…To meet in Abuja for solution
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Agricultural scientists in Nigeria have blamed the current shortage of food in the country on the displacement of farmers by killer herdsmen.
This is as they have vowed to explore ways to end the increasing food insecurity as they converge in Abuja next week for their annual conference.
They regretted that herdsmen chased away thousands of farmers from various agrarian communities in the country, a sad development that had resulted into acute food shortage.
The agric scientists, however, promised to partner the Federal Government and major stakeholders in a bid to boost food security and job creation.
National President of Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), Prof. Jude Mbanasor, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Umuahia, Abia State.
According to him, if farmers have the right environment and improved seedlings to operate, the sector would create millions of jobs.
“When we have farmers in a conducive environment, employing our rich research findings and of course have access to modern equipment procured under a stable foreign exchange rate, the issue of food crisis will come to an end,” he argued.
Prof Mbanasor said hundreds of Agricultural scientists drawn from all the Universities and research institutes in Nigeria will be in Abuja for the 58th Annual Conference of Agricultural Society of Nigeria.
He said “experts expected to present quality papers which will explore practical options in ending the current food insecurity in Nigeria.”
According to him, two serving vice-chancellors and two former ones will lead the discussion on the fundamental issue while the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Abubakar Kyar, will deliver the keynote address.
Prof Mbanasor who is a Fellow Agricultural Society of Nigeria and Fellow Agricultural Economist of Nigeria, said the society has identified insecurity and unstable exchange rates as key factors militating against food production and job creation in the Agricultural sector.
Professor Mbanaso who gave the theme of the conference as: Sustainable Strategies for Renewed Hope in Food Security and Job Creation,”
noted that it was in a bid to evolve sustainable solutions to the food crisis that the society will be meeting in Abuja.
