Editorial: Food Security and Prayer, an admission to practical failure

The special prayers session for food security as proposed by the authorities, revealed in a leaked memo, signed by the Human Resources Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS), when the needful had not been done and other options had yet to be exhausted, is an admission of failure. 

No doubt, prayer has its place in personal and national lives. But in this case, it would have made sense if all options had been exhausted, and it happens that there are no satisfying results. 

This failure to do the right things first before trying spiritual solutions is common in the policies implementation as most times, many budget releases are mere announcements without cash backing, at the nip of time. 

Also important is the security of the lives of farmers around the country. No doubt activities in the ministry have nosedived to near zero level as many promises like making available tractors to farmers and extension services with the best agronomics practices are obviously in doubt. 

Ask the majority of National Agricutural Research Institutes ( NARI) about their annual review and planning cum feed back from the zonal Research Extension Farmers Inputs Linkage System (REFILS) workshop for you to understand the gap between the illusion and reality of our food security. The fact is that most of them are too cash-strapped to meet their obligations.

We believe so much in religiosity to the extent that we leave important things undone with the expectation that God should do them for us.

When there was a prophecy of an impending famine in Egypt through the King Pharaoh's dream, the proactive advice and implementation strategy of Joseph the "dreamer" bailed out the nation from the food scarcity. 

We need a Joseph in the FMAFS who can proactively drive the sector to ensure food security and sustainability, just as prayers can be handy to proactive execution.