“Urgent action needed to stem the worsening food crisis” – Olam Agri’s Director, Corporate & Regulatory Affairs, Ade Adefeko
Speaking on Arise Television, Adefeko reiterated that it is feared 31.8 million Nigerians will fall into acute hunger within the June to August 2024 period, no thanks to inadequate funds, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.
Adefeko has said the agricultural budgetary allocation has been ridiculously low in the last three years, saying that the budget for the sector is on the decline rather than an increase. “In the last three years, budgetary provision has been very poor in terms of what has been marked to agriculture,” said Adefeko.
He said while this might be due to other competing concerns by the government like healthcare and education, agriculture should however be treated as a national security.
With Nigeria’s population projected at 229 million, Adefeko said food insecurity affects over 226 million people, hence is a critical national security issue.
He subsequently beckoned the Federal Government to take advantage of its competitive edge in the global market, especially in the key staple crops, prominent among which are Cocoa, Sesame, and Cashew.
“Nigeria has a lot of key staples, and that is something we need to work on, assiduously.”.
He called on the government to engage in finding ways to improve farmers’ food production. Adefeko urged the government to distribute more fertilizers and mechanization for farmers.
However, on improved seeds for farmers, he said agricultural research institutes should period more researches on better seedlings and detailed researching to increase crop yield.
“We need improved seedlings. We also need to improve seed varieties. The average variety we have in Nigeria in regards to yield per acre ranges between 1.5 to 2.5. However, globally, the average ranges between 14 to 15 acres,” he said.
How best Africa’s largest nation can further increase her food production, he said the country needs to practice mechanised farming like it is used in other developing countries.
“What government should rather do is to give physical incentives. Everywhere else in the world, you subsidise production. But Nigeria tends to subsidise consumption, which is abnormal”, said Adefeko.
Confounding the trend, according to the United Nations World Food Programme report, some of the factors that contribute to food insecurity in Nigeria are the ongoing conflict in some major growing states, expensive inputs and transportation, and high reliance on market purchases due to below-average staple production.