Nigeria still far from achieving food security – Don

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Prof Nyaudo Ndaeyo, says Nigeria is still far from achieving food security.

Ndaeyo, a professor of farming systems agronomy in the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, disclosed this while presenting the 111th inaugural lecture of the university on Saturday titled “Farming System in Nigeria: Wallowing in Food Security Amid Abundance?”

The professor who highlighted his various contributions to knowledge to achieve food security noted that there is an abundance of food in Nigeria, but the country lacks food security.

“I have taken you through my contributions to knowledge in the area of bush clearing, tillage practices, soil studies (particularly soil fertility), farming systems, and general crop production. I have mentioned many crops I worked on, such as maize, cassava, cocoyam, yam, okra, fluted pumpkin, cowpea, onions, etc. All these efforts were toward alleviating Nigeria from food insecurity.

“Despite these efforts, we are still far from achieving the goal of food security. Therefore, and regrettably so, my submission is that Nigeria has food, but there is no food security.”

Ndaeyo, however, emphasised that there is still hope as the present administration is looking into the issue of food security more squarely

The VC who went spiritual noted that what the country needs to do first is to hearken to the advice from God in the book of Proverbs 12:11, and to harness the God-given agro resources in Nigeria adequately.

He recommended that an appropriate land development technique be used, adding that using the normal method cannot achieve much.

He also recommended that appropriate mechanisation be put in place in the crop production chain, emphasising that whatever food is being produced has been through extensification instead of intensification of green areas of land.