Food Waste in Nigeria: A Critical Challenge for Environmental Sustainability
I vividly remember a particular evening when I stumbled upon a local market in Abuja. The sight that greeted me was both mesmerizing and disheartening. Piles of perfectly ripe tomatoes, plump watermelons, and succulent yams were discarded carelessly, left to rot under the scorching sun. It was as if Mother Nature’s bounty was being callously disregarded, while thousands of people went to bed hungry each night. This scene was not an isolated incident, but rather a reflection of a pervasive issue that plagues Nigerian society — the staggering amount of food wastage in Nigeria.
In this article, I investigate the complicated topic of food waste in Nigeria and its environmental impact, investigating its core causes, repercussions, and potential remedies. I hope to shed light on this often-overlooked topic and spark a conversation that can lead to meaningful change.
Food wastage in Nigeria is a significant problem that has far-reaching consequences. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an estimated 14 million tons of food is wasted in Nigeria every year, making it one of the highest contributors to food wastage in Africa. This staggering amount of wastage is equivalent to nearly 25% of the total food produced in the country.
Data compiled by Picodi, an international e-commerce organisation, the average Nigerian household spends roughly 59% of its income on food. It was stated that the average Nigerian spends $62 (48,186) each month on food. This is more than the N30,000 minimum salary in Nigeria.
Another source of worry is the environmental impact of the squandered economic resources associated with the manufacturing, distribution, and disposal of wasted food.
One of the primary reasons for this excessive wastage is post-harvest losses. Inadequate storage and transportation facilities, as well as poor handling practices, contribute to significant losses in perishable crops like fruits and vegetables. Postharvest losses cost Nigeria’s agriculture sector an estimated NGN 110 trillion (US$268 billion) each yearIt is estimated that post-harvest losses account for up to 30% of total food wastage in Nigeria. According to stakeholders in the horticulture value chain, Nigeria experiences approximately 60 post-harvest losses in tomato output and other vegetables each year. This was revealed at the National Tomato Stakeholders Workshop in Abuja, which was themed “Tomato Value Chain: Emerging and Longstanding Challenges and Sustainable Solutions.” The losses and deficits recorded in the value chain could have created opportunities for investment, which will reduce the country’s yearly losses.
Another crucial factor contributing to food wastage is the lack of proper infrastructure for food processing and preservation. In a country where agriculture is a vital sector of the economy, the absence of adequate processing facilities results in the spoilage and wastage of large quantities of food.
Furthermore, the issue of food wastage is compounded by inadequate distribution systems and market inefficiencies. In many cases, farmers struggle to find buyers for their produce due to limited access to markets, resulting in food being left to rot or discarded.
Consumer behavior can also contribute to food waste. For example, consumers may purchase more food than they need, or they may not store food properly.
The consequences of food waste are far-reaching. Food insecurity is a major problem in Nigeria, and food waste only makes it worse. When food is wasted, it is food that could have been eaten by people who are hungry. Food waste does not only perpetuate hunger and malnutrition, but it also exacerbates poverty and hampers economic development. The resources invested in producing, processing, and distributing food are wasted, putting a strain on the already limited resources in the country.
The FAO estimates that the carbon footprint of food wastage in Nigeria is equivalent to over 25 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. As food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and can have a number of negative impacts on agriculture, such as more extreme weather events and changes in crop yields. Recent African research has looked into transforming food waste into biomethane for clean energy generation. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for action to address the issue of food wastage in Nigeria.
Food wastage has a significant impact on water pollution in Nigeria. When food waste is disposed of in waterways, it decomposes and produces nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These bacteria and pathogens can contaminate the water and make it unsafe for drinking, recreation, and irrigation. They can also cause algae blooms, which can deplete the water of oxygen and make it unsafe for aquatic life. Algae blooms can also produce toxins that can harm human health.
When food waste is disposed of on land, it can pollute the soil and make it less productive for agriculture. This can lead to lower crop yields and increased use of fertilizer.
Food waste contributes to biodiversity loss by decreasing the amount of food accessible to wildlife and contaminating the environment. This can have a negative influence on agriculture by increasing insect and disease pressure and decreasing pollination.
Urgent action is needed to address the issue of food wastage in Nigeria through effective strategies, awareness, and education to build a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Improving post-harvest handling is one of the most important short-term solutions to prevent food wastage. Post-harvest handling includes all of the activities that take place after crops are harvested, such as sorting, grading, packaging, storing, and transporting. When post-harvest handling is not done properly, food can spoil quickly, leading to wastage. For instance, Fruits and vegetables should be harvested at the correct maturity stage and handled carefully to avoid bruising. They should also be pre-cooled immediately after harvest and stored in the correct conditions of temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
Another short-term solution is building more storage facilities is one of the most important ways to prevent food wastage. Storage facilities provide a controlled environment where food can be stored for longer periods of time without spoiling. This is especially important for perishable foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and meat. These storage facilities can be cold storage facilities, controlled atmosphere storage, or modified atmosphere packaging. For example, an ongoing storage facility initiative aimed at reducing food wastage in Nigeria is ColdHubs, a Nigerian startup that provides solar-powered cold rooms to farmers and traders to help them preserve their perishable produce. ColdHubs also provides training to farmers on how to use the cold rooms and how to reduce food spoilage.
Improving transportation and infrastructure is another short-term solution to prevent food wastage. Good transportation and infrastructure allow food to be transported from production areas to markets quickly and efficiently, which reduces the risk of food spoilage. Better roads and railways can help to improve the efficiency of transportation and reduce the risk of food spoilage.
A medium-term solution to prevent food wastage by promoting the use of modern technologies is another important way to prevent food wastage. Modern technologies can be used to improve all aspects of the food supply chain, from production to storage to transportation to consumption. For instance, precision agriculture is a data-driven approach to farming that uses sensors and other technologies to monitor crop health and to apply inputs, such as water and fertilizer, more precisely. This can help to reduce food wastage by reducing the amount of resources that are wasted and by improving crop yields.
Another essential medium-term solution is to assist small businesses in preventing food waste. Small businesses play an important part in the food supply chain. They are in charge of manufacturing and delivering a large portion of the food we consume. However, they are frequently more prone to food waste than large businesses because they have fewer resources and knowledge. Small businesses can benefit from connecting with other businesses and organizations that are working to reduce food waste.
In the long term, Nigerians need to change their dietary habits to reduce food waste. For example, they can eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables.
Another long-term solution will be investing in research and development: The government and private sector need to invest in research and development to develop new technologies and practices to reduce food losses.
The problem of food waste in Nigeria is a complex one, but it is one that can be solved. By taking action on the short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions. However, Food waste is a global problem, We all have a role to play in reducing food waste. What can you do to reduce your own food waste?
References
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