Nigeria Commits to Eradicating Hunger on World Food Day*

 Tackling food Crisis

*Nigeria Commits to Eradicating Hunger on World Food Day*

In commemoration of the 2024 World Food Day, the Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its dedication to tackling hunger and food insecurity across the nation. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdulahi, announced that the government is taking concrete steps to address the issue, citing significant achievements in the agricultural sector ¹.

Nigeria has made notable strides in food production, ranking first in cassava and yam production, 14th in maize production, and fourth in palm oil production globally. The country also became Africa's largest rice producer in 2019, with a production level of 9 million metric tons ¹.

To combat rising food costs, the government has released over 102,000 metric tons of food commodities from the national food reserve and is importing additional supplies. President Bola Tinubu has emphasized the administration's commitment to reducing food costs and increasing production ¹.

*Key Initiatives:*

- _Mechanized Farming_: Prioritizing mechanized farming to accelerate agricultural production and promote economic growth.

- _Farmland Cultivation_: Cultivating 500,000 hectares of farmland to grow staple crops.

- _Inclusive Participation_: Enhancing economic opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, and youths.

- _International Partnerships_: Building partnerships with international development partners to upscale agricultural interventions.

However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that Nigeria's food loss stands at 855,629 metric tons, equivalent to six months' food supply for 8.5 million people ¹. The FAO urges the government to provide an enabling environment for food production.

Sources:

¹ Vanguard News, "World Food Day: We’re doing all we can to tackle hunger — FG"

² FAO, "Our office | FAO in Nigeria"

[3] FAO, "FAO Country Profiles: Nigeria"