Lagos, Nigeria – In response to the recent document outlining strategies by Nigeria’s 36 state governors to address food insecurity, Paschal Nnaemeka, an agricultural expert and food security advocate, has expressed cautious optimism about the proposed plans. Speaking to reporters, Nnaemeka lauded the regional approaches but stressed the need for more focused efforts on addressing core agricultural challenges.

“The initiatives reflect a commendable understanding of regional strengths, such as the South-South’s push towards aquaculture and the South-East’s revitalization of poultry and cassava farming,” Nnaemeka noted. “However, we must address the persistent issues like post-harvest losses and infrastructure deficiencies that have plagued smallholder farmers for years.”

Nnaemeka also emphasized the importance of youth engagement in agriculture, adding that “While the youth agribusiness programs are a step in the right direction, there must be greater incentives for young people to view agriculture as a viable and profitable career. Access to finance, market opportunities, and training in modern farming techniques are critical to sustaining their interest.”

On the security challenges in the northern regions, particularly the herder-farmer conflicts, Nnaemeka urged the federal government to intensify peacebuilding efforts, stating, “Without resolving these conflicts, food production in those areas will continue to be disrupted, exacerbating the food insecurity problem.”

He also praised the ongoing efforts to introduce climate-adaptive practices, such as the use of salt-tolerant crops and flood management systems, but urged for quicker implementation, especially in areas prone to climate change impacts.

Nnaemeka concluded by highlighting the need for a stronger focus on market access for smallholder farmers, which he believes is essential to reducing the country’s dependency on food imports and boosting local production.