Food inflation: Urgent action imperative—ActionAid
Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, expressed concern over Nigeria’s food inflation, which has surged to 40.87%, worsening the food crisis. At the National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2025 Agriculture Budget in Lagos, he emphasized the urgent need for action and investment in smallholder farmers, especially women and youth.
Mamedu highlighted that the country faces severe food inflation due to a weakening naira, high post-harvest losses, and reliance on costly imports. He called for strategic investments in extension services, credit access, labor-saving technologies, and Climate-resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA).
The meeting, hosted by ActionAid Nigeria and partners, aimed to improve agricultural budget allocations and boost citizen participation in policy and budgeting, aligning with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and CAADP targets.
Source: Business Day
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Andrew Mamedu of ActionAid Nigeria raised alarms about the 40.87% food inflation rate at the National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting in Lagos. He attributed the crisis to a weakening naira, high post-harvest losses, and reliance on costly imports. Mamedu stressed the urgent need for both immediate and long-term measures to address these challenges.
Investments in smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, are crucial. Mamedu advocated for enhanced extension services, access to credit, labor-saving technologies, irrigation, and post-harvest loss reduction. He also highlighted the importance of Climate-resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA) and effective coordination to boost economic growth.
The meeting, organized by ActionAid Nigeria with GIZ, Oxfam Nigeria, and government agencies, aimed to discuss agricultural budget impacts and promote citizen involvement in policy-making. It aligns with strategic goals such as the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
