The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Food security

  • Experts call for new investments in agric solutions to boost food security

    Experts call for new investments in agric solutions to boost food security

    With World Bank  reporting surging increased  food price inflation across the globe, experts have called for investment in value solutions that will  help millions of small-scale producers adapt to a changing world and guarantee a food secure and resilient future.

    This was the position of a commemorative event on World Food Day conducted virtually by Institute of Agribusiness Management of Nigeria, in conjunction with the Lead City University.

    The event  focused  on embracing inclusivity in agribusiness for sustainable food security.

    Experts, who spoke at the event, included Group Head, Gender Business and Large Enterprise Directorate, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Adebola Oruma; Group Head, Social Improvement, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Olayiwola Wakeel; Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Rural Development, Mr. Adewale Adetayo; Director of Food Services, Eating Nigeria, Mrs. Ifeanyinwa Nzeka and Chief Executive, Umvita Food and Beverages Limited, Mr. Abubakar Dansadau.

    The experts shared their expertise and experiences related to agribusiness, emphasising the need for inclusive practices to achieve sustainable food security.

    To tackle food inflation, the forum maintained that efforts should be geared towards  improving  productivity and market access, reducing  product losses, improving  energy and water use efficiency, and transforming agriculture into a dynamic, high-growth sector that is capable of  speeding  up recovery, poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

    Read Also: Food Security: Shettima arrives US to participate in AfDB event

    As headline inflation rate further accelerates, Registrar, the Institute of Agribusiness Management of Nigeria, Dr Ayodele Olorunfemi, noted that driving higher agricultural productivity, should be a top priority of the government to temper upward price pressures. 

    According to him, there was a need for very detailed plans, which aimed to make Nigeria a food-secure and resilient country.

    Olorunfemi highlighted the significance of inclusivity in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

    Market Systems Development and livelihood Officer, Northeast, Mercy Corps, Nathan Abubakar, stressed the need for agriculture to expand  to keep up with the food demand of an increasing population.

    To this end, he called for measures to ease price pressures and cushion the impact of inflation.

    He observed how insecurity and other factors have  caused severe disruptions to food markets and systems, directly affecting farming.

    He emphasised on the importance of food security and livelihood for the nation, especially amidst a national food security emergency.

    He highlighted the need to address marginalization and ensure inclusion of various groups such as women, youth, people with disabilities, and displaced persons.

    Nzeka urged all the agencies of the government to  work closely to ensure timely and efficient implementation of the strategies and programmes designed towards modernizing the country’s agriculture and agribusiness security.

    She emphasized that inclusive agribusiness entails purposeful integration of women and youth in the agribusiness sector, while actively addressing the barriers hindering their empowerment within this domain.

    She stressed that people, particularly men, women, and youth, play a vital role in driving growth and development. She noted that businesses benefit significantly from diverse knowledge and distinctive contributions these demographics bring to the table.

    Wakeel noted the need for the  government  to implement measures to keep food price movements consistent with its  inflation and food security objectives.

    Such measures, according to him, should ensure food security through higher agricultural productivity and build strong food value chains, and a vibrant rural economy.

    Dansadau said the vision should be transforming agriculture to increase productivity and profitability.

  • Declining water resources threat to food security, says Agric minister

    Declining water resources threat to food security, says Agric minister

    Minister of Agriculture and Food security, Abubakar Kyari, has said declining water resources due to climate change, urbanisation and rapid population growth poses a threat to food security, if steps are not taken to curtail it.

      Kyari said there must be a synergy between the ministry  and Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and guarantee that food is produced all year. 

     The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja to mark World Food Day: ‘’Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’’.

     He said such a threat to water supply has adversely affected not only food production but also livelihoods, with developing countries in particular, bearing a disproportionate burden. 

      The minister said incidences of drought, rainfall variability and desertification pose a greater challenge by putting the planet’s water resources under increasing stress. 

      Kyari noted  the ministry is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to harness water available in producing areas, including River Basins, Dams (around irrigable lands) and other wetlands for multiple cropping cycles. 

     He said the collaboration would be deployed for 2023/2024 dry season farming with priority crops, such as wheat, rice, maize and cassava with a sustainable plan for upscaling and replicating same for other crops, livestock and fisheries.

     Director-general of Food and Agriculture Organisation, QU Dongyu, said governments should design science- and evidence-based policies to capitalise on data and innovation, and coordinate across sectors to plan and manage water better. 

