Farmers sound red alert on Nigeria’s food crisis

Business a.m.

With a grave sense of urgency, members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) have brought to light the disturbing reality of a potential food crisis that could soon plague Nigeria if the current state of food production and availability is not swiftly addressed.

The farmers, who form the core of the nation’s agricultural sector, expressed deep concern about the alarming state of the industry, stating that immediate action is needed to prevent a more severe food shortage in the coming months.

Kabir Ibrahim national president, AFAN, highlighted a multitude of factors that have placed considerable strain on the nation’s agricultural system, including low mechanisation, limited access to credit and inputs, transportation challenges, insecurity, and flooding.

These factors, according to Ibrahim, are contributing to a worsening food crisis and have raised serious concerns about the ability of the agricultural sector to meet the growing demand for food in the country.

Ibrahim, in a statement issued during the week noted that failure to address the underlying issues affecting Nigeria’s agricultural system could result in a crippling shortage of food.

“Various efforts such as the importation of some food items for a given period in defined quantities, support to smallholder farmers or small-scale producers and distribution of palliatives and agricultural inputs are works in progress,” Ibrahim stated.

He stressed the need for transparency and efficiency in government interventions, such as the distribution of palliatives, importation of essential food items, and support for small-scale farmers.

The AFAN president also noted that the aftermath of the devastating floods of 2024 could disrupt the usual seasonal trend of lower food prices during harvest time, further exacerbating the ongoing food crisis.

He therefore called on the government to facilitate agribusiness practices through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to alleviate the situation and boost food production, suggesting that the government should provide incentives and affordable credit to both small-scale and large-scale agribusiness players to scale up food production and distribution across the country.

Ibrahim rejected the idea of temporary solutions such as palliatives or mass importation, which he believes are not adequate to address Nigeria’s ongoing food crisis.

Instead, he advocated for a more long-term and sustainable approach that empowers smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of food production in the country. He also urged the government to prioritise initiatives that strengthen smallholder farmers and their agribusiness practices to ensure food security and economic growth for the nation.

The AFAN president underscored the critical need for both the government and farmers to reassess their current strategies and work collaboratively to achieve food sufficiency in Nigeria.