As Nigerians are raising alarms over the astronomical increase in the prices of food items-from tomatoes to onions-the reasons adduced include the persisting insurgency and banditry up North. But it is currently getting worsened by the fury of floods across the country. In fact, during the 2021 flood outlook presentation, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) made public the vital information that 28 states, including the FCT, will most likely experience flooding this year.
In a similar vein, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NMA) stated that the signals monitored by the agency in the last seven years show that things are changing on the climate front and that this year, Nigeria is expected to experience unprecedented heavy downpours. That came in its 2021 seasonal climate forecast.
It would be recalled that in November 2008 the United Nation’s sponsored Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa the warning was given that within a few years Nigeria would be amongst the 14 countries listed as vulnerable to food insecurity. But our political helmsmen took it with a pinch of salt.
Back then, the more visible factors were the fast-spreading desert encroachment up North, moving southwards with the dangers of drought, the increasing havoc of gully erosions in the South East geopolitical zone, oil spillage and the attendant deleterious effects on fishing and farming in the South-South. Yet, more than a decade before, eminent experts on environmental had similarly raised alarm that man would witness freaky and unpredictable weather sooner than later. With the depleting ozone layer and the resultant increasing trapped heat within the atmosphere, ice will melt in the Arctic and more rainfall is to be expected.
Few thought that flood would engulf an unprepared nation and deal its hapless citizens a devastating blow. But now it is a clear and present danger. On 20th October 2020 Nigeria Red Cross had to meet the emergency needs of 12,000 people (2,000 households) affected by floods in the five states namely Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
According to ‘Famine Early Warning System Network’ (FEWS NET) the food security emergency deepens in areas of the Northeastern part of Nigeria as access to food is further constrained.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 20,000 were displaced between late July and mid-August in the Northwest and North-Central States. Some households worst affected by conflict and remain inaccessible are likely experiencing emergency outcomes.
From Adamawa to Kogi state and several other parts of the country the ravaging floods are wreaking havoc, submerging homes and flushing away erstwhile fertile farmlands. Apart from the consequential health hazards, food insecurity will loom larger with a dark spectre to add to the global worry of harrowing hunger.
Let it be noted that the menace of flood has become a global phenomenon and challenge. From China through India to Indonesia, Malaysia, European countries and the United States flooding shoots its ugly head in the twinkle of an eye. The difference however, is that in those listed countries there are more pro-active mechanisms for stemming the tide of flood and more prompt and practical means on the part of their Emergency Management teams to assist the victims. But it is a far cry from that here in Nigeria. Now, a scary scenario of food insecurity looms at our doorstep. What is the way out of the murky flood waters?
Anuforom has advocated that a new policy framework for adopting weather and climate information for planning purposes and precautionary measures be taken seriously. Well said. Sharing of credible information has become a necessity. But more importantly is for governments to act quickly on the implementation of such information. For instance, the United Nation’s organ for climate change, World Metrological Organisation has since 2009 evolved a framework to drive the collaboration between NGOs and related agencies to disseminate information generated by metrological agencies.
Indeed, the Ministry of Economic Planning, as well as that of Agriculture and Water Resources have to collaborate in information sharing and implementation in this regard. Our farmers have to be made aware of the implications of climate change. The months of planting and harvest have since shifted and they are supposed to know what to do. So has the requisite farming techniques including the right application of the best forms of fertilizers-both organic and chemical-and the use of fungicides and insecticides.
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It is apparent that farmers need to have updated knowledge on the use of hybrid seedlings that are high yielding, early maturing, disease-resistant and free from health complications. Should we adopt biotechnology to increase farm yield, protect crops from different pests and even grow some in infertile soils? Now is the time to answer such pertinent questions.
In the light of this, much more effort is required with regards to easily adaptable food preservation methods for different farm produce in different parts of the country. Yam and cassava tubers, onions, rice, maize, sorghum, tomatoes, potatoes, beans have their different preservative methods which the farmers have to know. Therefore, Nigeria needs more agric extension workers to drive this empowerment process down to the rural farmers. That is why yours truly has been advocating that students studying agriculture and related fields at our tertiary institutions be made to enjoy scholarships.
With avoidable post-harvest food losses put at above 40 per cent in some parts of the country we have to build more silos. The rural roads have to be upgraded to make them accessible for transporting of the excess farm yields to the urban areas. Potable water supply is equally required in these areas. If this is done, it would be advisable for several of our agro-allied companies to be located close to the source of raw materials, at the rural areas. They would therefore, require stable power supply for the processing and preservation of their products. The overhead costs including that for security would be minimal.
This is the time for the mass media and other Civil Society Organisations to start asking questions on how the huge sums of money in hard currency sent by the donor agencies as well as ecological funds made available to state governments are utlised. Proactive actions are required on the part of state governors to tackle gully erosion, spend more on dredging canals as Lagos state government is currently doing.
Another area of concern is the abysmally low budgetary allocation for the critical agriculture sector. Ordinarily, it should not be less than 20 per cent. Worse, is the deliberate delay in the release of such critical funds and the implementation of projects for which they are meant? We must learn from other countries.
Though the U.K.is not known as a major global player in the field of agriculture, it does not joke with Research and Development, even in that sector. It boasts of four of the top six universities in the world and has set aside 40 billion pounds sterling as part of the Ten- Year Funding Framework for Science and Innovation.
To curtail the resultant food shortages, government should take NIMET alarms on weather changes seriously, provide stable infrastructure, fund the agriculture sector and invest much more on Research and Development.