    Read Also: NBS: Food, fuel push inflation to 26.72% in September

     Dongyu, in a remark read by Head of Office, FAO in Northeast, Al Hassan Cisse, reiterated the need for farmers to become agents of water management and be equipped with the right tools to perform that function sustainably. 

      He said that promoting water governance was critical to boosting business reputation and profits while helping them avoid risks that water scarcity, floods and pollution could pose to operations in the future. “Water, energy and food are inextricably linked, and for policies to be successful, they must often manage competing interests without compromising the health of our ecosystems. 

     ‘’Farmers, forest-dependent people, livestock producers and those working in the blue economy of fisheries and aquaculture already manage water daily,” he said.

     The world food day featured field visits to cluster farms and livestock farms in the Federal Capital Territory.

  • SOS moves to end hunger, achieve food security

    SOS moves to end hunger, achieve food security

    In a significant commitment to combat hunger and achieve food security in Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, Strategic Outreach Support (SOS) has announced a comprehensive plan to address the alarming crisis of food insecurity in the country.

    With millions of Nigerians grappling with malnutrition and limited access to nutritious meals, the organization believes it is more crucial than ever to act swiftly and decisively.

    SOS’s team lead, Ikechukwu Opara, made this known at a briefing, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

    He said: “The Strategic Outreach Support (SOS) is a tax-exempt organization with a global vision of creating self-reliant societies where individuals and communities can harness their inner potentials.

    “These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our outstanding staff, volunteers and management teams, all of whom uphold the highest standards of corporate governance. SOS is guided by a distinguished Advisory Board, Trustees and Directors, comprising professionals from diverse fields who share a common vision:

    Read Also: Farm partners govt on food security

    “The advancement of humanity towards world peace, stability and prosperity. To fulfill this vision, our mission is to implement strategies and foster partnerships that provide sustainable development solutions to vulnerable populations and communities.

    “Our objectives encompass ending poverty, eradicating hunger, ensuring food security, promoting sustainable agriculture and fostering inclusive economic growth, amongst others..

    “These goals are entrenched by our core values of strengthening family bonds, empowerment, compassion, dedication and integrity. SOS’s impact is extensive, with 278 active volunteers, over 6,500 beneficiaries and a reach of up to ten million individuals. We have also collaborated with 110 other NGOs on various impactful projects.

    “Our initiatives span from medical outreach programs in Abuja to food relief efforts for the people of Kogi State. We have provided essential COVID- 19 relief packages in Edo State and Lagos, conducted youth awareness programs in Abuja and offered skills acquisition trainings worldwide through SOS UDEMY, among many other endeavors.”

  • U.S okays $1b for global food security

    U.S okays $1b for global food security

    United States (U.S.), through its International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), is committing more than $1 billion to strengthen global food security two years ahead of schedule.

    DFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Nathan said the cash would support smallholder farmers and help to boost food production and mitigate the devastating global effects of food insecurity, especially in the face of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine which has compromised grain and fertiliser exports.

    He said: “In 2021, we pledged $1 billion in food security investments over five years. I am proud to report that not only did we meet our goal, but we did it years ahead of schedule. And as we face a continuing crisis in food security, we at DFC are ready and on track to do it again.

    “Food security is critical to DFC’s work. We’re helping smallholder farmers in the world’s most vulnerable communities access equipment, training, and inputs so they can produce more food, while also strengthening their ability to store and distribute it.’’

    Read Also: Nigeria, Cuba sign MoU on food security, agric advancement

    Our goals must be ambitious as we work with the private sector to bring more produce to market and bolster food security.” Since first announcing its food security investment goal in 2021 at the 76th U.N. General Assembly, DFC with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) surged its efforts to ensure the world’s most vulnerable populations have access to food and smallholder farmers have the tools to increase yields and reach broader markets. The announcement on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly exemplifies the United States’ commitment to address the global food crisis and build more resilient food systems. 

    The announcement also came during an event on financing Africa’s agricultural growth, hosted by USAID, the World Economic Forum, and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CEO Nathan joined United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, Kenya’s President William Ruto, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina, and CEO of Acumen Capital Jacqueline Novogratz to discuss how governments, development finance institutions, and the private sector can strengthen food value chains through innovative financing and small business support. During his remarks, CEO Nathan highlighted how DFC financing is improving food security and climate resiliency among smallholder farmers in developing nations. He shared how DFC’s $20 million loan to the One Acre Fund has provided financing for seeds and fertilizer, along with training and insurance to 1.5 million smallholder farmers in 2022, half of whom are women. 

