…identify access to land as major obstacle
ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
Bayelsa State farmers, particularly those from Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state, have implored the government and intervention agencies to assist them in the acquisition of lands for farming to boost food production.
The farmers identified access to land as a major obstacle to them in their mission to achieve food security.
On Thursday, during a one-day event, ‘food systems dialogue’, facilitated by the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as part of the measures towards achieving food security in the country, the farmers called on all households in rural communities, including public servants and private sector wage earners, to engage in farming and other food systems components for which they have comparative advantage to undertake.
The forum was organised by the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), a non-governmental organisation implementing the FG, NDDC, IFAD projects designed to address food shortages in Nigeria.
Bayelsa State Cordinator, LIFE-ND, Dr Panebi Ugo, explained that the goal of rural food systems dialogue was to engage grassroots stakeholders towards taking an aggressive approach to solving global hunger.
According to him, the dialogue will also address the disrupted value chain globally as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change as well as other unexpected challenges that could disrupt the food supply value chain.
Ugo said: “The food systems dialogue is required to improve nutrition security, reduce hunger and prevalence of malnutrition in line with the national food and nutrition policy for Nigeria.
“It will also create more inclusive, healthier food systems, encourage collaborative approach towards building sustainable food systems and enhance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the farmers called for the strengthening of public agriculture extension services to provide technical advice to promote good agricultural practices in the communities.
The communique read in part: “The agricultural extension services will ensure availability of food and introduction of new crops that suit the soil type of the community and livestock.
“Effective information sharing and dissemination on existing markets for farm inputs as well as related agricultural products and services will ensure all year farm production and reduce hunger and improve affordability of nutritious food.
“To ensure the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, all farmers should engage in mixed crop farming and diversity of livestock rearing.
“To ensure increased affordability and availability of nutritious and safe foods, farmers and other stakeholders should avoid sharp practices, use of harmful chemicals and adopt good agricultural practices.”
The farmers also urged the government to facilitate the establishment of public-private managed food banks, storage facilities to store surplus agricultural produces harvested in the community.
The development, according to them, would reduce food inflation in the rural areas as currently experienced in the community.