Shettima, Agric Experts Recommend Ways To Address Food Insecurity

At the Al-Hikmah University Ilorin agricultural summit on food insecurity in Nigeria, experts emphasized leveraging agricultural technology to enhance food production. They highlighted challenges such as subsistence farming, low yields, and inadequate agricultural technologies. Calls were made for universities to foster innovation, create job opportunities in agriculture, and address issues like post-harvest losses and urbanization affecting farmers’ access to fertile lands. The summit also advocated for government support for deploying technologies for climate precision and revitalizing abandoned farm settlements to boost food and livestock production. Source: Daily Trust

Our Review

The agricultural summit at Al-Hikmah University highlighted critical issues in Nigeria’s quest for food security. Experts emphasized the urgent need for technology adoption to enhance productivity amidst challenges like subsistence farming, climate variability, and inadequate infrastructure. Prof. Lateef Sanni of NSPRI underscored Nigeria’s potential in cassava and ginger production but noted the country’s struggle to meet international quality standards due to outdated farming practices. This gap calls for universities to lead in research and innovation, focusing on mechanization and sustainable farming methods. Meanwhile, Prof. Olusola Kehinde of FUNAAB emphasized precision agriculture and technology deployment to mitigate climate risks and enhance yields. Key recommendations include revitalizing farm settlements, enhancing water management, and promoting value-added processing to reduce post-harvest losses and boost agricultural profitability.