Lanre Omotoso
Lack of necessary farm implements for farmers to thrive has been identified as one of the barriers to achieving zero hunger in the country.
A Lecturer in the Department of Crop Production, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Professor Ayodeji Salami made this known in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti, to mark this year’s World Food Day.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Right to foods for a better life and a better future”, Professor Salami who noted that farming should not be left in the hands of subsistence farmers alone, advocated provision of machineries, improved seedlings, fertilizers and chemicals for them.
The Don said if other states could provide one thousand tractors like that of Niger State, the country would soon become net exporter of food items.
Professor Salami highlighted other reasons for insufficient food production in Nigeria to include insecurity, lack of irrigation facilities and climate change.
He expressed concern on how Africa countries still grapple with food insufficiency while some developed countries usually dumped over 40% of their cooked food in the dustbin.
However, to ensure all-year-round farming, the Don underscored importance of provision of irrigation facilities in order to move away from rain-fed farming, occassioned by climate change.
Professor Salami emphasized the need not only for increased food production but nutritious one that would stem the tide of malnutrition.
Since 1979, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations designated October 16 as World Food Day to take action against hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.
