Stakeholders in the agricultural sector called for a complete transformation of national food systems to prevent hunger and reduce poverty in Nigeria. According to them, zero hunger can be achieved in Nigeria if the right systems are created.
Experts spoke at the second international conference organized by the Agriculture, Alexe Ecueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebony State on the topic “Transforming National Food Systems to Prevent Hunger” as part of their food security and hidden hunger lecture series.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (ITAA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, said that zero hunger would be reached only in Nigeria, when farmers grow what they eat and eat what they grow,
Dashiell said that the series of meetings was held by the Zero Hunger Forum, which was defended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the states of Benue, Borno and Ebony, noting that these interactions led to an increase in results in food production and extensive agricultural products.
He said that Nigeria has succeeded in achieving some of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by providing food products that reduce infant mortality among primary school students, biological control products containing beneficial mushrooms, which reduce the concentration of aflatoxin in peanuts and corn by 99 percent compared to with untreated cultures and growth opportunities for cassava products in the food industry.
According to him, Nigeria has great potential for industrialization through cassava processing, therefore, it is necessary to provide the necessary tools and opportunities to increase production.
He, however, pointed out some of the main bottlenecks that Nigerians faced in food production, including high production costs due to low yields, which resulted in a lack of global competitiveness and a lack of a good road network and new technologies. “In order for the agricultural sector to close the production gap, they must attract new technologies and increase the competitiveness of cassava to fight the hidden hunger in Nigeria,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Chinedum Nvajuba, expressed satisfaction with the academic trajectory planned by the University’s Faculty of Agriculture, stressing that the faculty was proud that it focused on practical activities in providing its academic certificate, thereby increasing food production. He stressed that the transformation of the national food system required the development of SMART policies and programs, which was the reason for the annual conference on food security and hidden hunger at the university.
