Traders and consumers in Lagos have raised concerns over mounting losses from spoilt fruits and vegetables, blaming the problem on excessive heat, poor transportation and inadequate storage facilities.
Market traders interviewed at Iddo Terminus, Mile 12, Balogun and Agboju said damaged produce regularly reduced their earnings and sometimes forced them to increase prices to recover their losses.
A carrot seller at Iddo Terminus, Taiwo Abdulhamid, said he sometimes lost two to three kilogrammes from every 10 kilogrammes purchased, resulting in losses of between N20,000 and N30,000. Other traders reported spoilage affecting bananas, pawpaw, leafy vegetables and tomatoes.
Consumers also complained that fruits and vegetables often deteriorated shortly after purchase. Some said unreliable electricity affected refrigeration, while others had reduced bulk purchases to avoid wasting money on food that did not last.
A consumer, Yusuf Halima, said she sometimes lost between N15,000 and N25,000 worth of produce monthly. Another consumer, Joshua Edward, estimated that N2,000 to N3,000 worth of his weekly purchases went to waste.
Farmers and traders called for improved roads, better transport conditions, affordable preservation facilities and training in proper food handling.
Agricultural stakeholders also urged government and private investors to expand storage and processing infrastructure, warning that reducing post-harvest losses could protect livelihoods and improve food availability.
