NACHCARD wants post Covid-19 food security

By Amaechi Agbo

The National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD), has called on the Federal and State Governments to ensure the sustainability of the gains made in food production in the country and guarantee food security as Nigeria moves towards post COVID-19 era.
NACHCARD made the call during its general conference held in Abuja, Wednesday.
To reposition agriculture for food security, NACHCARD outlined that efforts should be focused on crops processing, packaging, storage, preservation, branding and patency in order to add value to agriculture.
“This should be complemented with mechanize and intensive farming system during and after post covid-19 pandemic.”
NACHCARD enumerated agricultural practices to be adopted and implemented by the governments at all levels to include availability of credit facilities/financial supports through collaborations to farmers, mechanization and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and associated scientific approaches, effective agribusiness management and entrepreneurship development as well as provision of Climate Adaptation seeds and plants.
Other factors the NACHCARD appealed to the governments to leverage on in preserving and ensuring food security in Nigeria in post COVID-19 era include: encouragement and support for agricultural engineering, enhancement of knowledge of fertilizer formulation, types, ratio and application; application of effective disease and pest control.