The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Food security in Nigeria

  • Soil health crucial to food security, says FG

    Soil health crucial to food security, says FG

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi, said to overcome food insecurity, the nation need to prioritise her soil health, which according to him, is very crucial in agricultural sector.

    He attributed insecurity, climate change and land degradation to causes of food inflation in the country, calling on federal at all levels to provide lasting solution to the challenges to reduce food prices across the country. 

    Speaking in Ibadan at the sensitisation and validation workshop on introduction of soil health card to Nigeria Agriculture System organised by Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Minister lamented how land degradation has posed critical environmental challenges that impacted all ecological zones within the country. 

    He noted that land degradation is driven by human activities, including agricultural practices, pastoralism, deforestation, and natural processes, leading to reduced food production, food insecurity, drought, flooding, and erosion. 

    According to him, overcoming food insecurity requires coordinated efforts from stakeholders, including government, private sector, farmers’ associations, and development partners. 

    He emphasised that enhancing soil health is vital for improving Nigerians’ livelihoods and achieving sustainable development.

    Read Also: Olam Agri drives food security, lift vulnerable communities

    He said the workshop was designed to deepen farmers’ knowledge and explore regulatory and implementation frameworks, identify existing gaps, and outline a path forward to increase food production in the country.

    Director of Agriculture and Climate Change Management Services, Bello Mohammed, stressed that healthy soil leads to increased food production and food security. 

    Representative of National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), Tobias Iwuh highlighted insecurity as a major challenge and urged federal government to provide maximum security for farmers.

    Iwuh also identified the hike in fuel prices as a contributor to food inflation and appealed for government intervention. 

    Also, the National President of Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), Hajia Fatima Bello who was represented by National officer, Prof. Udeh Nkemdilim from Enugu state, emphasizes that the would improved food production by guiding the participants on how to improve the soil fertility to boost up cultivation. 

    The sensitization and workshop program aimed to educate farmers in Nigeria, divided into regional sessions, on improving soil health to boost cultivation.

  • World Food Day 2024: Championing food security, sustainable agriculture

    World Food Day 2024: Championing food security, sustainable agriculture

    In an effort to champion the strides for a hunger-free future, the World Food Day community-based sensitisation has raised the awareness about sustainable agriculture, food security, and the importance of establishing planting hubs in individual homes. 

    The event, hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems and chaired by Honourable Commissioner Abisola Olusanya, was organised in partnership with the BATN Foundation, Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group, and other private groups. 

    The sensitisation awareness kicked off from Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park, opposite the Lagos House of Assembly in Ikeja and its environs. 

    The walk symbolised a collective commitment to promoting sustainable practices that ensure food security for all.

    This year’s theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” emphasised the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat food insecurity, particularly through local initiatives and sustainable agriculture that promote self-sufficiency. 

    The critical need for sustainable food system was chaired. Individuals, families, and communities were encouraged to adopt sustainable practices such as home planting hubs, urban gardening, and community farms. 

    The grassroot efforts play a crucial role in building resilient food systems that can respond to future challenges.

    According to the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, food is essential for human survival, and food security means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life. 

    It notes that a nation that guarantees food availability to all its citizens becomes stronger and more stable; however, food insecurity renders a country vulnerable and overly dependent on external aid.

    Read Also: Reps urge govt to address food smuggling, insecurity

    Lagos, considered the smallest state in Nigeria, occupies a unique position with its complex network of lagoons, rivers, and water bodies constituting 22 percent of its territory. 

    Yet, it is also the most populous state, making access to food critical. Identifying and implementing solutions that support both farming and food security is essential to the state’s future.

    In 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture developed a 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems roadmap aimed at increasing food production to 40 percent self-sufficiency by 2025, up from the current 20 percent. 

    This roadmap outlined strategies to encourage youth participation, stimulate private sector investment, attract donor funding for agricultural projects, and create new partnerships across the agricultural value chain, focusing on areas where Lagos has competitive and comparative advantages.

    Olusanya commended the Lagos State government’s continued efforts toward food security, emphasising the need for unified and intensified actions to build more sustainable food systems. 

    She highlighted the importance of scaling food production and processing, reducing food waste, and providing decent livelihoods for Lagosians. 

    “Food security is crucial in bringing families together,” she said, noting that food is an integral part of Nigerian society and the cultural heritage of Lagos.

    Board member, BATN Foundation, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, emphasised the significance of the day’s activities, saying, “Today is not just about walking together; it’s about walking towards a future where no one has to worry about their next meal. It’s about ensuring our communities thrive, our environment is protected, and our efforts to drive food security remain strong.”

    General Manager of the Foundation, Odusanya Oludare, on his part, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to sustainable agriculture. 

    “Our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food systems and other stakeholders is driven by a shared vision for sustainable agriculture. We must invest in agricultural innovations, promote planting hubs in homes, and communities, reduce food waste, and build resilient, sustainable food systems,” he said.

    The walk serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility toward fostering sustainability within communities, aligning with the global goal of food security and ensuring that no one is left behind. 

    As World Food Day approaches on October 16, it becomes clear that sustainable agriculture is no longer an option but a necessity to secure the future of our communities. Let us work together to build sustainable food systems that guarantee long-term food security for all.