From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has revealed that over 11.6 million farmers across Africa have been supported with $1.5 billion with African Emergency Food, Production Facility.
He disclosed that the intervention, begining about two years ago, following the outbreak of Russia/Ukraine war, which had caused food insecurity in some parts of the world, is to support farmers in Africa with access to improve seeds and fertilizers.
Speaking virtually at the 2024 Farmers Conference and Value Chain Exhibition, organized by Worldwide Initiative for Community Development and Global Healthcare ( WIFCOH) in Kano yesterday, Adesina said the results of the intervention had been impactful so far.
According to him, the farmers had so far produced about 35 million metric tons of food with a market value of $13.1 billion, surpassing the AfDB’s target by 9.4 percent.
“Following the outbreak of the Ukraine/Russia war, as the prices soar globally, the African Development Bank under my leadership took a position to support Africa to produce food by immediately launching its $1.5 billion dollars African Emergency Food, Production Facility. The results of the past two years have been impactful.
“Over 11.6 million farmers have been supported with access to improve seeds and fertilizers. They have produced about 35 million metric tons of food with a market value of $13.1 billion, surpassing actually the target we set we by 9.4 percent,” he said.
The President noted that Africa should not be importing food, but should be a major food exporting continent.
This is because, according to Adesina, “65 percent of the uncultivated arable land left to feed the world is in Africa.”
“ So, what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world, The key to unlocking this potential for agriculture is a strong political will by leaders,” he noted.
Delivering a speech earlier, the founder of WIFCOH and Convener of the conference, Hajiya Baraka Sani noted that while agriculture remains the lifeblood of economy, challenges like insecurity climate change rising input costs, limited market access have left many farmers struggling.
According to her, lack of strong policy implementation and adequate funding to agriculture on the side of the government had made farming unattractive to youth population.
“While the older population approaches retirement on these barriers threatening not just livelihoods, but also the food security of millions,”
Baraka Sani, who is the former Commissioner of agriculture, however, suggested that through partnerships, innovation and resilience the challenges bidevilling agriculture in Nigeria could be overcome through “connecting stakeholders, fostering collaborations and ensuring that research and policies translate into meaningful impact for farmers on the ground.”
The WIFCOH Chief Executive Officer explained that the conference, would provide an opportunity for over 500 farmers and stakeholders to engage in discussions on critical topics, including “innovative irrigation techniques and adapting to the climate change, tackling pest-related challenges, such as tuta absoluta, interpreter farming, poultry entrepreneurship, embracing agrotech and logistics to boost market access.”
In his remark, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abba Kyari expressed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to providing food security to Nigerians.
According to him, the government had provided programmes and intervention to support farmers, aimed at enhancing food production in line with global policies.
Represented by Nuhu Adamu Kilishi, Director Nutrition and Food Security, Kyari commended the CEO of WIFCOH for the wisdom to organize such a programme, aimed at enlightening stakeholders in the agricultural sector on food security.
