Adeleke: Mechanised farming, irrigation & climate-resilient seeds to boost productivity

Increased investment in mechanized farming, irrigation systems, and climate-resilient seeds are deemed essential to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria. According to the 2024 Nigerian Food Security Index, most regions in the country suffer from weak food systems and a lack of integration between federal and state policies, hindering efforts to improve food security. Adebayo Adeleke, the Founder of Nigeria Food Security Project, emphasizes the importance of increased public-private partnerships to enhance agricultural value chains and address persistent challenges. Adeleke highlights the significance of defining food security beyond agriculture and underscores the need for a holistic approach to address the diverse factors impacting food security in Nigeria. The comprehensive Food Security Index developed in Nigeria incorporates the country's unique nuances, such as population dynamics, income inequality, and varying agricultural practices, providing a more accurate assessment of the nation's food security landscape. Adeleke stresses the importance of aligning policies at both the federal and state levels and leveraging partnerships to build a more resilient agricultural sector in the face of climate disruptions and ecosystem challenges. The report's recommendations focus on enhancing food affordability, accessibility, quality, and sustainability to ensure every Nigerian has access to affordable, nutritious, and quality food at all times. Adeleke outlines critical questions that need to be addressed concerning both the demand and supply sides of food security, emphasizing the need to analyze the quantity and affordability of nutritious food required in Nigeria and develop strategies to meet this demand through either production or trade. The lack of storage capacity emerges as a key challenge across states, presenting a significant opportunity for improvement to bolster food security in the country. Adeleke's insights shed light on the complexities of Nigeria's food security landscape and offer guidance on actions needed to strengthen agricultural productivity and enhance food security for all citizens.