• Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Email
Saturday, June 28, 2025
  • Login
TheMattersPress
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Thematterspress
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Photo
    • Video
  • About us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Thematterspress
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Photo
    • Video
  • About us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
TheMattersPress
No Result
View All Result
Home Economy/Technology

Surge in food importation alarming, hits 80% – FG

Food

The Matters Press by The Matters Press
December 1, 2023
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Cross-border traders protest new barriers to trade in food in EAC

Abuja, Dec. 1, 2023: The Federal Government says there is an alarming surge of over 80 per cent in food importation between 2019 and 2023.

RELATED POSTS

Tinubu’s N60b Intervention in Gombe Agro-Livestock Zone excites group

N1.5trn recapitalisation of Agric bank will herald food security – TMV

Lamido Wrong on Tinubu’s June 12 Role, haunted by his anti-democratic past- TDF

Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (SSAP), disclosed at the National policy dialogue on Thursday in Abuja.

The policy dialogue is tagged “Deepening Partnership for Scaling-Up of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) for Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria.”

It was organised by the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

He said that no fewer than 88.5 million Nigerians were faced with insufficient food consumption while the figure was projected to increase by six million in December.

Uzoma said the Federal was committed to reversing the trend.

The senior special assistant identified decline in agricultural capacity as a major contributor as the country was being forced to rely heavily on food imports.

He said the country had the highest rate of stunted children globally added that 70 per cent of the population lived below poverty line and food inflation stood at 31.52 per cent in October.

“This escalating dependence on external sources further intensifies the challenges within the domestic food landscape all of which have resulted in the declaration of state of emergency in food security by Mr President.

“The IFAD-financed programme such as Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) and Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), aim to enhance incomes and food security through sustainable practices and integration of ICT4D.

“These programmes involve tool such as the Mini-weather Station (Nimet) and Agriculture Market Information System (AIMS) to benefit farmers.

“However, challenges in data access, gender equality, infrastructure and technical support still exist,” he said.

He identified sustained efforts at digital literacy and collaboration by agencies and private sector as critical in ensuring greater technology adoption by smallholder farmers.

Uzoma said such efforts could translate to improved productivity, extensive technical upscaling, promote best practices, increased trade competitiveness and market access.

The presidential aide said it was essential to apply a twin approach of developing critical technology enabling infrastructure in partnership with the universal service provision fund and mobile network operators while driving low technology solution as USSD and WhatsApp to increase accessibility.

“Increased collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the NITDA is necessary to implement the National Digital Agriculture Strategy to further leverage technology for advancement of the agricultural sector.

“These aligned with the mandate of my office under the leadership of the vice president which encompasses a multifaceted approach rooted in technology and innovation to ensure transformative change in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“This includes empowering one million women, youths and minorities to achieve food and nutritional sovereignty, ensuring food security and heightened agricultural productive.

“It is also to achieve a 22 billion dollars import substitution of high-value crops like wheat, implement sustainable agricultural practices to promote environmental conservation and mitigate climate change.

“Moreover, the mandate seeks to generate two million direct and six million indirect jobs with a focus on youth and women while simultaneously addressing and minimising farmer/herder crises,” he said.

Mrs Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, said the dialogue was aimed at strengthening partnership for enhanced access of smallholder farmers to digital solutions.

According to her, the solutions will enhance their livelihoods, contribution to food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, economy growth and job creation.

Tags: food
ShareTweetPin
The Matters Press

The Matters Press

Related Posts

$2.5 billion JBS investment, a big economic victory for Nigeria –  TDF
Economy/Technology

Tinubu’s N60b Intervention in Gombe Agro-Livestock Zone excites group

June 27, 2025
ActionAid, SWOFON call for urgent completion of BOA recapitalisation
Agriculture

N1.5trn recapitalisation of Agric bank will herald food security – TMV

June 26, 2025
Lamido Wrong on Tinubu’s June 12 Role, haunted by his anti-democratic past- TDF
Energy

Lamido Wrong on Tinubu’s June 12 Role, haunted by his anti-democratic past- TDF

June 25, 2025
Tinubu’s Visit to Benue, Mark of True Leadership, Renewed Hope
News

Tinubu’s Visit to Benue, Mark of True Leadership, Renewed Hope

June 25, 2025
79 candidates for presidential election
News

Tinubu’s new INEC building: A consolidation of democratic institutions, legacy in Nigeria – TDF

June 23, 2025
Gombe: Troops take over to enforce peace
News

Nigerian Army kills 6,260 terrorists, rescues 5,365 civilians in 2 years

June 20, 2025
Next Post
Siemens’ transformers for Nigeria pass acceptance test

Nigeria, Germany sign Siemens power project accelerated implementation agreement

Vulnerable Nigerian farmers to get $1m grant

FG, Sustain Africa sign MoU to revamp agriculture sector

Recommended Stories

July petrol pump price ranges between N140.80 and N143.80

Retail price for petrol increases to N173.08 in May – NBS

June 19, 2022
Make cash accessible, remove obstacles —stakeholders plead

CBN suspends processing fees on cash deposits till April

December 11, 2023
We will go on strike, if — Labour

We will go on strike, if — Labour

December 21, 2018

Popular Stories

  • Rising prices of goods cause protests in Morocco

    Rising prices of goods cause protests in Morocco

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NLNG not responsible for gas supply shortfall, price hike

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NCC sets fresh operational fees, spectrum prices for telecom operators

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hoarding causes hike in prices of grains

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Prices of Petrol, diesel increase in November

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
TheMattersPress

We bring you the best news update in Nigeria

LEARN MORE »

Recent Posts

  • Tinubu’s N60b Intervention in Gombe Agro-Livestock Zone excites group
  • N1.5trn recapitalisation of Agric bank will herald food security – TMV
  • Lamido Wrong on Tinubu’s June 12 Role, haunted by his anti-democratic past- TDF

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Economy/Technology
  • Energy
  • Entertainment/sports
  • Features
  • Foreign
  • Multimedia
  • Natural Resources
  • News
  • Oil and Gas
  • Photo
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Thematterspress
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

© 2025 Domo Tech World - Powered by Thematterspress.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Thematterspress
  • Multimedia
    • Audio
    • Photo
    • Video
  • About us
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Domo Tech World - Powered by Thematterspress.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Call Us