THE Hope has observed that in recent times, the level of hunger in Nigeria seems to have risen tremendously. Now, the streets are filled with beggars, and even reported cases of stealing have revealed that most thieves are more interested in carting away consumables rather than items that could be sold for cash.
IN September 2021, there was a notable increase in food prices, with beans, maize, and oil taking the lead. Unfortunately, rather than abating the prices of foodstuffs have continued in astronomical increase till date. With the Nigeria inflation being pegged at the official rate of 13%, it is certain that food prices may not take the desired downward plunge. Unfortunately, this happens at a period when the purchasing power of the nation’s currency is plummeting daily, thereby reducing the citizens’ purchasing power. The Hope recalls that it had earlier warned against the possibilities of hunger but counsels were unheeded and the situation is aggravating daily.
THE fundamental cause of hunger in Nigeria is traceable to dwindling volumes of food available for the teeming Nigerians. Where scarcity prevails, then prices of food and its accessories take a flight beyond the reach of the average Nigerians. We have traced the prevalence of food insecurity to the various insecure natures of farmlands in Nigeria. Form the North to the East and the West; there are numerous tales of attacks against farmers on their lands, as well as the looting and destruction of seed and food storehouses.
IN some parts of the North, bandits demand foodstuffs as protection tax, while herdsmen and land grabbers have sent many food producers to their untimely graves. These attacks have instilled palpable fears in the hearts of farmers, and thus the neglect of the farm. Furthermore, especially in the Southern geo-political zone of the country, the land ownership scheme has inhibited, to a large extent, the engagement of many in large scale industrial farming that could produce the needed volumes of food,
WE have also observed that in more cases than many, Government had often blamed global phenomena for the domestic food crisis in the nation. While it was COVID 19, now it is Ukraine-Russia war. The major problem however is the reduced productivity in Nigeria. Once, there was the groundnut, beans and rice pyramids. Grains for animal production were in abundance until oil boom, which gradually erased the penchant for farming.
IN recent times, domestic issues had sent the farmers off the farms. It is saddening that agricultural inputs have become too exorbitant for farmers to procure, hence hampering production. Hunger therefore prevails as workers are neither paid as and when due nor are they paid in full to provide for themselves and several dependants. With prevailing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, Nigeria risks the loss of human lives as well weakened human capital soonest.
In order to revitalize the nation’s food production capacities, there is the need for deliberate States and Local Governments’ productive engagement of tertiary institutions and agricultural research institutes in order to access better inputs and much more productive agricultural practices that would ensure the cultivation of high yielding crops for Nigeria citizens and export. Furthermore, we advocate that Ondo State Government should as a matter of priority educate farmers and other agriculture loving individuals on the nature and availability of favourable Federal and State governments’ agricultural credit facilities.
We also suggest that in order to promote integration, increase and affordable agricultural products, different States of the Federation should invest in areas where they have comparative cost advantage, so as not to dissipate energy and funds in low yielding productive activities. Moreover, securing the lives of the farmers, their farms as well as the roads on which agricultural goods are transported, are indispensable actions that government must take in order to reduce the hunger in the land.
In the meantime, it is important that government should arrest the nation’s untamed inflations by addressing the current fuel crisis whose volatility is affecting the cost of living of Nigerians. The more the crisis and increment in the prices of the crude oil derivatives remain unchecked; the prices of food would continue to soar above the reach of many Nigerians. While a price control mechanism for foodstuff is imperative, government must ensure that such fixed prices would also remain favourable to food merchants and producers.