The Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) has voiced concern about increasing post-harvest losses that greatly affect farmers’ incomes and food security. Mr Rafilawus Iliya, Director of Agricultural Technical Services at BSADP, highlighted poor harvesting timing, inadequate tools, and bad transportation as key contributors to these losses.
He revealed that many farmers lose up to a third of their crops annually due to improper harvesting and storage practices, such as harvesting crops before maturity and using blunt tools that cause grain loss. Additionally, rickety vehicles transporting produce often lead to significant wastage.
Iliya urged farmers to adopt standard post-harvest methods, including checking grain moisture, proper drying for 24-72 hours depending on crop type, using appropriate tools, and maintaining clean storage to reduce losses and protect incomes.
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