Federal Government Acknowledges 80% Surge in Food Imports, Targets Reversal
The Federal Government has raised concerns as it discloses that approximately 88.5 million Nigerians are grappling with insufficient food consumption, and this figure is anticipated to rise by an additional six million in December 2023. Despite successive agricultural intervention programs aimed at enhancing food sufficiency, the nation has witnessed an alarming 80% increase in food imports from 2019 to 2023.
Kingsley Uzoma, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement, highlighted these issues during the National Policy Dialogue in Abuja. The dialogue, themed “Deepening Partnership for Scaling-Up of Information and Communication Technology for Development for Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria,” emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
Uzoma emphasized the government’s commitment to reversing the growing dependence on external food sources. Nigeria currently holds the highest global rate of stunted children, with 70% of its population living below the poverty line. October witnessed a significant food inflation rate of 31.52%.
To tackle these challenges, Uzoma pointed to IFAD-financed programs like the Value Chain Development Programme and Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta. These initiatives aim to enhance incomes and food security through sustainable practices, integrating ICT4D tools such as Mini-weather Stations and the Agriculture Market Information System.
However, Uzoma acknowledged existing challenges in data access, gender equality, infrastructure, and technical support. He urged continuous initiatives in digital literacy and emphasized the importance of collaboration among agencies and the private sector. Such efforts are vital to promoting technology adoption among smallholder farmers, fostering increased productivity, technical advancement, best practices, trade competitiveness, and improved market access.
Uzoma stressed the necessity of increased collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the NITDA to implement the National Digital Agriculture Strategy. These aligned efforts aim to leverage technology for transformative change in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, empowering one million women, youths, and minorities for food and nutritional sovereignty, enhanced food security, and heightened agricultural productivity.
