Some stakeholders in agriculture have urged all tiers of government to put in place proper measures to safeguard the lives and property of farmers and the entire citizens, with a view to avert the looming hunger in the country.
The stakeholders, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the side lines of the National Agriculture Show and commemoration of the 2021 World Food Day, on Saturday, in Abuja.
Mr. Samuel Meshi, Chairman, Nasarawa State Chapter of AFAN, said the primary aim and role of government was to provide security for its citizens, in order to eradicate or mitigate the looming hunger across the country.
The chairman identified security challenge as a major contributing factor to the current food crisis and hardship being experienced in the country.
He noted that the only way to stem the tide was for government to fashion out ways to stamp out insecurity “so that farmers can feel free to go about their business”.
Meshi specifically called on government to key into the international vision of having food for all, in order to minimize looming hunger to the barest minimum, by stamping out insecurity.
“We have a lot of poultry farmers that have closed down, people rearing cattle, as well as crops farmers abandoning their farms because of insecurity.
“However, if security of lives and properties of the populace is assured, being the sole aim and responsibility of the government, economic life can thrive”, the AFAN chairman said.
The chairman noted that the World Food Day, commemorated globally on Oct. 16, was aimed at eradicating hunger.
Meshi, who quoted Nasarawa state governor as saying “there is no vaccination for hunger yet”, emphasized that the only means to eradicate or avert hunger was to produce more food.
Similarly, Alhaji Garba Bala, National Programme Coordinator, Federal Government/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme(VCDP) noted that although hunger was an issue across the country, Nigerians, irrespective of creed, status or position should engage in farming to surmount the challenge.
NAN reports that the World Food Day, commemorated on Oct. 16 annually, has as it’s 2021 theme: “Our Actions are our Future. A better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life” (NAN)
