By Muhammad Amaan
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD) Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) said climate change, inflation and insecurity are affecting food availability in Nigeria.
Mr Innocent Moses, IFAD LIFE-ND Cross River Coordinator, expressed this view on Thursday in Calabar during the project exhibition in commemoration of World Food Day with the theme: “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future.”
According to him, the project, which is in partnership with the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), aims to sensitise communities on land use, afforestation, planting of economic trees and conservation.
He said the project also armed farming communities with best practices in agriculture so that they would not need to exploit thousands of hectares to produce what one hectare could produce.
“We look at some of the man-made challenges we have in our agriculture and see how, in partnership with the government, we can provide solutions by getting the community leadership and the people educated and involved.
“With this, the Cross River coordinating office has recorded impressive strides in Job creation, infrastructure development such as climate-resilient bridges, development of six mini poultry clusters and rehabilitation of 10 poultry buildings.
“We have also established two fish production clusters with inputs, one cassava processing mill, with two more ongoing, completed market facilities including four boreholes and six rainwater harvesters,” he said.
On his part, Mr Johnson Ebokpo, Cross River’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, applauded the initiative; adding that all citizens had every right to nutritious food for a better life and future.
“As a ministry, we are committed to ensuring that our citizens benefit from any fruitful agricultural initiatives; so, we appreciate the government for the consistent efforts in developing 12,000 hectares for six new cocoa estates across the state.
“I commend the ambition of Governor Bassey Otu in creating the largest community of small holder oil palm farmers by procuring 3.5 million sprouted nuts and the establishment of 2,000 hectares for arable crops in Odukpani LGA,” he said.
The World Food Day is celebrated annually on October 16 to highlight the right of citizens to safe and affordable foods.