    With millions of people on the brink of famine, DFC remains committed to expanding access to food today and helping to protect against future food crises.

  • Nigeria, Cuba sign MoU on food security, agric advancement

    Nigeria, Cuba sign MoU on food security, agric advancement

    • Pact on training, capacity building, knowledge transfer

    The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food security and agriculture advancement with Cuba.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria on the sidelines of the G77 + China Leaders’ Summit in Havana, the Cuban capital.

    In a statement in Abuja by the Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, the minister said the Expression of Interest (EOI) was a historic journey to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and Cuba in the field of agriculture. 

    The signing ceremony took place at the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture in the presence of officials from both countries.

    During the pre-signing meeting, Kyari lauded the willingness of Cuban government to partner Nigeria, saying both countries share a common vision for their people.

    The minister expressed heartfelt gratitude for the shared insights into Nigeria’s pressing food and agricultural opportunities and challenges. 

    He also underlined Nigeria’s demographic advantage, vast land resources, immense agricultural potential, promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for food and nutrition security.

    “It was in this spirit that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development evolved into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,” he said.

    Read Also: Why Tantita’ should continue with surveillance in Niger Delta’

    Kyari extended a hand of partnership to his Cuban counterpart for a focus on vital areas, such as bio-fortification of agricultural produce, improvement of agricultural seeds and seedlings, agricultural mechanisation, cutting-edge technologies for increased yields, and the reduction of post-harvest losses.

    The minister stressed that “Nigeria is keenly interested in collaborating with Cuba in the domains of poultry, livestock, and fisheries”. 

    Key areas of the cooperation include veterinary medicine, vaccine development, artificial insemination, and the development of pastures and ranching as essential components in curbing the challenges posed by inefficient open grazing of cattle.

    Others are: training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer as the cornerstone of any thriving agricultural economy.

    Cuban Agriculture Minister Ydael Jesus Perez Brito, who signed the MoU for his country, told the Nigerian delegation about the island nation’s agricultural prowess, admitting that the country has “over 500,000 hectares under cultivation” and remained “a global player in the export of tobacco, coffee, honey, and other commodities”.

    Brito expressed delight at the opportunity to partner with Nigeria, promising that Cuba would provide impactful cooperation in identified areas contained in the MoU.

    The Cuban minister highlighted his country’s agricultural human capital and different models of practices that have raised its productivity.

    He said Cuba would deploy its wealth of experience to help Nigeria achieve its agriculture and food security policies.

    Nigeria will benefit from Cuba’s agriculture capacity in bilateral relationship as well as agricultural productivity, sustainability, knowledge sharing and technology transfer.

    The Nigerian delegation to the G77 + China Leaders’ Summit in Cuba was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Kyari was accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba, Ben Okoyen, and other members of the Nigerian delegation.

  • Food security: LCCI urges participation in agribusiness

    One way to ensure food security in the country is top galvanise concerted efforts towards supporting agribusiness, the Agriculture Group of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said.

    Making this charge at the weekend was the Chairman of the LCCI Agric Group, Mr African Farmer Mogaji.

    Mogaji, who was the convener of the 2019 maiden edition of Agribusiness Africa Conference, held in Lagos, “We are trying to bring the private sector at small scale and medium, such that they can put in the right structure and we can get the sector moving forward. We plan to work with our participants for a period of three months to seek out the people who are serious that we can sail together. We want to serve as an umbrella body to help, most especially those youths ages 18-40 who need information and network. We plan to do within three months and then scale up with the few ones that qualify.

    “I don’t support how the border was closure to import of agricultural produce was implemented, however, for every adversity comes an equal or greater opportunity, provided we can find it. The border closure is going to create an initial challenge for food distribution and availability, however, if the private sector launches into it, that gap will be closed, so yes, the government has closed it, but we need to step in now. If Nigerians don’t jump into it, foreigners will and then still take it out after making money. This conference is our way of encouraging people to buy local, grow together and make profit together.”

    He pointed out that agriculture is not like other sectors and so, stressing the need to work the ropes as they lack coaching and mentoring.

    The Executive Director, Alder Consulting, Mrs. Subomi Plumtre, stated that with the African Free Trade Agreement, a lot of markets have become open adding that it was time to build a distinct identity and brand for agribusiness products, companies or organisations.

    She encouraged farmers or agribusiness professionals to go beyond just doing the quality work that they are doing and build a reputation especially online, attend conferences and build networks beyond Nigeria and attract funding that can be used to scale beyond Nigeria.

