The Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) has called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to immediately take visible steps with the implementation of policies required to end food insecurity in the country.
ACAN Chairman Collins Nnabuife, while addressing journalists, lamented that since the current administration declared an emergency in the agriculture and food sectors, no tangible action has been taken towards implementing policies that can ameliorate the situation.
Nnabuife decried that the Minister of Agriculture is yet to hit the ground running with policy implementation, despite the food outlook reports recently released by some credible international organizations, indicating that some states of the federation were already on the acute hunger danger list.
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He called on the government to facilitate better market access for farmers and promote value addition along the agricultural value chain, explaining that creating avenues for farmers to access local and international markets will not only increase income for farmers but also position Nigeria as a key player in the global agricultural market.
“The Ministries of Agriculture, both at the federal and state levels, should evolve stakeholder collaboration to spur inclusive participation among stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector players, and civil society organizations, to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach towards agricultural development.
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“There is a need for immediate youth inclusion and programs that attract and engage youth in agriculture through training, mentorship, and incentives to revitalize the sector and address the aging farming population.
According to him, there is a need to strengthen the capacities of agricultural research institutes to develop quality climate-smart seeds and other agricultural equipment, as well as the development of policy reforms that address challenges such as land tenure, trade barriers, and regulatory bottlenecks, fostering an enabling environment for agricultural growth.
