The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Engr. Nebeolisa Anakor, has directed members of the public to groom gardens where they can cultivate vegetables and other food crops within their environment for availability of food.
He said this during the Pre-Food System Stock-Taking Moments Media Engagement held at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja recently.
The Permanent Secretary explained that food systems entail a complex network that include all the inputs and outputs used in food production, processing and consumption, such as the researcher, seller of seed or seedlings, the farmer, soil, water for planting, harvester, the processor, processing technique, equipment used, down to the storage, transportation, marketing, cooking method and serving.
He continued that in line with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres’s call on countries to come up with modalities to improve their food systems and make it more resilient, responsive and sustainable in the quest to achieving the SDGs, the Ministry organized stakeholders in the food value chain to address the challenges of the food systems.
According to him, the call was as a result of the fact that the world risk not achieving the Sustainable Development Goals if urgent steps are not taken. The 10 years – 2020 to 2030, was declared as the Decade of Action for the achievement of the SDGs.  Looking at food as a basic right and with the growing food and nutrition insecurity, it is envisioned that adequate food and proper nutrition is central to achieving the SDGs noting that nations, communities and households are food secured when everyone has access to healthy diets at all times and at a price that is affordable and according to their preferences for a productive live.
He revealed that at the stock taking moment, countries are being asked to give account of what they have been able to do in order to improve their food systems two years after. The Federal Government in collaboration with the States have taken the bull by the horn to implement the recommendations which implementation were phased into short and long terms with roles and responsibilities of Stakeholders clearly defined.
While speaking, the National Convener, UNFSS, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Sanjo Faniran gave an overview of the food System Transformation Pathway in Nigeria, He explained that the Federal Government through NiMet and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regularly collect and disseminate (through radio and other platforms) information about weather patterns and soil properties and best practices for crops, livestock, aquaculture, and poultry production, States establish/revitalize farm settlements/estates made up of groups of smallholder producers, including women and youths, and use estates to increase input supply, machinery hiring, extension and other services, and market access and the Federal Government through LGAs promotes Operation Feed Yourself by helping households to access information and inputs that will encourage them to produce food around their houses to feed their families.
He further explained that the action plan include; encouragement of School Gardening across Nigeria, Strong advocacy to Governors Forum in each Zone, Collection of information on weather and soil types, Collaboration with major private farms in the zones for training and mentoring of youths, Identification of regional opportunities for collaboration, Scale-up appropriate and adequate nutrition sensitive agriculture and nutrition education, Capacity Building at sub-national level among others.
During his speech, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, identified Climate Change, Technology, aging farming population, inadequate infrastructure among others as the challenges facing food production in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, Nutrition and Food Safety in the Ministry, Mrs. Sugra Mahmood informed that with the declaration of a state of emergency by Former President Muhamadu Buhari on food, the Agricultural Sector is set to witness a change; noting that a country that cannot feed her citizen has set a stage for insecurity.
Amajioyi Ifelunwa Ann
Senior Information Officer
For: Director Information(BNP)
