World Food Day: Association urges govt to pay attention to climate change
NAN-AE-9
Food
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Oct. 17, 2016 (NAN) The African Young Farmers Association (AYFA) has urged government at all levels to pay greater attention to climate change to address poverty and hunger in the country.
The National President of AYFA, Mr Bakare Oladimeji, gave the advice at a news conference to mark the World Food Day in Abuja on Monday
The theme of the World Food Day is “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too’’
Oladimeji said climate change had adverse effect on foods production and security.
According to him, the issue of climate change deserve prompt attention to address poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
Oladimeji said the Nigerian population including farmers, fishers and pastoralists had been hit hardest by higher temperatures and weather related disasters.
“To effectively mitigate unpleasant consequences of climate change in Nigeria, there is need for adaptation of modern farming techniques, which will enable the country to grow food in a sustainable way.
“ This means, we need to adapt practices that produce more with less in same area of land and also use natural resources wisely.
“ We will also need to reduce losses before final product or retail stage through a number of initiatives including better harvesting, storage, packing, transport, market, mechanism, institutional and legal frameworks,’’ he said.
The association president said the Federal Government had done well in prioritising agriculture as a vital tool for alleviating poverty and hunger in Nigeria, and as a major key to reviving the economy.
“In spite of the importance of agriculture as major driving force of our economy, the sector was still being starved of adequate attention and investment, in particular budgetary allocation to the sector.
“ To make success in the sector, let the proper justice be melted on anyone found culpable of stealing or looting little budget allocated to the sector as fight against corruption is the major focus of this administration.
“ Government at all levels need to establish good policies and also put in place practicable programmes that can address the various challenges being encountered by farmers and agric entrepreneurs.’’
Oladimeji appealed to the governments to find a lasting solution to the problems between farmers and cattle rearers in Nigeria, adding that the level of killings and destruction of lives and property was counterproductive.
He urged governments to develop policies that could further stimulate private investment in the Nigeria’s agriculture and food production sector.
According to him, availability and accessibility of farmlands in the country are major problems because the only way to develop agriculture is to ensure access to farmland to increase production and solve the food insecurity.
“ Million youths including graduates are ready to take up agricultural production but they cannot get a sizeable farmland.
“ Youths need governments to help them solve this issue among others, so that they can achieve their dreams in agriculture. (NAN)
ROK/ADA/AFA
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Felix Ajide
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