How Nigeria May Achieve Food Security — Obasanjo, Makinde, DG IITA

Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president, stated that in order to ensure food security in the nation, every link in the agriculture value chain must take advantage of innovation, technology, and cooperation.

The former president stated that adopting innovation and technology will transform farming methods, lower post-harvest losses, and guarantee value addition in the agribusiness, moving away from the usage of cutlasses and hoes.

This necessity was mentioned by the former president during the Agribusiness for Food Security Initiative event on Monday at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in Ibadan.

Obasanjo emphasized that the path to food security was a shared responsibility that required strategic collaboration, transformative solutions, collective action, unwavering commitment, and innovative thinking. He noted that the challenge of ensuring food and nutrition security was now more important than ever.

Obasanjo called on agripreneurs, legislators, government agencies, and logistics providers to all play their responsibilities in the agricultural value chain in order to ensure a sustainable food system internationally.

Obasanjo called on agripreneurs, legislators, government agencies, and logistics providers to all play their responsibilities in the agricultural value chain in order to ensure a sustainable food system internationally.

He emphasized that ensuring food security and nutrition will boost the creation of jobs, money, and wealth.

In addition, Obasanjo stated that the government has to support female farmers in realizing the benefits of working in agriculture.

Obasanjo questioned why money was being sent to the federal ministry of agriculture while state ministries of agriculture were in control of the land and had more oversight authority.

Farm Alert's new loan product is expected to offer a timely and innovative solution. Veterinary practitioners can receive product credit from distribution hubs in Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, and Abuja if they have signed up as Farm Alert partners.

Regardless of their current financial situation, this idea will allow veterinarians to treat animals swiftly by getting the necessary medications and vaccines.

Continuing in the same spirit, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared that the state had decided to push its development agenda through collaboration with private investors and development partners.

He pledged to support the state's farmers by providing energy, water, and road infrastructure. Makinde stated he was still committed to establishing the Eruwa and Akufo agriculture hubs, citing the creation of the Fashola Farms and the advantages for farmers along its corridors.

Dr. Simeon Ehul, Director General of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), stressed in his speech the value of collaboration in tackling issues affecting the world food system.

A robust, inclusive good system, a world free from hunger, and a thriving agricultural industry that supports farmers will all be built, he claimed, with the help of alliances, policy creation, and teamwork.

Ehul lamented the fact that Nigeria was still spending billions of dollars importing food that was capable of being produced domestically.

He deemed it intolerable that despite the continent's vast amounts of arable land lying uncultivated, food hunger resulted from the Russia-Ukraine war in Africa.

The head of IITA advised the continent not to only import technology, but to modify it in order to effect the necessary revolution in agriculture.

The state is eager to implement a paradigm shift in its agribusiness policy, according to the director general of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), which would entail expanding and rerouting the financial system to guarantee food security and making additional land available for agriculture.

Agribusiness investors from the state, including Mrs. Oluyemisi Iranloye, Mr. Tony Jibunoh, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, and Ms. Ebun Feludu, requested during a panel discussion that the Oyo State government be more deliberate in clearing land for investors, mending inner roads, ensuring farm security, and supplying electricity and water.