Special Report identifies threats to Food security in S/West:

By NewdawnJul 27, 2024, 07:03 am0

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*Neglect
*Inadequate funds
*Insecurity
*How the North makes N4bn/daily supplying cows to Lagos

Just as some Nigerians are planning a nationwide protest against the harsh economic conditions especially rising prices of Food items,a study has revealed utter neglect; lack of funding,insecurity and above all laziness as the cause of food crisis in the six states of South West region of Nigeria.

The report carried out by the Department of Mass Communication of Crescent University,Abeokuta, over a three months period revealed that food security in the region- regarded as an agricultural model in the country, was a self- inflicted crisis which has made the region fully dependent on the Northern parts of the country for Food items.

The report revealed that the year 2021 when crisis broke out between Northern settlers and the indigenous people, conclusively showed the dependence of the region in the North for Food supply.
The then Western region as at 1966 had 20 farm settlements which is the largest among other rehibs in the country complemented with five agricultural research and Training institution to back farming.
Today,the settlenents and training institutes have been neglected by successive government that now turned to the federal government for monthly allocation for oil money accruing from federation account known as Federal Account Allocation Committee,FAAC.

The resultant crisis between Northerners and Southern indigenous led to withdrawal of staple foods like tomatoe,beans,beef and onions by Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN)as they embarked on food blockade into the Southern part of the country especially the Six urbanised state’s of South West viz,Oyo,Osun,Ogun, Ekiti,Ondo and Lagos.

It was during this period that facts came out that in spite of South West having twenty farm settlements,five training institutes and ten research institutes which makes it the region with largest concentrarion of agricultural settlements and institute in sub- saharan Africa but left to rot over the Years.

Indeed,at the last count,the report showed that Lagos-a South West state with almost 22 million in population, slaughters an average of 10,000 cows brought from the North per day.

With a conservative estimate of N400,000 per cow, it means state’s in the nineteen Northern state’s makes an average of N4bn daily from providing beef to Lagos.

It will be recalled that the Western Region established Western Livestock Company in 1960, which was supplying the region with cows and cattles from its various ranches.
The ranches have now abandoned and left to rot.

Cows roaming the streets of Oshogbo

Among the Research Agricultural Institutions in South West are ;Cocoa Reasearch Institute of Nigeria,Cereal Research Institutes,CRIN, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training,Moore Plantation,Ibadan,
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture,IITA, Nigeria Institute of Agriculture Research.

Ogun,Oshun River Basin Developmemt Authority

Others are,Federal Institute of Industrial Research,Oshodi ,(FIIRO),Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,FUNAAB, Olabisi Onabanjo University,Ayetoro Campus,Faculty of Agricultures in University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

To cap it all,the Federal government cited three agriculture training and research institutions-Ogun- Oshun River Basin Development Authority,OORBD, Federal College of Education, Osiele and FUNAAB,beside each other’s for collaboration but today none of the Six governments made use of the facilities to feed its 40 million populace.

Why the neglect and attendance suffering of the people in the midst of plenty?

In a region that has 300,000 hectares of arable land,why the Food crisis in the region in the midst of plenty avenues.

An extension worker,inside ,IITA,Ibadan

In his reaction,Managing Director of OORBDA,Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, was not arround to talk to Agro Insight reporters but an officer who prefered not to be named blamed it all on lack of funding.. saying “inadequate funding is the Major problem facing this organisation..When we present N10bn Budget they cut it to N3bn and we are expected to serve Oyo,Ogun,Osun and Lagos while we also have middle irrigation in Osun and Mokoloki in Ogun..all Training farmers but With little result.

At the FUNAAB,stakeholders expressed concern that as a Research and educational Training Institution,not much is forthcoming.

Said a stake holder, “We dont have any reason to depend on the North for staple Foods. I would say its laziness and that people are not ready to go through the stress of farming.Insecudity is another reason.

Federal University of Agriculture,Abeokuta logo

But then they ask,how is the North with highest insecurity problem able to plant tomatoes,millet,beans and rear cattle they bring down South to sell?. More questions,no answer.

Though Professor Owolabi Abayomi /;the Librarian,said the Institution has develop local breed of goat called, Kalawad goat with high milk content like Cow,it is not there in the Market.
Same for Alpha Chicken,a local Research breed of Chicken which is more resistance to disease.

The Research, he said was sponsored by Bill Gates but in spite of the breakthrough, no Chicken anywhere to feed the people.

But Dr Solomom Ekundayo, a Lagos based analyst observed that South West,” has become slaves to Northern Farmers and Igbo traders”.

“we keep buying and selling Our lands and properties in return.
There is more Insecurity in the North,yet they still manage to produce,they sent to us.It is a big shame to us in South West.”

In an Interview in what motivated the study,Dr Kola Adesina,head of Department of Mass Communication, Crescent University, said the report is part of specialist Training for upcoming Journalist to go into specialised publication after school to enable them stand in their own.

Dr Kola Adesina,HOD,Mass Comnunication Crescent University

“we are Also commited to arrest the issue of Food security in South West part of Nigeria.”

“Our desire in this Special Report is to contribute to solving Food issues in South West in particular and Nigeria in General.

Dr Adesina,a veteran Journalist,said the desire of the Department and Institution is to draw the attention of all citizens and government to the Food phenomenon.

He said the study was also informed by a burden to fulfill Chief Obafemi Awolowos dreams to make the region self- sufficient in Food -a feat he achieved but has been left to rot in the face of inept leadership in the region across board.

He told Newdawnngr.com that the Department has 15 of such Publications in all fields conducting similar studies and reports to solve societies problems.

See Full Report in Newdawnngr.com on Monday