By Toyin Saheed
Agricultural experts have urged the government and key stakeholders in agricultural production to adopt mechanised farming as a solution to food insecurity in Nigeria.
This call was made by the Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Professor Lateef Sanni, during the inaugural HUI Agricultural Summit organized by the Faculty of Agriculture at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
Professor Sanni highlighted the importation of food, the Boko Haram crisis, and food wastage as significant contributors to Nigeria’s food crisis. He emphasized that mechanised farming is essential to addressing these challenges, especially given the country’s rapidly growing population.
In his lecture, Professor Babatunde Kehinde urged both state and federal governments to increase awareness of climate change to assist farmers, particularly those in rural areas.
He stressed the importance of educating farmers on climate resilience to enhance agricultural productivity.
The Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Professor Noha Yusuf, in his opening remarks, stated that the summit, titled “Meeting the Challenges of Food Insecurity in Nigeria,” aims to explore and propose viable solutions to the nation’s food crisis.
Dr. Olorunnishola Saheed, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Igbaja Campus, announced that the university plans to publish a book following the summit.
This publication will be widely circulated among all stakeholders in agriculture to disseminate the knowledge and solutions discussed.
The summit represents a crucial step towards addressing food insecurity in Nigeria, with a focus on sustainable and modern agricultural practices.
