The United States recently announced a new Global Food Security Strategy Country Plan for Nigeria that would help address the high incidence of food scarcity in the country.
This initiative, part of the broader national food security program launched in August 2001, is present in every senatorial district in Nigeria.
Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),Melissa Jones revealed details of the new strategy during the 1st Post-harvest Connect Conference and Exhibition in Abuja. This move is in sync with the United States commitment to improving food security in Nigeria.
The plan focuses on enhancing the production of rice, maize, and horticulture in six states: Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara. It also aims to tackle post-harvest loss through climate adaptation and private sector engagement.
Given the numerous challenges facing Nigeria’s economy and populace, including insecurity from insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry, the officials emphasized the critical need for intelligent food security planning. Such insecurity disrupts economic activities, particularly farming, which is vital for rural livelihoods.
Risks To Nigeria’s Food Security
Climate-related risks such as flooding and drought are increasingly impacting the food systems in Nigeria. Recall that severe nationwide flooding in 2022 devastated crops, farmlands, properties, and lives, while ongoing droughts has heightened tensions between farmers and herders.
Other factors include the compounded effects of a rapidly depreciating currency and record inflation, influenced by a slow post-COVID recovery, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and recent government reforms. These factors, along with a weak social protection system, have deepened poverty and eroded purchasing power in Nigeria.
Recognising The Excellence Of Food Connoisseurs
The World Food Prize Foundation (WFPF) has announced Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler as the 2024 World Food Prize Laureates for their pivotal roles in creating a global backup vault of crop seeds to protect global food security.
The announcement was made by WFPF President Terry Branstad at a ceremony in the United States, presided over by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
According to Blinken:
“The World Food Prize honors individuals for their achievements in combating hunger and food insecurity—one of our most pressing issues,”
He praised Hawtin and Fowler for their significant contributions to advancing global crop biodiversity, conserving over 6,000 varieties of crops, which directly impacts hunger alleviation worldwide.
The laureates were selected by the World Food Prize Laureate Selection Committee for their longstanding efforts in seed conservation and crop biodiversity. This year’s award marks the 20th year the US Department of State has been involved in the announcement.
The World Food Prize, established by Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and father of the Green Revolution, recognizes those who have improved the quality, quantity, or availability of food worldwide. Since its inception, the prize has been awarded to 53 distinguished individuals during the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue.
Hawtin and Fowler will share a $500,000 prize for their work in establishing the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Opened in 2008, the vault houses 1.25 million seed samples of more than 6,000 plant species, serving as a last defense against global food security threats like pandemics and climate change.
Both laureates call for urgent and sustained funding for the over 1,700 genebanks worldwide, ensuring the conservation and availability of plant genetic materials crucial for food security.
