By Dupson Collins, 13th November, 2022
As Nigerians continue to lament the devastating effects of the ravaging floods that affected over 30 states in the country, the Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA) Dr Akinyemi Fadiyimu said the country would definitely experience food shortage in the coming months, urging federal government takes drastic step to cushion the effects.
The Provost was the Guest Speaker at the 2022 edition of Annual Lecture and Awards of the South West Heralds held at FECA in Akure, Ondo State.
Dr Fadiyimu spoke on the topic titled “Setting the Post 2023 Socio-Economic Agenda: Imperative of a Vibrant Agricultural Industry for Job Creation and Food Security”.
He said the tendency of food shortage is very high considering the havoc wreaked by the flood which has led to watching away of many farm lands across the affected the states.
However, Dr Fadiyimu said the only hope for Nigerians in months ahead was the bumper harvest recorded in 2021, saying it will help in cushioning the effects of the flood.
” The main concern of stakeholders before now is food scarcity that is looming but our storage should be able to cushion the effects and sustain the country considering the bumper harvest of last year”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Provost said the era of subsistence farming is old fashioned as industrial agriculture will create employment, foreign exchange and food sufficiency for the country.
“Agriculture is enough foreign exchange for us as a country. Producing in mass quantity will boost the country’s economy as our goods will be exported to other countries”.
He said over reliance on crude oil will stop provided the government and Nigerians invested in Agriculture, saying diversification of Nigeria economy is very important at this time of economy crisis across the world.
Dr Fadiyimu charged Nigerians to return to farm, saying that is where the economy future of Nigeria lies and not on crude oil.
