As flood continue to ravage most states in Nigeria, destroying farm produces on it path, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar has said the government is doing all within it power to mitigate food shortages, saying currently, there are no food shortage in Nigeria.
This is even as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says 19.4 million people faces food insecurity inC 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and that twomillion children suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
The Minister stated this during the ministerial press breifing to mark the 2022 World Food Day in Abuja on Tuesday.
“We don’t have shortage of food in Nigeria at this point, but yes prices have risen, and this is a world phenomenon.
“Yes, we are taking 100 million Nigerians. This Government has put in so much in employment generation, especially in agric; we have youth, women and others through the managerial ministries and many others to make sure there is food and employment,” he said Abubakar also urged farmers to take advantage of the insurance facilities to avoid total lost of their investment.
Speaking during the briefing, FAO country Director, Fred Kafero, said as food insecurity worsens, so does malnutrition.
“We must do more and now, to reverse the trend of hunger and malnutrition. These “Four Betters” provide a pathway through which we can transform agrifood systems, by implementing sustainable and holistic solutions that consider development in the long term, inclusive economic growth, and greater resilience.