  • How to achieve food security

    Experts at the just-concluded Feed Nigeria Summit in Abuja said the country has the resources to execute a green revolution to get a strong and innovative agri-food sector, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Boosting productivity, fostering competitiveness and ensuring that farmers have more access to markets are key to  realising Nigeria’s agricultural potential.

    Also, Nigeria needs to realise and capitalise on the advantages of each agricultural product to boost production and consumption, said experts at the just-concluded Feed Nigeria Summit, organised by Agro Nigeria, in Abuja.

    They agreed that agriculture was still in a relatively small-scale and, as such, yet to meet international markets’ mass production requirements and high quality standards.

    Noting the challenges from the impacts of climate change and plant and animal diseases, they  urged the government and the private sector to re-organise agricultural production with a focus on key products, scale expansion, and quality improvement to meet importers’ requirements.

    The Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to the President on Industrialisation, African Development Bank(AfDB), Prof Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, said Nigeria and, indeed, Africa was lagging behind in industrial agriculture because the productivity of farmers was low, compared to other developing countries. This is because human and technological capabilities, including advanced knowledge and mechanisation, are disturbingly in short supply, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka said.

    He  observed that despite the enormous opportunities, the sector was less attractive to private sector investors due to an array of constraints, including low volumes and inconsistent quality of produce, among others.

    One way to address this, according to him, is through the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative, an important tool for the structural transformation of the economy given its multiplier effect.

    To make it work, he said the focus  should be on the development of agro-pastures and agro-industrial integrated platforms, including strengthening and building infrastructure in the rural areas and secondary towns to boost production and national competitiveness.

    The Managing Director, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed,  said agribusiness and agro-industry development  were critical in ensuring the development of a sustainable and resilient food system needed to deliver healthy diets to all, and to support sustainable poverty eradication.

    In view of this, Abdulhameed said there must be an improvement in  access to finance  for  farmers and agro businesses to expand their operations.

    He noted, however, that investments in the agricultural sector was  perceived as a high risk venture, stressing  the need to deploy de-risking instruments for agricultural lending.

    He reiterated that NIRSAL was determined to an play a critical role in jump-starting the nation’s transformation through the development of agro-based industries that would help boost development, reduce rural poverty, and offer nutritious food and much-needed jobs and income.

    In line with this, he said NIRSAL has launched various initiatives to promote private sector investment in agriculture, adding that apart from guaranteeing loans, it has undertaken programmes to ensure the sector attracts the required investment, skills and technical know-how that will help to modernise agriculture and deliver benefits that can contribute towards sustainable and inclusive  development.

    He said the organisation was  creating new approaches to building a de-risked ecosystem to optimise agricultural value chain financing.

    He stated that this unique approach to agribusiness creates value for farmers and financiers.

    Agro-Allied, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Deputy Chief Operating Officer Sadiq Usman said through the organisation’s integrated farm-to-table value chain, has provided direct employment for over 12,000.

    On backward integration, he said FMN has invested more than $420 million over the past 10 years to execute its core business strategy to aid the agricultural sector; ensure maximisation of local content in our final products and has consistently remained committed to the policy of being involved in all stages of the food value chain.

    He reiterated that agriculture is a vital part of the economy of a country and its optimisation critical to rural development.

    At the event, technical experts from key institutions, including development agencies, financial institutions and private sector stakeholders  shared their good practices and innovations.These included successful models and policies, products and services, and their design and delivery mechanisms, including their replicability and scalability.

    Moving forward, better coordination, sharing of resources, documenting and disseminating good practices among actors were found to be of significant importance.

    Another key recommendation was to hold similar dialogues at the policy level, to promote an enabling policy framework for access to agricultural finance, in addition to de-risking financing for agribusiness development and reducing transaction costs for farmers in rural areas.

    Given the critical importance of exports to the economy, the participants  were unanimous in their support of international trade. They emphasised the importance of finding solutions to helping farmers address risks, such as natural disasters, weather events, severe loss or market volatility.

    They said the agriculture and agri-food industry was promising.

  • Improving access to fertiliser key to food security, enterprise development

    Achieving sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria will depend on more farmers getting timely access to affordable fertilisers and improved farming methods. This was the view of stakeholders and experts at the just-concluded African Farming Second Edition Agribusiness Summit in Abuja. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

    Farmers in Nigeria are confronted with the continuous challenges of raising their productivity to boost food security due to limited access and low use of fertiliser.

