Food security in broad sense implies when people have easy access at all times to sufficient food to meet dietary needs for a productive and healthy life.
A family, community and society have food Security when its members do not live in hunger or fear of hunger. Food insecurity is often related to poverty and has long-term impacts on the ability of families, communities, states and countries to develop and prosper. Hunger and starvation undermine growth, physical and mental development and increases chances of Ill health. According to available statistics more than eight hundred million, people across the world go to bed hungry every night.
In Nigeria, Food security has been severely threatened by high inflation rates, supply chain disruptions, climate change and security challenges. These have heightened the level of poverty, hunger and social unrest. This was further worsened by removal of fuel subsidy by the present Federal government. Nigeria being a country with millions of low-income earners, many families struggle to afford basic necessities, pushing them deeper into poverty and worsening hunger and malnutrition.
Insecurity including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes disrupt agricultural activities in several regions. Farmers are displaced from their lands, and transportation routes to evacuate produce from farms have become very dangerous because of activities of hoodlums thereby hindering the movement of essential goods. This does not only reduces the overall yields of farm produce but also creates market shortages, driving food prices up.
Most Northern states which are regarded as the food basket of the nation are dangerously besieged and as the farming season sets in, there is fear of increased hunger, scarcity and further rise in prices of food. The Food and Agricultural Organisation has hinted that about twenty-six point five million Nigeria’s population may face acute hunger between June and August this year.
Achieving food security in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach and proactive measures. The Federal government and security agencies should be more decisive and determined in the fight against insurgents, bandits, kidnapers and other criminal elements to create conducive environment for farmers to go back to farms to increase food production.
It is also important to increase investments in sustainable agricultural practices, support small scale farmers, strengthen value chains, and improve post-harvest handling and storage systems. These will encourage more youths to embrace farming and other aspects of agriculture as career and reduce the present embarrassing high level of unemployment in the country
With the right atmosphere and concerted efforts, Nigeria can make significant progress towards ensuring food security and improving the well-being of its population
By tackling insecurity and investing in domestic food production, the country can create a more secure and stable future for Nigerians.
Written by WILFRED OBIOTIKA
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