Food Items.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation has cautioned that not less than 2.6 million individuals in Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara States, and the FCT may confront a food crisis from June to August 2024.
During the presentation of the October to November round of the Cadre Harmonise food security and early warning analysis in Abuja, FAO country representative, Dominique Kouacou, revealed this. Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, Assistant FAO representative, Programme, represented Kouacou.
The News Agency of Nigeria has reported that the CH analysis encompassed 26 states and the FCT to assess the food security status and project future developments.
He explained that the present cycle follows an uncommonly meager season marked by multiple hardships, including ongoing security issues such as insurgency and banditry.
Additionally, he outlined other obstacles such as conflicts related to natural resources, elevated food and agricultural input expenses due to substantial inflation, and substantial dry spells in select states immediately following the start of the rainy season.
In his perspective, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated that the analysis was carried out and endorsed by a team of adept professionals from the Cadre Harmonise (CH) analysis task force over the past fortnight.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by Mrs. Fausat Lawal, Director of Special Duties, mentioned that the findings from the Cadre Harmonise analysis arrived at a juncture when governments at various tiers were making extensive efforts to revitalize the country’s economy.
He acknowledged that while the challenges were formidable, they could be overcome, but there were various factors that appeared to be undermining the ministry’s initiatives.
“Notable among them are the lingering negative impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and the Russia-Ukraine war which is currently disrupting the food systems and spiking up input prices and food prices.
“The removal of petroleum subsidy has further heightened this pressure, resulting in food inflation and increases in the consumer price index,” he said.