    This was the view of experts at the just-concluded African Farming Second Edition Agribusiness Summit in Abuja.

    To them, the neglected but critical input can double yields in a single cropping season. They agreed that Nigeria’s enormous agricultural potential, if tapped, could feed the country and spur socio-economic growth. That means strengthening small-scale farmers and giving them access to improved soil that will increase yields, fertiliser and markets to enhance their incomes and well-being.

    They advised the government to empower smallholder farmers to sustainably and profitably produce more food and achieve a food-secure Nigeria.

    One of them, the Country Manager, OCP Africa, Caleb Usoh said in addition to inputs, such as better seed, and farming practices, fertiliser could be a game changer in food security among smallholder farmers battling falling harvests and unproductive soils.

    Usoh said the government should pay attention to the fertiliser industry to raise the level of “ease of doing business, as the future growth of agriculture lay in efficient utilisation of plant nutrients.

    For Nigeria to grow more food from shrinking agriculture land, Usoh said fertiliser was one of the key inputs to increase per hectare productivity.

    He said OCP plays a major part in assisting Nigeria and other countries on the continent to feed themselves, by ensuring that smallholder farmers are able to use fertiliser optimally to boost their yields.

    By using more fertiliser correctly, he said farmers could grow more nutritious food, achieve household food security, create jobs, increase incomes and boost rural development.

    Through its Agribooster Offer, aimed at boosting food production in the country, Usoh said the company provides farmers with support for every aspect of the agricultural value chain.

    He said farmers are connected to financing, working with extension agents on proper fertiliser use, collaborating with other providers to ensure they have the right fertiliser and other inputs.

    He said his organisation was working with the Federal Government to build fertiliser plants in Southsouth and Southwest areas of the country, which will use local raw materials.

    While the industry imports phosphate, he said OCP fertiliser plant in Nigeria will utilise the ammonia found locally to produce fertiliser.

    With the availability of natural gas in the southern part of the country, Usoh said the company intended to take advantage of it to power the plant which will be located in a free zone  He said his organisation has developed international capacities for running plants in the most cost-effective and timely manner, adding that it is working with other African governments to empower manpower in fertiliser production.

    Usoh said the company is supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to increase food security and improve nutrition across the country.

    According to him, there is a need to expose farmers to fast-changing agricultural and food systems and inputs to help them not only in terms of productivity enhancement, but also in enabling them to be excellent stewards of their land.

    He said OCP welcomed an enhanced partnership with the industry to further close still existing yield gaps and promote efficient fertiliser use.

    He said the organisation supports greater outreach to farmers and innovation in the field of plant nutrition solutions and engaging in dialogue and partnerships with stakeholders.

    He said his organisation supported the summit to ensure food security and drive economic growth.

    In addition to developing specialty fertiliser, the company is looking at digital agriculture and how the industry can use data-driven information to provide better fertiliser recommendations.

    The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA),Ondo State, Prof Samuel Agele said increasing food production to meet the challenge of the growing population requires using new technology and intensifying production.

    He said smallholder farmers were applying fertiliser randomly because they lack knowledge on their correct usage.

    Professor of plant protection and improvement, Department of Crop Science and Biotechnology, Imo State University, Onuachumba Martin noted that issue of soil health is critical in view of ever-declining arable land soil. Hence, there was a need for utmost attention to be paid to improvement of soil health by all stakeholders including governments, farmers, input suppliers and all those involved in the development of agriculture .

    He explained that inadequate and imbalanced use of fertiliser has resulted in deterioration of soilhealth,adding that a massive awareness campaign is needed to enlighten farmers on the importance of soils for healthy life.

    According to him, scaling up improved soil analysis and nutrient best management practices,will help farmers to increase the efficiency and productivity of their farms.

    He noted that increasing fertiliser use must go hand-in-hand with more soil and crop specific plant nutrition and be framed in a broader set of efforts promoting soil health.

    The Head of Events, Alain Charles Publishing, Martyn Diamond Black, said the summit was to provide a platform for agri trade and investment opportunities.

  • ‘Nigeria needs N16.1b for food security’

    Nigeria needs $450million (about N16.1billion) investment in national seeds supply to enhance agricultural production to guarantee sufficient food security, Access to Seeds Foundation Index 2019, has said.

    The study, published by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation, evaluates the activities of global seed companies to shine a light on where the industry can do more to raise smallholder farmer productivity, improve nutrition and mitigate the effects of climate change through the development and dissemination of quality seed.

