Mr Momoh Aliyu, a financial expert has urged governments at all levels in the country to promote and support irrigation and mechanised farming to check the rising inflation rate in the country.
Aliyu gave the advice during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the continued increase in inflation rate.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that inflation had risen from 11.98 per cent in December 2019 to 12.13 per cent in January 2020.
The report also showed that the highest increase recorded were on oil and fats, fish, meat, potatoes, yam and other tubers as well as bread and cereals.
The expert said that since the increment was more on food items than other commodities and services, hence the need for government to focus on what would guarantee food security in the country.
He said the hike in prices of food products was as a result of local production not meeting local consumption hence scarcity and increase in prices.
Aliyu advised that irrigation and mechanised farming must be taken seriously in the country to ensure “what is being produced is sufficient for consumption’’.
“We need to practice irrigation farming massively in this country to guarantee enough food irrespective of the season and in addition, the country needs to take the issue of storage very seriously.
“Having good storage facilities is key in addressing food scarcity in this country,’’ he added.
Aliyu, who is also a Managing Director of Cyber1 Systems Network International, said the rising inflation rate was also not unconnected with the partial closure of some land borders by the Federal Government.
He said the current inflation was anticipated owing to a country which had depended on importation for consumption for long.
The expert predicted that this rise in inflation would continue in the next three months until the harvesting seasons of these essential food items. (NAN)
