalable solutions for farmers, processors, and consumers.

“We stand ready to collaborate with NSPRI and all stakeholders to translate these innovations into scalable solutions that will benefit farmers, processors and consumers alike,” he added.

Senate Echoes Commitment to Value Chain Resilience

Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, highlighted persistent substantial losses in the root, tuber, and banana value chains between harvest and consumption. Addressing these gaps is crucial for boosting farmers’ incomes, improving market access, reducing food prices, and fortifying national resilience against supply shocks. 

Alli noted that prior conference editions have enhanced collaboration among researchers, agribusinesses, policymakers, and partners, raising awareness and adoption of better storage and handling technologies. The outcomes, he said, are driving a more efficient and competitive agricultural value chain. 

The senator pledged his committee's ongoing focus on strengthening education, research, and institutional capacities as pillars of Nigeria's agricultural overhaul.

ARCN Stresses Innovation, Scaling and Partnerships

Dr Adamu Dabban, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), described the conference as timely amid rising emphasis on post-harvest management for productivity and development. He affirmed its alignment with ARCN’s mandate to coordinate research addressing national priorities.

While acknowledging the visible gap between innovation and adoption in Nigerian agriculture, Dabban called for the adoption of local solutions.

“Technologies developed within our research institutes must be effectively disseminated, adapted and scaled to achieve meaningful impact,” he said.

He further noted that the event offers an opportunity to deepen ties with universities, extension services, the private sector, and partners, urging a practical focus on financing access, extension, and policy backing. ARCN remains committed to fortifying the national research system.

Dabban urged participants to focus on practical outcomes that would improve technology scaling, access to financing, extension services and policy support, and assured them of the council's support.