Food Security in Nigeria (Sustainable Approach)

Food Security in Nigeria (Sustainable Approach) by Dr Kenny Odugbemi

The federal government in Fy 2024 set a target of 120,000 hectares(4ton per hectare) bringing an audacious target through knowledge application and good extension practices to guarantee the Presidential directive of increasing food production to guarantee security at all seasons.

Food security is time-bound with value chain development through a multilayered approach as it relates to processes, seed production, post-harvest losses

AFDB initiated a support program tagged “National Agricultural Growth Scheme” for cross-broader collaboration with our stakeholders which includes
*Federal government
*State government
*Local government
*Private investors
*Commodity exchange
*Agric hub processing zone

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture aims to increase food production by initiating a “dry season farm scheme” to produce 6 million tonnes of wheat, presently our current capacity of about 0.5Million metric tonnes hence we have to import the balance to maintain the request on the use of wheat in addition to the following
Cassava, yam, soybean, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, rice and maize production

Presently,15 Northern states have indicated their sincere interest based on land availability
Jigawa state has contributed 50,000 hectares with over one thousand well-trained extension workers for this food program

It is noteworthy that only states with fewer farmers herder clash and terrorist action

General requirements

Genuine farmers will get direct support with their hectarage capacity, most of these will be identified in the Database of Agriculture of Farmland to create access to information and mixed model growth capacity development for all extension agents

Challenges/Solutions

Logistics issues This will entail comprehensive repair of all access to farms

Post-harvest losses – We need to deploy solar-driven silos with cooling facilities

Tax reduction – this will be handled by a Presidential Tax review audit which awaits legislation to become applicable laws

Scarcity of well-trained extension officers – MDA has launched an ICT-enabled extension platform, tools and ready-made “Apps” that are now available across different states

Advantages of the post-harvest method

Increase the value addition of most commodities to reduce wastage to increase the food supply

Logistics support services will facilitate the construction of access to rural roads covering all Agric regional hubs to provide smooth vehicular activity movement

Special agro-processing zone with headquarters in Abidjan sponsored by AFDB for all West African Countries with their network of farmers

Finance structure

The Ministry of Finance, Inc. will play a major role in the Agricultural Finance of diverse Commodities in collaboration with three tiers of governments and their network of farmers

Capacity

We have 80million hectares of arable farms and as of today we have only cultivated 34million hectares Nationally with more than( 70-80)% as scale holders

Human Capacity Development

MDA will provide robust. training and development to boost the capacity, capability, competence and character of Extension workers which includes, planters, harvesters, insecticide and fertilizer application

Conclusion
The federal government will facilitate the use of a 4.0 precision technology-driven approach including irrigation and fertilizer applications.

I would advise the Federal government to establish a Joint Task Committee across three tiers of government, private-led sectors and development partnerships