Professor Jude Mbanasor, President of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), has praised President Bola Tinubu for his recent proclamation of a state of emergency on food security.
Speaking in a media chat in Umuahia, Professor Mbanasor commended the policy and stressed that its successful implementation has the capacity to address the various aspects of food insecurity in Nigeria.
However, the Professor of Agricultural Economics pointed out that the Federal Government should ensure the active participation of his colleagues and other stakeholders across the nation to ensure the policy’s effectiveness and achieve success.
He pointed out that although the policy initiative is urgently needed to address the food crisis in Nigeria, it is vital to acknowledge and engage the expertise of the true experts who can provide valuable insights.
As stated by him, the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, serving as the central body for scientists engaged in the food and agricultural industry, has a fundamental role to fulfill in the effective execution of the new policy.
While acknowledging the government’s timely decision to release fertilizer and grains to farmers and households, he said that true sustainability could only be achieved by leveraging the inputs and expertise of agricultural scientists.
‘First of all, I must commend President Tinubu for this timely intervention because food is the most essential thing Nigerians need at the moment. But our members who are experts scattered in all universities, Research Institutes and even informal sector are also needed to drive the programme,’ Prof Mbanasor said.
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He shared that the Agricultural Society of Nigeria has plans to thoroughly discuss the Policy during its forthcoming 57th National Conference, which is scheduled to be held in October 2023 at the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa state.
The society aims to prepare a comprehensive position paper for submission to the federal government, intending to facilitate a smooth implementation of the project.
Prof Mbanasor contended that food security and economic development go hand in hand, highlighting that a strong focus on ensuring food security will yield positive outcomes for overall economic prosperity.
‘food is the essential thing Nigerians need, especially the vulnerable and the poor who constitute more than 70 per cent of the population,’ He said.
Prof Mbanasor posited that food security and economic development share a symbiotic relationship, asserting that progress in food security will undoubtedly fuel economic advancement.
With this in mind, he urged state governments to wholeheartedly support the project, underscoring its importance in achieving crucial objectives including food pricing, food security, and food sustainability.
He suggested that including other tiers of government in the implementation would widen the range of operations and encourage increased participation.
Prof Mbanasor hammered on the need for broad-based consultation with stakeholders within the agricultural and food production value chain to ensure a well-informed and effective articulation and implementation of the policy.