    Speaking in Lagos, while launching The Access to Seeds Index for Western and Central Africa, its Executive Director, Ido Verhagen said Nigeria’s seeds production currently stands at 80,000 metric tons yearly, while the economy requires 400,000 metric tons,revealing  significant gap in supply.

    The global seed industry, he added, is valued at $50 billion, but said Africa’s contribution to the volume represents a minimal two per cent.

    In its Access to Seeds Index 2019 for Western and Central Africa, focusing on 23 leading seed companies in the region, the study identified Nigeria as leading seed hub in Western and Central Africa

    Verhagen said Nigeria-based Value Seeds tops the rankings in new research on seed companies operating in Western and Central Africa.

    He said the overall picture is one of international and African seed companies falling short in delivering quality seed and new varieties to smallholder farmers. This limits the potential to address food security, nutrition and climate resilience, according to the new study by the Amsterdam-based Access to Seeds Foundation.

    The study noted that while there is a growing number of seed companies active in the region, both home-grown and international, less than half of the 23 firms researched conduct plant breeding in Western and Central Africa.

  • World Bank, Lagos to enhance food security

    The World Bank, in partnership with Lagos State, through its Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project, is to help 10,000 farmers improve their livelihoods, writes DANIEL ESSIET.

    The agriculture sector plays a major role in boosting food security globally. But the sector in Nigeria still is yet to achieve  self sufficiency in food production. Despite attaining a level of self-sufficiency in some staple foods, food insecurity remains a concern across the country.

    However, there is hope as the World Bank has stepped in to help. through its  Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project aimed at enhancing the productivity of small and medium-scale farmers and improving value addition along priority value chains.

    The bank has earmarked $200 million for the project. Six states -Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Cross River, Kogi and Enugu – will participate in the project.

    Speaking during a farmers’ sensitisation on APPEALS in Lagos, the state Ministry of Agriculture  Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olayiwola Onasanya, said Lagos and the World Bank would foster sustainable agriculture and rural development.

    Through APPEALS, he said, the World Bank aims to promote decent opportunities for women and  youths through exchanges of knowledge and best practices on agriculture, access to markets and management of financial resources.

    He said the value chains to be supported by APPEALS in Lagos were aquaculture, poultry and rice.

    The number of direct beneficiaries, Onasanya said, is about 10,000 with 50,000 farm households as indirect beneficiaries.

    To him, Lagos has the potential to be a powerhouse in agriculture and the government wants to help the sector attain full potential.

    Onasanya reiterated that the government was determined to establish Lagos  as a hub for agricultural and food innovation.

    On rice, he said Lagos was working on a rice mill, with a projected 32 metric tonnes per hour production capacity. The plant will create more than 200,000 jobs  and produce 130 million kilogrammes of rice yearly.

    He said the state was determined to promote rice as an agro enterprise venture.

    Onasanya reiterated that the state has integrated youth employment into its agriculture and rural development policies, strategies and programmes.

    The Permanent Secretary said the state has developed testing capacity  for agro exports and local foods, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture is strengthening the capacity of its product department to provide services in support of market access for exporters.

    Onasanya said every effort is being made to enable farmers comply with international food testing standards and good  agricultural practice techniques.

    The State Project CorodinatorAPPEALS, Mrs Oluranti Oviebo said the project relies on strategic alliances with  partners to provide better life opportunities for women and  youths.

    According to her, the project will tackle key constraints of the agriculture sector, such as low productivity, lack of seed funds for establishing agro-processing plants, lack of access to supportive infrastructure, and low level of technology adoption and limited access to markets.

    On poultry, she said the project recognises its importance for rural livelihoods and its role in improving food and nutritional security.

    She said APPEALS will work with farmers in some areas, including the development of training focused on profitable poultry production.

    To meet their needs, she said farmers would be provided extension support, and special efforts made to link poultry producers to distributors for input and offtake.

    She said the project is committed to helping inclusive businesses grow and continue to have a positive impact on people living at the base of the economic pyramid.

    Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) Programme Manager, Dr Olamilekan Sheteolu-Pereira said the government is committed to empowering small-scale women and youth farmers.

    He said the state has been able to crash the price of rice per bag  from N24,000 to N14,000, adding that there is a plan to reduce the price to N10,000.

    A member of the APPEALS Steering Committee, Mrs. Bosun Solarin  said the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry is  ready to support the state to promote sustainable livelihood for farmers.