Empowering farmers to save every grain: IITA trains extension agents on management of post-harvest losses and aflatoxin control in maize – CGIAR

Report on a Collaborative Training Initiative for Post-Harvest Management and Sustainable Development

Introduction

A strategic training workshop was conducted to address critical post-harvest losses within the maize value chain, directly contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative, a partnership under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), brought together key agricultural institutions to build local capacity for enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The primary focus was to mitigate food loss, a key target under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Workshop Details

• Convening Organizations: IITA-CGIAR, TAAT Clearinghouse, and SASAKAWA Africa Association.
• Date: 9–10 October 2025.
• Location: Agricultural Development Program (ADP) office, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
• Participants: A multi-stakeholder group including extension agents, maize lead farmers, field officers, researchers, and development partners.

Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of agricultural stakeholders in key areas, with direct alignment to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The core objective was to reduce food losses and improve food safety. By training participants in aflatoxin management and proper grain storage, the initiative directly supports Target 2.1 on ensuring access to safe and nutritious food and Target 2.4 on ensuring sustainable food production systems.
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The training directly addresses Target 12.3, which aims to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
3. SDG 1 (No Poverty): By equipping farmers with skills to reduce crop losses, the initiative enhances their potential income and economic resilience, contributing to Target 1.1 on eradicating extreme poverty.

Expert Commentary on Food System Inefficiencies

During the workshop, Reuben Solomon, a post-harvest specialist at IITA Kano, highlighted that post-harvest losses represent a major inefficiency in Africa’s food systems, undermining efforts to achieve Zero Hunger. He emphasized that significant investments in production are often negated by losses occurring between harvest and consumption. The training focused on deploying modern technologies to counter this challenge.

Recommended Technologies for Sustainable Impact

Key solutions promoted during the session to achieve the aforementioned SDGs included:

• Hermetic Storage: An effective technology for preserving grain quality, reducing losses from pests, and ensuring a stable food supply.
• Biological Control: Methods to manage aflatoxin contamination, thereby improving food safety and public health outcomes in line with SDG 2.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The article’s core focus is on “combating post-harvest losses” and ensuring “safe food systems.” By training farmers and extension agents on improved post-harvest handling and storage, the initiative directly aims to increase the availability of food that is produced, thus contributing to food security and ending hunger.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The specific mention of “aflatoxin management” connects the article to SDG 3. Aflatoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain molds that can contaminate crops like maize, posing serious health risks to humans and animals. By training participants on managing these toxins, the initiative helps ensure food is safe for consumption, thereby preventing foodborne illnesses and promoting good health.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights a collaborative effort between multiple organizations: “IITA-CGIAR, and the TAAT Clearinghouse in collaboration with SASAKAWA Africa Association.” This partnership, which brings together “researchers, farmers, and development partners” to share knowledge and build capacity, exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17, which emphasizes the importance of collaboration to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The initiative’s focus on “aflatoxin management” directly addresses the “safe” food aspect of this target, while reducing “post-harvest losses” increases the overall availability and sufficiency of food.
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers… The article states that post-harvest losses are a “significant bottleneck.” By providing farmers with knowledge and technologies like “hermetic storage,” the program helps them save more of their harvest, which directly increases their marketable produce and potential income.

2. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. Aflatoxins are a form of biological contamination in food. The training on “aflatoxin management” is a direct action to reduce illnesses caused by consuming contaminated maize.

3. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

   • Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries… The two-day workshop described in the article is a clear example of a “targeted capacity-building” activity designed to “strengthen their capacity in adequate storage and grain quality management” for extension agents and farmers.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article does not cite official SDG indicator codes, it implies several measurable outcomes that can serve as indicators of progress:

• Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses: The central theme is combating these losses. A direct indicator would be the percentage reduction in maize lost between the farm and the table for the trained farmers. This aligns with measuring progress towards SDG Target 2.3.
• Level of Aflatoxin Contamination: Progress in “aflatoxin management” can be measured by testing the levels of aflatoxin in stored maize from trained farmers compared to a control group. A lower level of contamination would indicate success in ensuring safer food (Target 2.1) and reducing health risks (Target 3.9).
• Number of Individuals Trained: The article mentions the training of “extension agents and maize lead farmers” and brought together “field officers, researchers, farmers, and development partners.” The number of people who successfully completed this capacity-building workshop is a direct indicator of the reach and implementation of the partnership’s goal (Target 17.9).
• Adoption Rate of New Technologies: The article mentions technologies like “hermetic storage and biological control.” An indicator of success would be the rate at which trained farmers adopt these improved technologies, which contributes to reducing losses and improving food safety (Targets 2.1 and 2.3).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cgiar.org