Abuja: The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has announced its commitment to eliminating post-harvest losses in Nigeria as part of its strategy to enhance agricultural productivity. The Executive Secretary of the NADF, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, revealed this initiative during a media briefing following the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Dakar, Senegal.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim highlighted the presence of several deal rooms specifically focused on Nigeria during the summit, where investors expressed interest in investing in the country. He identified post-harvest losses as a significant challenge, with such losses accounting for up to sixty percent in certain value chains. The deal rooms were structured to address these issues.
Mr. Ibrahim emphasized the pivotal role of NADF in mitigating risks associated with agricultural investments and attracting private capital through blended finance, technical assistance, and feasibility studies. He pointed out the AgGrow project, a subsidized financing mechanism for agro-processors with backward integration models, as an example of the Fund’s efforts to strengthen the connection between farms and factories, reduce food waste, and enhance value addition across staple crop value chains such as rice, maize, soya beans, and cassava.
He noted that the summit aimed to showcase the various legacy projects by different agencies targeting the reduction of post-harvest losses in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Mr. Ibrahim mentioned that lessons learned at the summit would be applied to address underinvestment in agriculture.
Highlighting the regional nature of the issue, Mr. Ibrahim explained that underinvestment in the agricultural sector is a historical challenge not unique to Nigeria. The discussions at the summit involved various stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, international financiers, and others, to drive investment into the sector. The summit underscored the commonality of problems and solutions, and the commitment to collaborative efforts to address these challenges.
Mr. Ibrahim outlined the NADF’s approach to identifying and mitigating risk factors while creating an enabling environment for investments. He emphasized that the establishment of the NADF is a strategic move to focus on agriculture financing. The Fund seeks to address financial constraints in agriculture and enhance food security by providing structured financial support to farmers, agribusinesses, and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.
Mr. Ibrahim described the validation exercise of the agency as a defining moment for Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The NADF’s baseline survey provided critical insights into the state of Nigeria’s agricultural research and training institutions, emphasizing the importance of research and education in transforming the agricultural landscape.
NADF offers customized financial solutions to Nigerian farmers and agribusinesses, including accessible loans, grants, and credit guarantees, to support their growth. The Fund promotes modern technologies and practices, such as precision agriculture and climate-smart solutions, to enhance productivity and efficiency. Investment in research, capacity building, and market information systems is part of the NADF’s strategy to foster a knowledge-driven agricultural sector.
The Executive Secretary also discussed the NADF’s holistic approach to addressing sector-wide challenges, including water management, dry-season farming, mechanization, and seed system development. Through partnerships with River Basin Development Authorities and research institutions, the NADF supports the transition to year-round agricultural production and improves farmers’ access to high-quality inputs and innovative technologies.
Mr. Ibrahim reiterated the importance of structured data-driven interventions and cross-border collaboration, as demonstrated in Dakar, to sustainably transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He affirmed that the NADF would continue to act as a catalyst for scalable solutions, private investment, and inclusive growth, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for food security and economic diversification.