By Fatima Muraina

Call for massive investment in irrigation infrastructure

Advocate state policing to protect farmers

Amid growing concerns over food security, agriculture experts have warned of an impending food crisis in 2025, urging the Federal Government to take immediate action to address key challenges, including irrigation failures, insecurity, and weak agricultural policies.

The stakeholders emphasised the urgent need for massive investment in irrigation infrastructure to ensure sustainable farming, reduce dependence on seasonal rainfall, and boost food production.

They also reiterated calls for the establishment of state police to protect farmers from incessant attacks by bandits and herders.

Among those who raised the alarm in separate interviews with Weekend Hope were former Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Agric and Agribusiness, Pastor Akin Olotu; State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Abayomi Monilari and a commercial farmer, Oludare Idowu.

They expressed concerns that despite repeated warnings on food insecurity, the government had yet to roll out concrete measures to increase agricultural productivity.

Olotu highlighted the devastating impact of extreme weather conditions on farmers in 2024, stressing that urgent action was needed to prevent a repeat in 2025.

He noted that the Federal Government must prioritise funding for irrigation systems and consult experts to determine the best approaches for various regions.

While commending the Ondo State Government for strengthening security through Amotekun, he lamented the inability of the corps to confront heavily armed attackers, calling for the establishment of state police under the supervision of retired judges and traditional rulers.

Olotu also criticised lawmakers for focusing on distributing motorcycles and other handouts instead of passing legislation to address pressing agricultural challenges.

He further pointed out the difficulty southern farmers face in accessing loans, noting that the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has its headquarters in Kaduna, which gives farmers in the North an advantage in securing funding.

On his part, AFAN Chairman, Monilari, attributed Nigeria’s failure to achieve food sufficiency to poor agricultural policies, lack of mechanised farming tools, land disputes, and deepening poverty among farmers.

He emphasised that farmers in the South lacked the necessary implements, such as tractors, ploughs, and harvesters, which are crucial for modern agricultural practices.

Similarly, Idowu urged farmers to explore alternative water sources such as boreholes, rivers, lakes, and dams for irrigation, cautioning against overreliance on rainfall.

He also listed advanced irrigation methods like sprinklers, rain hoses, drip tapes, and rain guns as solutions that could improve productivity.

Idowu, however, decried the destruction of farmlands by herders, stating that their activities had worsened insecurity and disrupted water sources in farming communities.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to mitigate the looming crisis, farmers have been urged to commence preparations for the 2025 planting season.

The Director of Weather Services in the Agro-Climatology Department of the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Jide Adewale, made the call in an interview with Weekend Hope in Akure, the state capital.

Adewale advised experienced farmers to begin early land preparation in line with their planned crops for the season.

While predicting that rainfall would commence soon, he warned farmers against early planting, stressing that they should wait until the rain stabilises before sowing their crops.

He encouraged farmers to closely monitor weather updates and follow expert advice to ensure a successful farming season.

Additionally, Adewale cautioned against indiscriminate bush burning, advising farmers to fire-trace their farmlands to prevent wildfires that could destroy crops and surrounding vegetation