The Triple “A” are AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY & AFFORDABILITY of good quality food for the citizenry.

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Actualization of the triple A is pivotal to achieving the Sustainable Food Security and Value Chain development in the ongoing agricultural reorientation in Nigeria which is one of the goals from the optics of the 17 goals of 2030 UN agenda.

The Triple A are of enormous importance that each must be accomplished on own merits. They are AVAILABILITY, ACCEPTABILITY, and AFFORDABILITY,
of sustainable food for the citizenry.

AVAILABILITY

The entire population of West Africa is 348 million while Nigeria is 211 million. 2021) Producing enough for Nigeria is a mirage while the entire populace of W/ Africa sub region are import dependent on most of the daily needed food items such as Rice, Sugar, Milk, Cassava-value chains ( Industrial raw materials): Ethanol, High quality cassava flour, starch, sweetener etc. From available statistics, 4.5 million metric tons – 70% of wheat ( bread baking) is imported annually while 30% is locally sourced from 8 States of: kano, jigawa, kebbi,katsina,sokoto, bauchi,kaduna and zamfara.

Taking a case study of Cassava high net worth value chains, 96% of 600,000metric tons of starch, 100% of 200,000 MT of sweetener, 98% of 50,400 MT of HQCF , 98% of Ethanol, and > 70% of sugar are imported annually. Same goes for Corn starch used extensively as filler or stabilizer in food Industries 100% of Corn starch is imported annually,

From the above analysis the major alibi for insufficiency is inadequate massive commercial agricultural productivity if this is stepped up the present 91 million people leaving in extreme poverty will be gainfully employed. China redeemed 725 million of her citizen from extreme poverty through massive construction , between 1990 – 2013. Indian was delisted from being the poorest nation in the world through the development of technologies in ICT, Nuclear, Agriculture etc. The time for Nigeria to strategize on definite policy objective to take advantage of efficient trade policy that will open up the vistas and vacuum in our balance of trade through our various untapped potentials such as massive commercial organic agricultural farming, various dairy value chain , fruit concentrates, local staple food stuff .productivities is now.

One important remedy to the above is aggressive mechanization, the standard for agricultural mechanization world over is 300 tractors to 1000 km of farmland , in Nigeria less than 50 tractors is deployed to 1000 kms, Nigeria presently need about 750,000 tractors to be deployed. Other areas such as scientific research and innovation on high yield crops varieties, Africa is the highest producer of cassava 55% but the yield per hectare is very low 8 – 11MT compared to the yield in Asia 21 MT/ hectares. appropriate fertilizer application, provision of government infrastructures such as roads in the rural areas and others such as weed management control, accessibility of loans to farmers at single digit rates, synergy between policy makers and scientist, industrialists and other stake holders like processors, famers, end users and donor agencies. Presently, Nigeria is the highest producer of Yam 62% but to date the cultivation of the food tuber is manual if mechanized the foreign exchange It will attract Will be enormous.

The Federal authorities should synergize with large famers to provide needed support in areas such as mechanization, massive commercial production in all areas as fruits, cereals, diaries, as these will influence large production of concentrate, Diaries and lot more. The irony of massive productivity is such that it doesn’t take any more energy to create big dream than it does to create little ones. There must be Swift departure from our native syndrome ( as our fathers did it) to advance thinking and operations. Investment in vital areas is key and should be embraced .The difference between the advance climes and the rest of the world is the bigger dream they have.

ACCEPTABILITY

Formulation of a model of food processing technology programs that will ensure the incorporation of a food management system. Which form the basis of WUFAS AGR0Net Ethics of Food Processing Technology, water treatment, quality control concept, preservation, packaging, product quality assurance, etc. These models would ensure acceptable food for all and support a quality population.

At WUFAS AGRONET we are into establishment, Construction and installation of Micro, Small and Medium scale Food Processing Industries & Plants for Startups , Propreneurs, Entrepreneurs using about 80% local content ie( fabrication using stainless steel and other food grade appliances that are not toxic to food ) eg: Citrus fruits juices, Tomatoes (juice, paste) , pineapple line, Dairy ( different types- Greek, drinking, fruit, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc) Water Treatment and production, Flavor drinks ( still & carbonated) Alcoholic & nonalcoholic drinks, Herbal extracts , Bitters drinks, Wine drinks – Tonic wine, Bread baking/pastries, Chips Frying Milling -cassava, rice etc., Drying – fish etc., Compounding of Feed Mills. and many more plants.

Attention of the appropriate department of Agriculture (MYCOTOXICOLOGY) Is required on this development.

The European Union( EU) had in June 2015 suspended Nigerian Food items such as: Dryfish, Meat, Melon seed,Beans, Sesame seeds and Peanuts from entering Europe till June 2016, However the ban has been extended back – back to June 2019 following the inability to meet the prescribed food safety standards by the EU..The rejected Food items were found to contain between 0.03 — 4.6 mg/kg .of DICHLORVOS Pesticide. The permissible global limit is 0.01 mg/ kg. The excess chemical in the food items are said to be harmful to consumer’ s health.
Unfortunately, the high dosage of toxin is what Nigerians and indeed the W/Africa and beyond are been fed with. The appopriate authority should expedite necessary action on this.

AFFORDABLITY

Cost of product is determine by the availability of same,When the supply is in excess of demand the cost drops, this trend followed by protective Government policies wil ensure affordability.Local producers will be encouraged to increase production .
As processors operate at maximum capacity (full blast) break even point is achieved this will guarantee Demand /Supply of products and crash the selling price.

At WUFAS AGRONet, We are Competent and Reliable Food Technologists. Into Human Capital Development Consultancy . Impacting Redifined Agroprenuerial in Food Processing.
Contact us : 08034064270, 08157784430. Email wufasagronet@gmail.com