AfDB, AFEX, Others Tasks Nigeria On Food Security

Judith Obaze

The Director General, Nigeria Country Office, African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Lamin Barrow has said that Nigeria must climate proof its Agricultural sector to buffer it against adverse effects of extreme weather, which could undermine food security.

The call is coming because of the growing concerns on Climate Change, sustainability of food production and security across the world, which they envisaged to linger for the next 20 to 30 years.

Barrow made this submission at the third annual Agribusiness and Food Summit organized by Vanguard Newspapersin conjunction with The Economic Forum Series themed: “Enhancing Nigeria’s Food Security in a Changing Climate and Digital Technology Environment,” held in Lagos.

Stating the impacts of climate change experienced the world over, Barrow opined that climate proofing Nigeria’s Agricultural sector and leveraging on digital technology is in line with strategies adopted by other countries across the continent which has enabled them attain higher productivity thereby resulting in up to 50 per cent cut on import.

He said, “Most of the world’s climate vulnerable countries are in Africa. Global warming and extreme weather would continue to intensify in the next twenty to thirty years. Nigeria must therefore, like other African countries, climate proof its Agriculture and ensure compliance to technologies… flood tolerant needs, flood tolerant designs, ensure compliance with technologies such as weather forecast services and subsidized loans would also be needful.”

Speaking, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s apex commodities exchange commission, AFEX, Mr. Ayodeji Balogun stated that the commission is poised to spur growth in the agro-economic sector through supporting smallholder farmers in ensuring that commodities are exchanged for commensurate prices thus helping them scale.

The Chief Executive Officer 9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Ms. Branka, chimed in that the bank is ready to serve in coordinating easy, fast and business friendly loans and payment options to small holder and large scale farmers to thrive enable them thrive.

On his part, the Co-Chair, Communications Sub Committee, United Nations Systems Food Summit, Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mbaram, noted that with the rising cost of food and the employment gaps in the Agricultural sector, employing innovative practices and engaging the youth population would close in the current labour gaps in the industry.

Speaking on the sidelines on the goal of the conference, co-covener of the event and Head, The Economic Forum, Mr. Jude NDU said that as a group, the event was geared towards “influencing policy, innovation and strategic change across the different growth segments and economic sectors of the country for productivity, growth and development.”