AMAYINDI YAKUBU
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a subsidiary of the United Nations, “around 733 million people are facing hunger globally due to repeated weather shocks, conflicts, economic downturns, inequality, and the pandemic.
This affects the poor and vulnerable most severely, many of whom are agricultural households, reflecting widening inequalities across and within countries.”
With this year’s theme, ‘Right to Food for a Better Life and Better Future,’ World Food Day remains one of the most celebrated days on the United Nations calendar. Collective action is observed across about 150 countries, and activities are presented in up to 50 languages. Various governments, non-governmental organisations, the media, businesses, and civil society groups organise outreach events, making World Food Day stand out amongst other advocacy days.
World Food Day, celebrated every 16th of October, was established following the creation of the FAO in 1945 by the United Nations, an organisation tasked with maintaining global peace and diplomacy. The day was set aside, like other international days, to raise awareness about food and global hunger.
Tweeting on World Food Day with the hashtag #WorldFoodDay, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said: “733 million people are short of food because of conflict, marginalisation, climate change, poverty, and economic downturns—including those facing the threat of manmade famine in Gaza and Sudan. Let’s step up the fight against hunger and malnutrition.”
Speaking on World Food Day at the Cenotaph in Asaba, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Onyeme, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens: “We are committed to encouraging smart agriculture and implementing the Delta State Government Livestock Management Law, alongside ensuring the steady supply of agricultural inputs to farmers, such as seedlings, agrochemicals, fees, and fertilisers.”
Sir Onyeme further added that the state government has already taken action by setting up a committee on food security. He assured the public that by next year, 1,000 cassava and rice farmers will receive inputs for the dry season, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANR).
Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Val Arenyeka, during a press conference to commemorate World Food Day, echoed his principal’s words: “This government is determined to eliminate hunger in the state and ensure citizens’ right to food. A committee has been set up on food security in the state. To demonstrate more commitment to boosting agricultural production, the state’s agricultural budget, which used to be around ₦1bn, has been increased to ₦7bn—a rise of over 800 per cent since 2023.”
The significant increase in budgetary allocation for next year deserves applause. The federal government and other states across the federation should emulate Delta State’s exemplary policies aimed at the growth of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.
‘Zero Hunger,’ goal two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is aimed at being achieved by 2030, but this might not be attainable globally with the current hunger crisis. As instability, war, and conflict threats continue to rise worldwide, the realisation of not just zero hunger but all 17 goals seems unlikely. This is due to the interrelated nature of the goals—when one goal suffers, others are also stunted.
We all know that food is essential for nutrition, demonstrates our diversity, and ensures human security. Despite the vast landmass and large water bodies across the globe, which are sufficient for growing crops and rearing aquatic animals, food insecurity persists in many parts of the world, and Nigeria is no exception.
Nigeria, with over 220 million people, is the most populated country in Africa and the sixth in the world. Despite being the tenth-largest producer of crude oil globally, about 84 million Nigerians—37 per cent of the total population—live below the poverty line.
The prevalence of conflicts, insecurity, economic downturns driven by poor government policies, and climate change continues to worsen hunger in the country.
The twin reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which highlighted a rise in the inflation rate to 32.7 per cent in September, up from 32.15 per cent in August, and the World Bank report revealing a severe food insecurity crisis with over one million additional people suffering from food insecurity in 2024 compared to last year are alarming and call for urgent action.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Rep. Bello Kaoje, reacting to the hunger crisis, lamented: “Although the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put measures in place to address the food crisis, hunger and starvation are becoming worse every day, and food prices are no longer within the reach of average Nigerians.”
Speaking on World Food Day, Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed: “This year, the Nigerian government has ordered the immediate release of over 102,000 metric tonnes of maize, millet, and garri, in addition to other food commodities, from the National Food Reserve to Nigerians as a temporary response to rising food costs. The administration has also resorted to importing some food commodities as an interim measure to alleviate shortages.
Despite the implementation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ on agriculture and food security, there has been no significant improvement in the price of local commodities, and the situation has worsened. It is time to question the feasibility of certain policies and strategies in solving the issue.
If our approach to problem-solving is merely tactical rather than sustainable, the solutions will only be temporary. As good as offering palliatives and incentives may sound, they only provide short-term relief. Lasting solutions must address the root causes of the hunger crisis, not simply offer short-term fixes.
Large areas of farmland are no longer accessible, not because they cannot be cultivated, but because non-state actors have restricted Nigerians from farming on their own land. The ongoing farmer-herder crisis continues to leave both groups at a loss.
Food insecurity in Nigeria is caused by several factors, but insecurity leads the way. Conflicts in the North East have displaced 2.2 million people and left 4.4 million food-insecure in states like Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, with Borno alone accounting for three million of the total.
It is worth noting that states like Benue and Taraba, located in the Middle Belt and blessed with rich agricultural environments, supply a significant portion of the country’s food. Sadly, these areas experience little peace due to conflicts. The Jukun-Tiv communal crisis has displaced many people, resulted in deaths, and severely reduced farming activities. The issue of herders encroaching on farmlands remains unresolved, even with anti-open grazing laws in place.
According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria faces multiple challenges, including 18 per cent of the population being undernourished, 31.5 per cent of children experiencing stunted growth, 6.5 per cent of children under five suffering from acute undernutrition, and 10.7 per cent of children dying before their fifth birthday. Nigeria’s score of 28.8 on the Global Hunger Index reflects an alarming hunger crisis.
With data from the United Nations showing that over 2.8 billion people worldwide are unable to afford a healthy diet, Nigeria is not the only country struggling with undernutrition. However, Nigeria should not lead in such statistics while lagging behind in innovation, sports, and governance.
Beyond accessing food, quality and healthy nutrition should be prioritised. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable are often forced to rely on staple foods and cheaper, less nutritious options for survival. The necessity to cut costs has led many to reduce their food intake, conforming to the harsh economic realities.
The FAO’s report on global food insecurity, highlighting gender disparities, stated: “Food insecurity is more prevalent among adult women than men in every region of the world. Worldwide, women are 1.3 per cent more likely to experience moderate or severe food insecurity than men.”
Coordinator of the Small Scale Women Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Mrs Comfort Sunday, commenting on the challenges faced by women farmers, said: “To ensure food security in the country, the government should provide land for women farmers as well as security for farms and farmers.” Secretary of SWOFON, Abuja Chapter, Mrs Mercy Nnnana, added: “The declaration of a state of emergency on food security is a good idea, but we are currently facing food shortages and massive post-harvest losses. The only way to address food shortages is to stop these losses. There should be massive investment in tackling post-harvest losses by providing processing facilities, storage, training, and market access.”
The FAO’s report aligns with Mrs Comfort Sunday’s call for access to land for women. In a society where unequal distribution of resources prevails, agriculture is no exception. Women should not be relegated to the back seat in agriculture; both men and women should have equal opportunities to own farmland and cultivate it for the benefit of humanity.
Local governments can also harness their autonomy to ensure that most of their programmes, policies, and project implementations focus on agriculture, education, and health. The proximity of local government should allow people to benefit from the dividends of democracy at their doorstep.
As we reflect on World Food Day and celebrate the importance of food to humanity, it is crucial that when the Minister of Agriculture presents Nigeria’s agricultural budget to the National Assembly for consideration, due attention is given to allocations for agricultural programmes and sustainable schemes designed to boost farming practices. The funds allotted to agriculture should also be increased.
