12 ways Nigeria can achieve food security

12 ways Nigeria can achieve food security

Before the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri present-day Bayelsa state in the 1950s, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

But with the advent of oil, lesser attention was given to the agricultural sector.

Following the economic recession currently ravaging the country and the low proceeds from crude oil, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has promised to focus on agriculture as an alternative to oil.

12 ways Nigeria can achieve food security
President Buhari has promised to focus more on agriculture

Before oil, Nigeria depended on agriculture for her foreign exchange earnings but with the neglect of agricultural sector, the country started encountering social, economic and political woes.

Indeed, the arduous task of nation building and providing food through the revamping of the agricultural sector is what every responsive and responsible government should embark on.

In view of the determination of President Buhari to diversify the economy, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved an agriculture promotion policy called “Green Alternative” (2016-2020).

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The policy is aimed at revamping the agricultural sector and enhancing food security in the nation.

Legit.ng lists 12 ways Nigeria can achieve food security as espoused by Mr Mbosire John of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

1.  There is need for substantial import substitution for rice, sugar and wheat coupled with provision of gainful employment and stemming of rural-urban migration

2. There is need for a major shift from the current subsistence nature of agriculture to modernized agricultural production storage and processing

3. Involve the private sector with the required support and incentives from government

4. Focus on conservation of land and water and a radical departure from the prevalent rain fed agriculture to an irrigation farming system.

5. Provide fertilizer at a subsidized price to farmers endlessly

6. There is need for Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government by engaging in agriculture for the provision of adequate food and employment creation

7. Improve productivity, quality and efficiency and farmers access to inputs, credit and markets

8. Focus on reducing post harvest issues encountered by farmers

9. There is need for government to properly educate farmers with the advancements in technology, as there are new and modernized farming equipment and machinery in the markets today.

10. Provide farmers with adequate power supply for processing and storage of their produce and perishable crops

11. Establishment of training schools and research institutes and encourage farmers to attend such training schools so as to equip and update them with basic skills for the better running of their farms

12. Low interest agriculture loans should also be made available especially for young farmers who have the passion for farming.

Source: Legit.ng

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