World actors advocate for inclusive solution against hunger in Nigeria

 Actionable programmes to solve food challenges in Nigeria through collective efforts of all stakeholders in the food value chains towards enhanced sustainable food security in the next ten years were the major highlights at today’s webinar virtual meeting that was held with over 100 journalists on Nation Food System Dialogue (FSSD), organised by United Nations (UN) and Nigerian Government.

All the international organizations that spoke on the virtual meeting agreed that over 820 million people in the world are hungry due to failing food system, with Nigeria not being spared as covid-19 pandemic disease coupled climate change devastation causing food insecurity among the children, women and adults.

Actionable programmes towards achieving healthier, sustainable and equitable food system are part of the suggestions to Nigeria and other nations as quick remedy to the food system failure, and also combating hunger in the next ten years.

The UN country representative in Nigeria, Mr. Edwards Kallon in his presentation highlighted bottlenecks to food system as limited access to agro-inputs, land, improved research technologies and poor extension system, stressed that less attention to post harvest production, persistent conflicts leading to displacement of people, and climate change vagaries on food system were all issues that must be tackled in the country.

In the same tune, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country representative, Mr. Fred Kafeero emphasised on 10 years consistent action plan that would ensure a sustainable programmes for efficient system towards food security and participation of all the main actors at the value chains of productivity, including the media, researchers, extension officers, academia, processors, farmers’ cooperative, international partners and government at all levels. 

Speaking on what could result to positive change, Kafeero said that Nigeria must understand the current food system and its function, and the understanding of ten years action vision that would fit into meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) expectation of year 2030 as all the stakeholders must be collectively involved.

The consultant to the FMARD, Alhaji Azeez Muyiwa emphasised on the population growth in the face of climate change vagaries, pointing that the high rate of food importation cum the need to checkmate malnutrition at the rural areas among the children with stunt growth must be well considered for a better change even as he added that Covid-19 had negatively affected the food value chains in Nigeria.

Muyiwa however pointed that the FG green alternative policy has been charting a new course to all the aforementioned challenges with an effort to reduce post harvest losses through establishment of special agro centres where all stakeholders at the value of food productivity could interface for market purposes without having to travel a longer distance.  

Speaking, the UNICEF representative, Peter Hawkin dwelled on the need for Nigeria to unlock her potentials in order to make food nutrition available to all children in order to checkmate stunt growth, and as well improve on negative economic impact on the adults. 

In view of all the aforementioned, the Government of Nigeria has appointed the Permanent Secretary ( PS)  Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning,  Mrs Olusola Idowu as the national convener of the national food system dialogue slated for September, 2021, and there will be three level conferences before the grand finale at the 9th month of the year.    

Mrs Idowu said that ‘’ the dialogue will focus on the UN five actions namely, ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, trip to consolidating food patterns, boost positive food production, advance equitable livelihood, build resilience to vulnerability. The action plans will draw on the expertise ideas from across the food system’’ adding that ‘’ it is envisaged that the national food system dialogue will harvest contributions towards shaping the pathway that will lead to collective determination of sustainable food security in Nigeria’’