Farmers across Nigeria have warned that poor rural roads and inadequate storage facilities are worsening post-harvest losses and threatening the country’s food security.

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said perishable crops such as tomatoes and peppers often spoil before reaching markets due to lack of proper preservation and poor transportation networks.

“We harvest regularly, but much of our produce goes to waste. Sometimes we carry crops on our heads for long distances before finding a vehicle,” said the AFAN chairman in Oyo State.

Farmers say bad roads have made it costly and difficult to move goods from farms to markets, forcing many transporters to avoid rural routes. The result is higher food prices and lower income for producers.

They urged the government to invest in modern storage facilities and rural road rehabilitation to reduce waste, improve market access, and stabilize food prices.

Experts estimate that Nigeria loses up to half of its perishable food every year due to transport and storage challenges a major factor driving food inflation and worsening rural poverty. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.