Stakeholders seek bigger Agric investment to tackle food insecurity

Stakeholders in the Agriculture sector have decried the poor investment in the sector, asking that expanded multi-sectorial investment is needed to boost activities in the agriculture value chain and tackle food insecurity.

They made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a symposium as part of activities marking the 2020 World Food Day, with the theme: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain Together: Our Actions are our Future”.

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It was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Food and Agriculture (FAO) of the United Nations (UN); Action Aid and Oxfam.

Speaking at the event, the Country Director, Oxfam, Mr. Constance Tchona, noted that the Agriculture sector is strategic to Nigeria’s economy as well as Africa at large, and that there is need to deepen efforts towards developing the sector.

Tchona, represented by Olumide Ojo, said that there is need to scale up investments in the sector to ensure food security in the country.

Tchona said, “Access to food is justifiable right of every Nigeria, hence there is need to scale up investments in the sector to ensure that adequate food production. At Oxfam, we will continue to provide support to the ministry and farmers in Nigeria.”

On her part, the Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), Ms. Ene Obi, said that there has been consistent decline of investment in the sector.

“As we mark this day, we look forward at the achievements in the sector, but there are a lot if things we can still achieve if we work harder to develop the sector. Investment in the agricultural sector has been on a steady decline and this is an issue that need to be resolved,” Obi said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, called for Integrated Agricultural Approach as part of measure to increase the production and processing of quality agricultural products, in the country.

The minister who said that this is part of measures to increasing demand and supply adding that achieving quality livelihood, food, and nutritional security is imperative.