Economic Implications of Post-harvest Losses and Mitigation Strategies among Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria

Post-harvest losses affect the quantity and quality of food reaching markets and households and may reduce earnings among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. This review examines the economic implications of these losses and discusses mitigation strategies that may support household food security. Drawing on secondary literature, it considers losses across cereals, fruits and vegetables, and roots and tubers, with attention to harvesting, handling, drying, storage, transport and processing. The reviewed evidence associates losses with mechanical damage, microbial spoilage, unsuitable temperature and humidity, inadequate marketing and transport systems, limited access to equipment, and gaps in farmer training and extension services. These problems can reduce saleable output, impair food quality and constrain farmers' incomes while limiting the amount of food available for consumption. Storage is identified as an important point of loss, particularly for cereals. The literature reports that improved drying, airtight or hermetic storage, appropriate packaging, careful handling and timely processing can reduce deterioration; interventions combining storage technologies with farmer training have also been associated with better food-security outcomes. The review therefore emphasises the complementary roles of practical farm-level measures, extension services, better storage and transport infrastructure, and improved access to suitable facilities. Addressing post-harvest losses may support farmers' incomes and food availability, although the extent of these benefits depends on the crop, context and intervention.