Import bill for food in Nigeria is becoming alarming. At 11 percent per annum, it is growing in geometric acceleration that seems very difficult to sustain. Most unfortunate is that Nigeria is importing what it can produce in abundance, thereby hurting Nigerian farmers and displacing local production.
Ironically, the present President of the African Development Bank, ADB and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina had in 2012, at a two-day Investors’ Forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, promised that this would sieze to be the situation in 2015.
The minister then, said the Federal Government had commenced measures to address the problem and by 2015, would stop the importation of rice.
He painted a picture which suggested that the abundant Taraba rice project which gulped over $40m and two other rice mills, established in Niger and Ebonyi, would be capable of providing enough rice for Nigeria to stop the importation which was nearing fever pitch at about five million metric tonnes per annum.
However, Adesina’s prediction cum projection may have not happened if recent statistics released by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sonny Echono are to be relied upon.
In July this year, Echono stated that Nigeria’s food import was growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent, while the country had continued to rely on expensive foods from the global market.
At a two-day workshop in Abuja to discuss: ‘Food crisis prevention and management charter’at the headquarters of the FMARD, Abuja, Echono said that “Nigeria became a net importer of food and major importer of wheat, rice, sugar and fish and importation of these four commodities consumes over N1tn in foreign exchange every year since 2005”
Solution
But Nigerian scientists in the field of bioscience have proffered solution. “Give technology a chance to solve the problem; implement the biosafety agency law” they seem to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari.
But Nigerian scientists in the field of bioscience have proffered solution. “Give technology a chance to solve the problem; implement the biosafety agency law” they seem to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari.
The scientists tasked Buhari to demonstrate his administration’s commitment towards agricultural revitalization by ensuring full application of technology in the agricultural sector.“This step, they say, would guarantee food security in the country and make Nigeria become globally competitive in production and supply of agricultural produce instead of wasting such staggering amounts on food importation.
Global best practice
According to them, what is required is full implementation of the new biotechnology law and its adoption by Nigerian farmers in line with global best practices.“While declaring their commitment and determination towards this goal, the bio-scientists while pledging to work with the government in implementing relevant policies which embrace deployment of modern technological tools to addressing farming challenges, insisted that agricultural biotechnology would play a major role in the actualization of this policy.
According to them, what is required is full implementation of the new biotechnology law and its adoption by Nigerian farmers in line with global best practices.“While declaring their commitment and determination towards this goal, the bio-scientists while pledging to work with the government in implementing relevant policies which embrace deployment of modern technological tools to addressing farming challenges, insisted that agricultural biotechnology would play a major role in the actualization of this policy.
Recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan had in April this year signed the National Biosafety Agency Bill after many years of lobbying, a development described by many proponents as a milestone in the domestication of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.
The signing of the bill into law is expected to place Nigeria in the league of countries advanced in the use of this cutting edge technology as another window to boost the economic development of Nigeria. Officials say it would create more job opportunities, increase food production that will enhance farmers’ output and checkmate hunger if given good attention by government.
Global interest
The Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, while addressing scientists at a media briefing in Abuja, said immense benefits derivable from this technology are globally acknowledged and they are as varied as the vast scope of the technology itself dating back to the first, second and third generation versions. The NABDA DG stated the global interest in the impact of biotechnology centre mainly on food security, health benefits as well as environmental preservation among others and commended Nigeria’s quick embrace of the technology by producing a robust and all-inclusive biotechnology policy that will suffice.
The Director-General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, while addressing scientists at a media briefing in Abuja, said immense benefits derivable from this technology are globally acknowledged and they are as varied as the vast scope of the technology itself dating back to the first, second and third generation versions. The NABDA DG stated the global interest in the impact of biotechnology centre mainly on food security, health benefits as well as environmental preservation among others and commended Nigeria’s quick embrace of the technology by producing a robust and all-inclusive biotechnology policy that will suffice.
Technology
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