Nigerian Agriculture and Food Security Challenges: The Way Forward

Abstract

Food security is indispensable prerequisite for the survival of mankind and his economic activities including food production. Food is different from other commodities because of its inevitability for survival and existence. Food is different from other commodities because everybody  needs it for survival, and it is an indispensable factor in nation’s quest for economic growth and development. Unfortunately, most of the food need in Nigeria is produced by peasant farmers who lack capital, skills, energy and other viable ingredients to produce on large quantity that will meet the requirement of the growing population. One of the goals of Nigeria’s agricultural development policy is to ensure that the nation produces enough food and less dependent on importation so as to ensure adequate and affordable food for all. The paper shows that there is a shortfall in domestically produced food in Nigeria because the growth in the population of Nigeria is at the rate of 3.2% while the growth in food production has been less than one. This shows that demand for food (population) is greater than  the supply (agricultural production) because of factors such as inconsistent

government policies, environmental degradation and non-sustainable agricultural production.

Worst of all is the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country; one cannot but foresee an impending food shortage  crisis waiting to happen.  The paper also shows that Nigeria depends so much on food importation. To achieve sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria, the paper recommends an improvement in environmental management in other to increase agricultural productivity as well as provide a lasting solution to the herdsmen/farmers clashes

Key Words: Agriculture, Food security, Food productivity, Climate change