Insecurity a threat to food security

The President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) Sani Dangote & Alhaji Mansur Ahmed, the executive Director Stakeholder management and Cooperative Communication Dangote Group

·         Stakeholders applaud conference organizers.

As efforts to address the challenges of insecurity, food security and low yield in food production the AgrikExpo & the Nigerian Agriculture Business Group (NABG) today commenced its 6^th agricultural expo at the international Conference Center Abuja, theme: harnessing Nigeria’s agricultural potential for food security, youth development, and nutrition and wealth creation across the country.

The 3days event brought together array of participants from within and outside the country to brainstorm and chart a way forward as regard increased productivity and the security of food producers across the country.

The President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) Sani Dangote, said that encouraging small holder farmers through cooperatives and research institutions will enable the country sustain its agricultural growth, while enhancing food security. He said that the conference will address issues regarding sustainable income for farmers, as he urged that farmers are not to rely on government for increased productivity, while waiting for government to provide a sustainable environment and favorable polices that will help stimulate the sector.

Sani added that there is a need to develop the sector to easily empower the youths to better create wealth and to shun crime as most youths had indulged in criminal activities as a result of hunger and unemployment. The NABG chair agreed stressed that youths represent a huge population of Nigerian whose voice must come under consideration in this context, the development of agriculture to the next level where it becomes a major foreign exchange earner while satisfying the food needs of the entire population.

Speaking at the event the representative of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Mansur Ahmed, the executive Director Stakeholder management and Cooperative Communication Dangote Group, said that it is on fortunate that insecurity has posed a major threat on food security as major farmers and stakeholders are now kidnapped along the Abuja-Kaduna road. He said most farmers have abandoned their farms as results of this menace which if gradually reducing the level food production across the country.

Alhaji Mansur appealed to the federal government at all levels to rehabilitate and constructs the commercial roads to reduce cost of food production price, thereby facilitating the easy movement of farm produce to the market for human consumption. He added that there is a need for the introduction of improved technology to meet with the demand for improved inputs, such as seed, agrochemicals, fertilizers to help increase farmers yield.

He further urged that now is the right time for youths to get fully involved in agriculture, stating that the sector needs young and vibrant agriculturist to pilot the sector. He adds that if the sector must be successful it is mandatory for more youths to be empowered, to create a younger generation of farmers who will produce more than what has been produced in the recent years.

According to Alhaji Mansur “We need to improve human capital in every aspect of the farm value chain. “There is need for infrastructure to be in place to enable farmers transport their produce from farm to markets,’’. He called on state governments to initiate programmes that would promote areas of their comparative advantage in agriculture to boost food security and assist Federal Government’s agriculture efforts. He called for adequate cooperation between the public and private sector to enable agriculture thrive in the country. “Agriculture cannot thrive in this country except there is a better partnership, collaboration between the private and public sectors,’’ he said. 

stakeholders present at the event applauded  the organizers of the AGRIKEXPO & NABG conference saying that the event has  continued to redefine standards of business to business networking in Nigeria, with many foreign and local companies participating  in the expo. Speaking with one of the participant Amadu Isah, recalled that the event which started more than six years ago has attracted many international exhibitors and created room for an exchange of ideas, and opened business opportunities.

Isah told foodfarmnews that the fair has created an annual meeting point, for stakeholders in agriculture in Nigeria to showcase their products either as raw materials for additional processing; he added that the platform has created a meeting point for global players to discuss agribusiness and future opportunity for the export of more produce to the European market and various destinations.