News in Brief:
– Nigeria estimates a seed shortage of 312,000 metric tons hindering its goal of food security in 2024.
– The government outlines plans to address this issue with a $3 million food aid from the United States expected to act as a stop-gap measure.
Nigeria’s federal government has revealed a critical shortfall in seed availability, estimating a requirement of 312,000 metric tons to achieve food security in 2024. This announcement coincides with a US pledge of $3 million in food aid to address scarcity issues in the northeastern region of the country.
The disclosure came during a High-Level Stakeholders’ Forum on Seed System Development held in Abuja. Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Dr. Haruna Suleiman, Director of the National Food and Strategic Reserve, made the statement at the event. He stated that the Ministry has established key strategies to tackle Nigeria’s food security challenges.
The forum was titled Enhancing Seed Systems Development for Improved Food Security: A Model of USAID Interventions in Northeast Nigeria. It shed light on the importance of robust seed systems for achieving long-term food security goals.
Action plans to boost food security
The minister outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach to tackling food scarcity. This strategy emphasises the immediate availability, affordability, and adaptability of seeds specifically chosen for their suitability to Nigerian food production. Key crops like rice, maize, wheat, sorghum, and cowpea were identified as priorities for the 2024 planting season.
Furthermore, the forum underscored the need for collaboration among stakeholders. The minister mentioned the potential of the community-based enterprises model, developed by USAID’s Feed-the-Future Nigeria Integrated Agricultural Activities (NIAA) program, implemented through the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). This innovative approach, a departure from traditional demand-driven methods, empowers local communities to develop and manage seed production systems that are tailored to their specific climatic conditions and needs.
The pilot program, implemented in Adamawa, Gombe, and Yobe states in northeastern Nigeria, exemplifies this community-driven approach. It focuses on building a market-driven seed network, managed by local farmers’ groups in collaboration with local governments. This is meant to ensure the availability of resilient seeds specifically adapted to the ecological conditions of each region.
Additionally, the forum highlighted ongoing international collaboration. Prakash Silwal, Chief of Party/Principal Specialist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), acknowledged USAID’s five-year commitment to funding IITA and its partners in addressing food insecurity specifically in northeastern Nigeria.
