Ayodeji Balogun’s Post

Genco Sanli The cassava value-chain holds more prospect and is cost effective than going that long route of wheat. When you do a head to head analysis of the cost implications of cultivating a hectare of wheat to that of cassava, and the tonnage gotten thereof, it is better we concentrate investments on cassava in the short term and beat the current food crisis in Nigeria.

Nigeria's 50% Post-Harvest Losses - A Threat to food security. According to a report released by FAO , Nigeria records high rate of post-harvest losses, with fruits, vegetables and some tuber crops recording as high as 50% losses. In other words, half of these produce never makes it to the market due to post-harvest losses. The implications for our agricultural sector, food security, and food prices are staggering. Farmers are working hard to produce food, yet the infrastructure and technology for effective storage and transportation are lacking. This inefficiency impacts both rural incomes and national food reserves. As demand for food rises with population growth, these losses drive up prices, making it harder for the average Nigerian to afford basic staples. To change this narrative, we need Improved storage solutions to reduce spoilage, efficient transport and cold chain systems to keep produce fresh and Farmer education on modern post-harvest handling techniques. Reducing post-harvest losses could transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector, ensuring higher farmer incomes, better food availability, and stable food prices for all. The food price inflation experienced in 2024 was unprecedented and is projected to worsen in 2025 if issues like this are left unaddressed. #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #PostHarvestLosses #SustainableFarming

AfDB INJECT $134 MILLION TO RAMP UP NIGERIA'S FOOD PRODUCTION AMID HUNGER CRISIS. The African Development Bank (AfDB) in an early effort to confront Nigeria’s raging food crisis head-on has unveiled a $134 million emergency food production intervention. This is coming less than two weeks after the West African nation embarked on nationwide hunger protests. The emergency food plan has supported the cultivation of 118,000 hectares of wheat in Nigeria already this season, 150, 000 hectares of maize production this march. By the rainy season, in May and June, it will do 300,000 hectares of rice, 300,000 hectares of maize, 150,000 hectares of cassava, and 50,000 hectares of soybean. So, that means that by the end of March, Nigeria will get out an additional one million metric tons of wheat; and by November, the country will have an additional four million metric tons of rice, cassava, maize, and soybeans. The emergency plan is not just about tons of wheat, rice, cassava, and maize alone, It is also life for smallholder farmers—a lifeline against adversity. With nearly 25 million people facing acute hunger in Nigeria as of 2023 according to the UN FAO report, the West African country is grappling with food scarcity, a weakened currency, and an inflation rate that's nearly hitting 30 percent. Weak consumer purchasing power has affected businesses with the nation recording weak Gross Domestic Growth during the last quarter of last year. The African Development Bank has over the years shouldered immense responsibility on the continent, and economic watchers believe this intervention is crucial to supporting the country's efforts to combat hunger. #africandevelopmentbank #foodsecurity #nigeria #wheatfarming #food #agriculture #youthdevelopment #cgtn #news #farming #agribusiness #agrijobs https://lnkd.in/dMkrEuC5

In the article I published yesterday I wrote that our leaders focus on just raising food supply to lower food price, ensure food availability & access, neglecting other influencing factors. This confirms it. This is short term fix and not even effective for a short term fix -with the grains to be distributed to the demand-supply gap. What's the longterm plan to rescue us out of this situation? Moreover what's the distribution plan to ensure equitable access of the meagre grains to be put out? Hope the grains don't get hoarded like the palliatives and we're just emptying our grain reserves for nothing? If the grain reserves become empty without having anything to back the declining one in the supply chain and maintain confidence of the people, then it’s a slippery slope to peril. The problem with food inflation and insecurity is multifaceted and should be addressed. It appears those in charge of affairs don’t understand this and seems we are in for a long ride. #nigeria #foodinflation #foodinsecurity Sen. Abubakar kyari Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development #grainreserve Office: President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria #nigerianews

Tomato Scarcity in Nigeria Sparks Price Surge and Outrage Explore the repercussions of the tomato scarcity crisis in Nigeria, where price hikes at Ebeano Supermarket have sparked public outrage amidst dwindling supplies and agricultural challenges. https://lnkd.in/ebJt2fpc

Nigeria Experiencing Worsening Food Crisis with No Respite in Sight The food security challenges in Nigeria could be exacerbating, with farmers lamenting a decrease in the production of certain staple foods. They attribute this decline to factors such as climate change-induced flooding, inflation, insecurity, and the fluctuating value of the Naira. This is just as the United States Department of Agriculture has projected a slight decrease in the production of rice, millet, cassava, maize and soybeans in Nigeria for the year 2024. Although Nigeria remains the highest producer of food crops like cassava and maize globally, gathering data for policy and investment decisions has never been a priority for the Ministry of Agriculture over the years. Despite an increase in the number of farmers, production levels of some essential crops in Nigeria is expected to experience a fluctuating trend with possible decrease in the 2023/2024 marketing year. In the year 2022, food production index saw an increase, reaching 119.9 index points and even though experts said that this growth was modest, it was attributed to Nigerian farmers who despite several challenges, demonstrated resilience to flood and insecurity... READ MORE 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3cfJahw #FoodCrisis #foodsecurity #farmers

