Food Productivity: Journalists, Stakeholders push for more regular information

 

A cross-section of journalists and agricultural stakeholders have called for an urgent increase on more information on food productivity in the country.

The call was made during a four-day training workshop organized by ActionAid Nigeria, with funding support from GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).

The stakeholders posited that the balanced and regular reportage of food productivity systems would enhance the sector's progress towards development with food security in the country, adding the need for more support to journalism in this regard.

The training is aimed at strengthening the capacity of journalists to report more effectively on issues related to agriculture, food safety, and inclusive food systems. It also served as a platform to explore how accurate reporting can drive accountability and policy reform in the sector.

The Food and Agriculture Programme Specialist at ActionAid Nigeria, Mr. Azubike Nwokiye, underscored the vital role of the media in shaping narratives and influencing investment decisions in agriculture.

Azubike Nwokiye said that “Journalists must understand the importance of attributing investments accurately. Their role in highlighting gaps and progress in the sector can help direct attention to where reform is needed most."

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Collins Nnabuife, chairman of All Agricultural Correspondents of Nigeria (AACN), pledged journalists' commitment to unbiased and development-focused reporting on the sector.

Collins Nnabiwefe said that  “Our role as journalists is to report with integrity, spotlight the real challenges, and support sustainable solutions that can transform the sector."

“Unbiased reporting is key to growth and trust in agriculture.”

Addressing broader challenges, Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, Deputy Country Representative of ActionAid Nigeria, described the current food system as fragile, noting that it lacks a holistic approach from production to consumption.

According to Dankoba, " Nigeria’s food system is under serious strain. It does not adequately capture the full value chain  from harvest to transport, processing, and final delivery to the market."

She stressed that ActionAid's inclusive food system model promotes a people-centered approach to agriculture, ensuring that vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, are not left behind, saying that “ This is about creating a system that works for everyone. It’s time to rethink how we grow and distribute food, what we eat, and where we invest."