FOOD SECURITY

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■Strength and Weaknesses of Agricultural Production/Processing
■-Constraints of Land Use Act.

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  TAKING  A PRISMATIC look  on  the glamour of Africa compared  with  other  continents.  The  Area of  Africa  is  about    30.37million/sqkm with  65%  arable land,  40%  of global gold reserve,  33 %  of  Diamond  reserve , Africa ( Namibia ) has most fish rich  coastline globally. Africa has a population of about 1.412311 billion (sept. '22)  and culturally  diverse in music, (West Africa has a population of about 424.4million, Nigeria >211million  ) dancing,  architectural  sculpture  with about 30,000 medicinal recipes and  herbs also with projected  estimate of youthful population  of about   2.5billion by  2050.

All the above compaired with Area of China 9.6msqkm , USA of 9.0msqkm. and Europe 10.18msqkm.
However, Africa is blighted by forces limiting her capabilities to feed the Citizens making her import dependent. There’s enormous desertification in the northern hemisphere while the southern hemisphere is plagued by insecurity , caused by terrorism, ECOWAS and East Africa Community EAC While the SDAC – South Africa Dev. Community. is land constrained.
Currently one cannot undermine Ukraine / Russia war. Causing major albatross in food security.
The main strength of Nigeria’s Agrobusiness sector amongst others are fertile agricultural landmass with huge reservoir of human resources which could translate into high efficiency in production as in global standard if well articulated .
The Agroprenuerial promotions in 2022 and beyond must be made more vibrant to accommodate the drive for the revival of self sufficiency through diversification of Agricultural productions which will be enabled through Mechanisation, improved agronomy, Mitigation of Environmental Calamities such as fire, Climate change.,Flooding, Earthquakes, while the efficacy of AGROPROCESSING to attract sales and value premium shouldn’t be overlooked.

THE MAIN STRENGTH
Nigeria is endowed with abundance of landmass about 98.3million hectares(923,768 sqkm ) of fertile arable land. With very good soil and climate, one hectare of land can yield 8- 11 tons of farm produce of various classes of Food and Cash crops ,Fruits and vegetables, Integrated farming in Poultry and Animal husbandry etc.
The above is complimented with virile and vibrant youthful population of Human Capital Resources that can see her become a world power in diverse fora of life.
This is where all motivations should be placed and directed. Blessed still with experienced industrial practitioners trained locally and abroad during the Industrial boom era their experiences in Food production and processing must be exploited for National development.

THE WEAKNESSES
— Lack of adequate mechanised farming to engage with the fallowing 71% of cultivatable landmass. with only 38% cultivated.

• Unmotivated youthful population mostly unemployable due to Inadequate exposure in Entrepreneurial / Empowerment Agroprenuerial and ProcessingTechnology. The Federal Government financial inclusion for the youths in form of Entrepreneurial loans must be upheld.
  — Vulnerability against the COVID -19 pandemic outbreak , INSECURITY– Insurgency , Terrorism, Kiddnappings, Banditry, Flooding, Cattles rustling, Herders/Farmers clashes , Robberies, Religous crisis, High profile corruption and other high end crimes. .

OPPORTUNITIES
— Nigeria is blessed with a huge population of over 211million which translate to a huge market.
— The large market that will be created through AFCFTA of which Nigeria is a member.
— The Population of West Africa is 424,352,680
— The global commodity market in Nigeria ‘s Palm oil, Cocoa, Rubber, Coffee, Sugar, Soybeans, Rice, Organic Fruits and vegetables. be invigorated.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION “DEFORESTATION “
With the vast landmass of Nigeria 98.3million hectares, ( 923,768sqkm ) only 38% is cultivated of the 71.2% cultivatable.
Some states are endowed with massive portion of the landmass such as Niger state with 76,363sqkm, Borno has 70,898sqkm , Taraba – 54473sqkm, Bauchi -45838sq km. Kogi -29838sqkm) All these compared with Lagos with only 3,345sqkm .
It is interesting to note that the five SouthWest states minus Lagos are having landmass of only about the size of Niger state with 76320sqkm . While the entire five South East states(29525sqkm) have landmass equal to that of Kogi State (29838 sqkm).
Deforestation should be considered in areas with wide areas of fallow landmass with agreement between the State/ Federal government (NOT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION) for massive mechanised plantations of predominant Food and Cash crops
This will ensure self sufficiency coupled with massive stockpiling in storage silo of grains.
● In 2020 , Brazil deforested a very huge expance of land in the Amazon region for Soybeans meant for exportation. While Russia invested in 200MMT of wheat (Russia is a major exporter of wheat). Although currently at war with Ukraine thereby suspending farming activities with resultant hunger globally.

CONSTRAINTS TO AGRICULTURAL. GROWTH
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have insisted that the Land Use Act is a major constraint to the development and growth of agriculture in Nigeria.
The Land Use Act formerly ( Land Use Decree)was promulgated on March 29 1978. It vests all land in the territory of each state (except Fed Govt Land ) solely in the Governor of the state.who will hold such land in trust for the people responsible for the allocation of the land in all urban areas to individuals residents in the state and to organisations for residential, agriculture and other purposes.
Similar powers in non- urban areas are conferred on Local Governments.
However, it should be noted that Agroprenuerial ( Production/Processing ) activities are the major catalyst to strengthening the economy and ensuring job creation.also to encourage Foreign Direct Investment.
Government should create the needed policies and regulatory environment to encourage the growth of the Agricultural sector.while support from the Development Banks are sorted

MECHANISATION
Agricultural mechanised farming nation is such that deploy 300 tractors on every 1000km of farmland. . This is where the Federal Government policy on agroprenuerial must shift towards. By ensuring the followings :
-■- Deforestation of criminals hibernations and hideouts turning same to mechanised organic farming in various Food and Cash crops.
–■- Reorientating the youthfulness into adventurism in agro allied oriented productions. The educational concept must be redefined to produce entrepreneurs not job seekers
-■– Nigeria is the highest producer of yam tubers in the entire world 62%. But amazingly with cutlass and hoes one can imagine if yam ridges could be mechanised.
–■ Africa is the largest producer of Cassava 55% in the world producing about 8 – 11 metric tons /hectare compared to Asia that produces 21mt per hectare.
— Aggressive, Commercial and Organic farming is it now .
-■- Massive jobs creation will be provided for the unemployed youths.

2023 AGRICULTURAL PERFORMANCE SURVEY .
■ The major criteria involved are the objective, Scope and Achievement of Agricultural projects with adequate monitoring procedures put in place to ascertain the planned achievements such as establishment of Crop monitoring and Early Warning system programmes coupled with feedback on market information on prices of Food periodically from various locations.
Lessons must be learnt from 2022 Agricultural Performance Survey through the reports and data of the Global partners
such as FEWS NET, WFP, GIZ, FAO etc.
■ Processing of Food crops add more attractive premium to sales value.

RAINFALL
This was discussed under the followings conditions:.
■ Availability, Occorrence ,Frequgency, Spatial and temporary distribution – all these determine failure or success of the season.

FLOODING — This is a perennial Occorrence in the riverine areas affecting plantations on river plains, houses and infrastructures with lives being lost , the effect could be mitigated by periodic dredging ,. and other environmental nuisance abatement programmes.

■-DEFORESTATION WILL CREATE VERITABLE TEMPLATE FOR MECHANISED FARMING THAT WILL CREATE MILLIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. The government agency for lanf clearing NALDA must be involved in this project.

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