📍I remember back then in university, World Hunger was a course I always looked forward to because it constantly reminded me of the fact that we are not food secure. 📍Food security is achieved when food is available, accessible, utilized, and stable (consistent) over time. Fortunately, one of the major ways we can ensure food security is by supporting our local food systems and here’s how we can achieve that: 📌By buying from our local farmers and producers: In a state where we have a community of farmers, we can always reach out to them and buy their produce, you can be sure of getting safe and clean produce from them due to the nature of their organic farming activities. 📌By supporting local food cooperatives and buying clubs: An example is the Nigeria Agro Cooperatives Group. This coalition of agro-allied commodities and cooperatives’ service providers in Nigeria has announced a collaboration with the World Bank to launch a six-year, $500 million food security program in the country. We also have various farmers cooperatives and they focus on collective marketing, purchasing and processing activities ,these helps farmers improve their income, get more access to inputs and market opportunities. 📌By shopping at farmers markets: Farmers market is one place you would always get safe and fresh agricultural produce in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large 📌As simple as these actions may sound, they are major ways we can achieve food security. Look at it this way: when every state in Nigeria is food secure, it gradually extends to other countries, thereby reducing the rate of hunger in the world. #foodsecurity

In 2020, amidst a global crisis that revealed the fragility of our food systems, Jelapetra Farms Ltd was born. The COVID-19 pandemic had more than just a health impact; it highlighted a devastating reality—people had money but couldn’t find food. Markets were empty, shelves were bare, and even when food was available, it was unaffordable for many. This crisis was a wake-up call, showing just how vulnerable our food supply chains had become. Jelapetra Farms was established in the heart of Anambra State, Nigeria, to confront this challenge directly. Driven by personal encounters with food shortages during the pandemic, I saw firsthand the deep connection between food security and survival. In Nigeria, where inflation continues to drive food prices higher and higher, families are forced to make tough choices between buying overpriced groceries or sacrificing quality in their daily meals. This unsustainable situation fueled the mission of Jelapetra Farms: to provide affordable, nutritious food for everyone, regardless of the economic climate. But Jelapetra Farms is not just about growing crops—it is about creating a new model of farming that could reshape the future of agriculture in Nigeria. The farm focuses on organic and sustainable farming practices, reducing post-harvest losses, and recycling farm waste. By doing this, it not only reduces costs but also protects the environment. It is a holistic approach to farming that recognizes the critical intersection between feeding people and sustaining the earth. #tellingyourstory #WeAreAWEC

This is the final part (PART IV) of our investigation series on the endemic “Post-Harvest Losses” in Nigeria. At N3.5 trillion, Nigeria’s annual post-harvest losses are over nine times higher than the government’s budget for the agriculture sector for 2024, reflecting the magnitude of the biggest threats to food security in Africa’s most populous nation. The figure comes to an average of N94.6 billion per state (36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT), higher than each state’s yearly budget for agriculture. The huge food wastage has been noted as a driver of Nigeria’s food inflation, which climbed to 40.7 per cent in May. Food inflation accounts for the bulk of Nigeria’s inflation basket, meaning deliberate food wastage reduction and effective post-harvest management could help moderate Nigeria’s inflation, currently at a 28-year high. ICYMI: kindly read the other three parts through the links below: Part I: https://lnkd.in/ddjMeb4k Part II: https://lnkd.in/dsXccEy3 Part III: https://lnkd.in/d56pbSTE #Agriculture #Foodsystems #Foodsecurity #Nigeria #Africa Premium Times Nigeria Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development Oladeinde Olawoyin Ronald Adamolekun Akintunde Babatunde Ntiedo Ekott

NEWS REVIEW: NIGERIA’S FOOD CRISIS AND THE LOOMING HUMAN CATASTROPHE Nigeria faces a severe food price crisis, with costs for staples like carrots and garri skyrocketing, leading to widespread hardship and anxiety. Inflation is forcing families to make difficult choices, threatening food security and nutrition. The situation is exacerbated by persistent conflict, reliance on imports, and economic challenges. Click on this link to read more... https://lnkd.in/dDaaUsnq #agribusinessafrica  #agribusinessnigeria  #agribusiness  #nigeriaagriculture  #economicgrowth  #agricnewsinafrica  #agrinews  #agriculture  #foodsecurity  #agribusinessnews #agriculture