Effect of Post-Harvest Losses on Food Security among Yam Farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is the largest producer of yam in the world, although postharvest loss leading to wastage in farm produce, inputs and investments could impact negatively yam farmers’ income and consequently, food security. Studies are limited on postharvest loss of yam and its link with food security in Nigeria. Therefore, the effect of postharvest loss on the food security of yam farmers in Nigeria was investigated. The Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) 2018/2019 dataset by the National Bureau of Statistics was used for the study and data on 1,647 yam farmers were extracted. Results revealed that 76.4% of the farmers were male, 70.7% were married, and 77.7% had primary education or higher. On average, farm size was 0.75 hectares, age was 54.5 years, post-harvest loss 0.278 t/ha and yield 8 t/ha. Most yam farming households (90.5%) had low-level post-harvest loss of <2 t/ha. The food security line was ₦905.24, while food security incidence, depth and severity were 51.49%, 27.60% and 18.78%, respectively. Thus, most yam farmers in Nigeria were food insecure. Postharvest loss reduced the probability of food security among yam farmers in Nigeria, alongside age and farm size, while having secondary and tertiary education, household size and being a cooperative member improved it. Conclusively, postharvest loss worsens the food insecurity of yam farmers in Nigeria. Therefore, the government should favour policies that reduce yam postharvest loss, while emphasizing educational attainment among yam farmers beyond the primary level.