FUNAAB, NSPRI Deepen Collaboration with Workshop on Post-Harvest Loss Management

In a renewed push to curb Nigeria’s persistent post-harvest losses, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), through its Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), has partnered with the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) to host a one-day capacity-building workshop on post-harvest management.

The workshop, titled “Handling Post-Harvest Losses of Tomato and Leafy Vegetables,” was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2025, at the AMREC Seminar Room. It was designed to equip farmers and other stakeholders with practical skills in handling, processing, storage, and value addition, with a view to reducing wastage and improving profitability across the agricultural value chain.

Opening the programme on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Olawale Dairo, described the workshop as timely and strategic. He noted that while agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, poor post-harvest practices account for losses ranging from 30 to 50 per cent in perishable crops such as tomatoes and leafy vegetables. These losses, he explained, are largely driven by inadequate handling, storage, transportation, and limited processing capacity.

Professor Dairo urged participants to actively engage in discussions and practical sessions, stressing that knowledge sharing and collaboration are essential to adopting sustainable solutions capable of strengthening the nation’s agricultural value chain.

In his welcome address, the Director of AMREC, Professor Jacob Olaoye, described the programme as a major milestone in FUNAAB’s commitment to food security and sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He emphasised the workshop’s focus on affordable and scalable techniques for waste reduction, value addition, and improved nutritional quality of farm produce, while commending the University Management for its consistent support.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Olusegun Idowu, lauded the initiative for effectively translating research outputs into practical solutions that directly improve farmers’ incomes and reduce post-harvest losses.

The keynote address, titled “Agricultural Post-Harvest Management,” was delivered by the Zonal Coordinator of the NSPRI Ibadan Office, Dr. Mariam Aremu, on behalf of the NSPRI Executive Director, Professor Lateef Sanni. She highlighted critical issues in crop categorisation, handling, transportation, primary processing, drying technologies, and storage, stressing that effective post-harvest management is essential for food safety, quality assurance, reduced losses, year-round availability, and wealth creation.

Dr. Aremu also led hands-on demonstrations on the production of dried leafy vegetables, onion rings and powder, dried okra, and tomato-based value-added products. She identified value addition as a viable agribusiness pathway, particularly for youth and women, and underscored the importance of cost-benefit analysis in making informed agribusiness decisions.

Participants at the workshop included AMREC and selected academic staff of FUNAAB, members of farmers’ associations from Ogun State, and other key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.