Food as we all know is one of the basic necessities of life, adequacy of food has been the reason why both the rich and the poor sleep in comfort as hunger knows nobody; without food all would definitely perished.
Before one could get raw food commodities, farmers residing in different geographical areas must till the soil, make ridges, plant the seeds, apply fertilizers, dig-out unwanted grasses, harvest the crops, thrash and put them in sacks. Perturbingly, all these efforts go in vain as farmers are no longer enjoy fruits of their hard works due to the less priority given to agricultural sector by different governments.
Nigeria in the past relied on agriculture as major source of its income, the discovery of crude oil in 1956 made government focused more on it while directing less to agriculture especially in annual budgets.
Unfortunately, our grand-parents during their times used local tools in cultivating crops, the tools were hard to use, slow and time consuming when compared to the present technologically sophisticated ones. Nigeria had supported so many countries in the field of agriculture but nowadays ordinary Nigerians could not afford to eat three square meals in a day.
Most of us were informed that Nigeria gave palm seeds to Dubai in the past, now Dubai is the first in producing palm oil globally while we are dwindling to produce what to satisfy us talk-less of exporting to other countries. It is a fact that developed countries direct more funds to agricultural sector in their budgets that’s why they are food secured and hunger free, Thailand is the world biggest producer of rice because their government has invested financially as well as other necessary inputs.
Insecurity in Nigeria is one of the major factors that make farmers loose interest in farming, their enthusiasms fade on daily basis as things get worse. In 2020, over 47 farmers were slaughtered in Zabarmari of Borno State, they are as innocent as new born babies and they offended nobody but were killed for an unknown reason.
Farmers in the axis of Northwestern parts were forced to pay some amounts to bandits before they plant seeds, unlucky ones are kidnapped while working in farms, others amidst farm works while several others that refused to abide to rules set by bandits are killed instantly. Hence, no one would be alive if there is no food to eat, there would be no energy to work in government offices, private companies or run personal businesses while stomachs are empty. Importance of food to the body is like that of fuel to an engine.
The fertilizers, simple farming tools and herbicides that eliminate unwanted grasses are no longer affordable by small scale farmers. Moreover, most of the marketers selling them are ordinary citizens, some of them buy them in bulk and hide in their warehouses just waiting for the prices to increase before bringing them out to sell. Governments tried in establishing fertilizer companies in most States, the problem is that, government’s fertilizers are sold to commercially-scale farmers while farmers in villages are left with no choice than to use ashes or animals’ dungs on farms. Absentia of regular supervision to beneficiaries of farming implements by government is what deteriorate the situation, they (beneficiaries) often time sell them and use the money to marry more wives or something else.
In summary, security should be provided in nooks and crannies, no farmers can risk his or her life by going to farm and get killed; maximum security would make farmers cultivate crops without fear of bandits, insurgents or criminals. Also, government should purchase expensive farming implements like tractors, harvesting machines and subsidize the prices for farmers in towns and those in inaccessible areas; doing that would make them boost their farming activities thereby curbing food insecurity. Frequent supervision by teams of honest officials from Ministry of Agriculture is key in making youth use all farming items received such as fertilizers, seeds and money to be used judiciously; those that are found diverting them should be punished to serve as deterrent to others.
