TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA. IT IS WRITTEN BY EMMANUEL DADA, A YOUTH CORPS MEMBER IN THE NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.
Food security is a cornerstone of national development, which covers the subject of availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability of food.
For Nigeria, a country endowed with vast arable land, a favourable climate, and a growing population, achieving food security is not only a necessity but also a fundamental aspect of economic and social stability.
Yet, despite the numerous seeming advantages, through banditry, terrorism and other obstacles, millions of Nigerians still wallow in hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
According to recent reports by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, over 25% of Nigeria’s population faces moderate to severe food insecurity.
The prevalence of malnutrition, particularly among children especially in the north-east, is alarmingly high.
These figures underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to address food security challenges.
Over the years, successive Nigerian governments have initiated several policies and programs aimed at improving food security.
Despite these efforts, several challenges continue to hinder Nigeria’s quest for food security.
With insecurity being the chief of the challenges, banditry, herder-farmer clashes, and insurgency across the nation have disrupted agricultural activities, displacing farmers and reducing productivity, with farmers being scared to farm due to lack of security to guarantee the safety of their lives and farms.
Over the years, poor infrastructure has also being a major challenge to the agricultural sector.
Bad road networks, inadequate storage facilities, and irrigation systems often lead to significant post-harvest losses and reduced market access.
Although successive governments have created schemes to help farmers secure access to loan and grants to optimize their crafts, however, most of these schemes have not served their intended purpose.
This is connected to funds that do not end in the hands of the farmers who need it, therefore limited access to finance especially for small-scale farmers, who account for a majority of food production, often impedes access modern farming inputs and overall the outputs.
The federal government has recognized the need for a robust response to food insecurity, with the establishment of the National Food Security Council aimed to coordinate efforts across different sectors to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure food availability.
All these initiatives and policies are focused on increasing crop yields through better resource allocation and support for farmers.
However, there are significant gaps in implementation.
In recent times, reports indicate that policies intended to stimulate agricultural output have not effectively reduced the price of food in local markets.
Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s previous direct interventions in agriculture has also left a void as it shifts back to its traditional role of ensuring price stability.
Moving forward, there is the need for more investment in research and development to introduce high-yield crop varieties and to ensure that agricultural palliatives and subventions get to where they should.
To ensure that Nigeria becomes a country where food security is guaranteed and farming is encouraged, there is the need to provide farmers with access to affordable fertilizers and modern farming techniques.
In the same vein, the government must ensure consistency in agricultural policies by creating long-term frameworks that transcend political administrations.
With the recent technologically progress, empowerment of farmers have gone past handling down cutlasses and wheelbarrows.
There is the need to teach farmers on how to leverage on technology to help them utilize digital platforms for market linkages, weather forecasting and other technologically-driven advantages.
Achieving food security in Nigeria is an urgent necessity that requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders involved.
While there are commendable initiatives underway, significant barriers must be addressed through strategic planning and collaboration.
By adopting a holistic approach that addresses these challenges, Nigeria can unlock the full potential of its agricultural sector and ensure that every citizen has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
