Food is one of the most critical elements to the survival of any living creature. It is a very important factor to be contended with in human physiological and emotional well-being. It was Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist and philosopher, who, among air, water, shelter, sleep, clothing and reproduction, classified food as the first line of the most pressing human wants in his five-hierarchy of human needs.
Today, there is always palpable fear of uncertainty, loss of sense of esteem and tension when individuals or families are confronted with a situation in which sourcing for food poses a challenge. Of course, the concomitant health and emotional effects cannot be undermined.
Paradoxically, with Nigeria’s massive arable lands, sufficient availability of productive workforce and soil fertility, the country has, since 1973, grappled with challenges of adequate production of food for domestic consumption and for export for revenue generation. Not even several interventionist programs by the successive administrations, most of which were initiated by military government, have helped in salvaging the ugly situation.
For instance, there were five agriculture policies between 1972 and 1985. They include the National Accelerated Food Production Program (NAFPP), from 1972 to 1973; Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), from 1976 to 1980; Green Revolution Program (GRP), from 1981 to 1983; Go Back to Land Program, from 1983 to 1985. The goal of all those policies was to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production; all to no avail.
The Obasanjo’s Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) of 1976 sought to increase local food production and thereby reduce imports. Under the program, citizens were encouraged to cultivate any empty plot of land, urban dwellers being encouraged to garden undeveloped building plots.
In 2011, the administration of President Jonathan launched an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. The intended outcome of the agenda was to promote agriculture as a business, integrate the agricultural value chain and make agriculture a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.
In Anambra state, government under Sir Willie Obiano, on Friday, May 8, 2020, inaugurated a Committee on Homestead Farming, with a charge for the members to aggressively mobilize Ndi Anambra to engage in home stead agriculture as a way to ensure adequate food for all.
Even with these steps, Nigeria has continually been a matter of global concern in terms of right quantity of food and nutrients for its citizens. The legible indices of chronic hunger and acute shortage of food have continued to stare the citizens at the face. According to World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria’s human development indicators are poor.
In addition, Nigeria is subject to periodic droughts and floods. This has had an adverse impact on agricultural output and increased the vulnerability of populations, especially in rural areas. In 2018 for instance, rice farmers who benefitted from CBN’s anchor borrowers fund in many states, lost thousands of tons of rice due to flood during the cropping season.
Also, tied to the alarming hunger statistics today is the high level of conflict that has plagued the country. In the last decade when insecurity assumed a deadly proportion, especially with bandits killing and abducting people, agricultural activities have seriously been jeopardized, no thanks to the constant clashes between the herdsmen and their pastoral locals. The latest is the alleged food blockage from one part of the country to another.
In view of all these, Nigerians should toe the path of the Anambra state by engaging in agricultural venture, at least, at subsistent level. If every grown up Nigerian cultivates at least one plot every year, hunger and food insecurity will be a thing of the past in the land.
Ndigbo should adopt Ugbo Azu Uno farming strategy. Dry season is profitable too. Let us continue the Efi Igbo, Azu Igbo, Okuko Igbo, Ewu/Aturu Igbo, Cucumber Igbo, Yabasi Igbo, carrot, tomatoes Igbo, Anambra rice etcetera as championed by our governor. Most of these crops can bountifully grow in Igbo soil.
WRITTEN BY DR. TIMOTHY IFEDIORANMA
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