Effective agro-logistics; pathway to reduce post harvest losses and improve household and National food security in Nigeria

Preservation of agricultural products has remained a serious challenge over the years, resulting in huge post-harvest losses annually. This position paper, examined various challenges associated with post-harvest losses, factors that contribute to post-harvest losses and its consequences on household and national food security. Using literature and pictures from authors? studies, this paper also identified agro-logistics bottlenecks and different stages at which losses are incurred along agricultural value chain. Lack of storage facilities (especially modern facilities), financial incapability, lack of access to modern drying technology, poor post-harvest handling across the value chain were among the factors that contribute to post-harvest losses. Poor post-harvest logistics and bad road networks most especially in rural areas also contribute to losses of food in the supply chain. Consequently, actors at different stages of agricultural value chain have a share of the losses. As concerted efforts are being directed at increasing food production in the country, adequate attention should be given to effective agro-logistics in the agricultural value chain as well. This will not only ensure getting agricultural products to the right market or consumers, at the right time, in the required quality or specifications, but also, reduce costs along the value chain and increase the revenue of actors in food supply chain, thereby contributing to sustainable food security at household and national levels in the country.