Addressing food insecurity in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach that considers the complex socio-economic, environmental, and political factors involved. Here are some strategies that could help mitigate food insecurity in the country. The first strategy is to set up machinery for the improvement of agricultural productivity by encouraging farmers to embrace the use of modern farming techniques, such as precision agriculture, improved seed varieties, and efficient irrigation systems. The government at all levels also needs to create access to inputs and ensure that farmers have access to quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. Training and education for farmers on best practices, pest management, and sustainable farming methods is imperative.
Secondly, the government should, as a matter of urgency, provide infrastructure and social amenities that would enhance transportation networks to facilitate the movement of goods from farms to markets. Public-private partnerships in the provision of storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses must be encouraged. The Ministry of Agriculture should also create market access. This can be done by developing better market systems to help farmers sell their produce at fair prices.
Support for Smallholder Farmers in the manner of providing microfinance and credit facilities is a huge incentive for massive food production. There should also be a scheme that encourages the formation of farmer cooperatives to enhance bargaining power and reduce costs through collective purchases and sales. Here, the Ministry of Agriculture should strengthen agricultural extension services to support farmers with technical advice and information. State and local governments should face the reality of their people’s needs. They should support and cooperate with the Federal Government in addressing the food shortage situation of the nation. Every state should as a matter of necessity, prioritise agriculture development, and organise a formidable support base for farmers in their states.
If the Bola Tinubu government really wants to demonstrate sincerity of purpose, it will have to embark on policy reforms that will support, protect and encourage the young population to go into farming. The government can start this land reform. This means that it must implement land reform policies to secure land tenure for smallholder farmers, making it easier for them to invest in their land. The government should provide targeted subsidies and incentives to support agricultural production and reduce the cost of farming inputs. The Tinubu administration needs to develop and implement comprehensive food security policies that address the needs of the most vulnerable in the population.
Nothing stops the government from converting the National Youth Service Corps scheme into a National Youth Farming Scheme, whereby all youth corps members are trained right at the orientation camp on various areas of agriculture. The host states should be mandated to provide weeded arable land, farm tools, farm inputs, and other resources, including financial resources required to succeed by the young corps members in their respective states. In the end, the state governments through the local councils will help to purchase whatever the youth corps members produce from their farm lands. Naturally, some of these corps members will embrace farming after the completion of their service year. Moreso, they will have enough capital and experience to embrace farming rather than searching for white-collar jobs.
Lastly, the Federal Government should begin to foster international partnerships to access funding, technology, and expertise, leverage international aid and support to implement large-scale food security programmes and projects. Implementing these strategies requires collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental organisations, private sector stakeholders, and the international community. A coordinated and sustained effort is essential to address the root causes of food insecurity and ensure long-term food security for Nigeria.
Adetola Odusote is a corporate communications and public affairs consultant
