Cut Post-Harvest Losses for Nigerian Smallholders in Half

Post-harvest losses cost Nigerian smallholders an estimated $9 billion a year. Tomatoes rot before they reach Lagos. Maize spoils in poorly ventilated storage. The problem is not production — it is what happens between harvest and sale. Your challenge is to design a post-harvest loss reduction solution for smallholders growing a single crop of your choice (tomato, maize, yam, or sorghum) in one Nigerian agro-ecological zone (Northwest, Southwest, South-South, or North-Central). The solution must be deployable without reliable electricity and cost under ₦15,000 per household. Submit a design document (max 10 pages) covering: the specific crop and zone you chose, the loss point you are targeting (storage, transport, processing, or market linkage), your proposed solution, and a realistic deployment plan for reaching 500 farmers in 12 months. Judging criteria: 35% technical feasibility, 30% cost and scalability, 20% evidence base, 15% quality of presentation.