As food insecurity worsens in Nigeria, experts call for a mechanism to grow food sufficiency and supply chains to ease the situation where citizens hardly can afford breakfast, lunch, and dinner a day.
Daily Episode gathered by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the agricultural expert, Titilayo Adebanjo, highlights the advantage of government commitment to reducing poverty and food insecurity in an interview on Sunday, 5 January, in Epe.
According to Adebanjo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration should consider reintroducing former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s “Operation Feed the Nation” program to ease Nigerians’ suffering.
“We have 36 states in the country today. If every state invests in agriculture, and food production to be precise, it will increase access and availability of food in the market, which will force the price to reduce drastically; thus, part of the national development is a robust agricultural sector.
“Operation Feed the Nation” was one of the agricultural policy thrusts of the administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo while serving as a military Head of State
While Obasanjo was head of state, he introduced “Operation Feed the Nation” as his agricultural policy, and success was recorded during that period as only a few sought food aid.”
Therefore, farming remains an absolute solution to today’s problem, forcing Nigerians to beg for what to eat”. He said.
Adebanjo also discloses that states investing in agriculture will not only make food available but also reduce the price and improve our economy, which the country may have food sufficiency to export to other countries as a source of revenue to curtail total dependency on crude oil.
“I will appeal to both federal and state governors to create an enabling environment for farmers and support them with access to land, low-interest loans, and modern farming equipment because they are necessary.
Besides providing direct or financial support, agricultural education and training for farmers and our youths should be prioritised both in school and down to our locals, the investors in the venture.
Such a mechanism will further motivate more individuals and groups to invest in the sector while food security may grow in the country”. Adebanjo added
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