CCN to F.G: Focus on Agriculture to Avert Food Insecurity

Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), the foremost ecumenical body formed in the country in 1929 brought bringing together different church denominations works with Muslim communities and all Nigerians in facilitating and building capacity of grass root citizens. The organization is driven by a vision of a united Nigerian community that is the conscience of the society for the fullness of life for all of God’s humankind. CCN works to ensure a sustained positive lifestyle, witness and transformation of the Nigerian society.

Christian Council of Nigeria currently runs Food Security and Peace Building Advocacy project through which the organization encourages Nigerians to eat locally produced foods and encourage farmers to produce what Nigerians eat. Individuals and families are also encouraged to engage in small scale farming activities as the Council works with farmers’ groups, Ministries of agriculture as well as the international community to address food problems in Nigeria. It is strongly in their belief that as individuals and as citizens, Nigerian culture calls on citizens to uphold the integrity of Nigeria, protect the vulnerable and speak for the voiceless. Raising awareness about food production and distribution system, as well as examining food consumption system in Nigeria, October 9 – 17 is tagged as global Week of Action on Food and Nutrition Security around the world and it is an opportunity for Christians and others around the world to act together for food justice and food sovereignty. The Food Week of Action includes World Food Day (October 16), International Day for Rural Women (October 15), and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17).

The CCN therefore uses this opportunity to bring attention of Nigerian citizens and governments to the increasing trend of hunger, poverty and joblessness in Nigeria. It is a known fact that hunger and poverty has been on the increase in our country. So many families go to bed without food. Hunger related sicknesses have sent so many Nigerians to their untimely grave. Poverty is taking a toll on families as most families are not sure of a meal in a day. It is reported that a staggering 2.5 million Nigerian children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Food Security which portends physical and economic access to sufficient food at all times, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs for active and healthy life for all Nigerians is elusive in Nigeria.

We remind our federal government of the Maputo Declaration of 2003 hence we are calling for implementation of the declaration which directs governments to allocate 10% of yearly budget to agriculture. We sincerely call on the Federal government of Nigeria ensure strict adherence to this agreement and follow up on the use of the fund to ensure it gets to the proper channel. Nigeria, a leading actor in African Union should live by example by ensuring strict adherence to the Maputo Declaration which the nation is a state party to.

FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE AS A PRIORITY

We call for actions to facilitate in making agriculture a priority in Nigeria. We need to produce more food to feed Nigerians and to import to other countries. Nigeria, a country blessed with human resources in addition to vast arable land in all the geographical zones must utilize these resources for massive food production. There is teeming population of young jobless people who should be supported directly to engage in commercial agriculture by utilizing our vast fertile land. Our absolute dependent on imported food is detrimental to the nation as well as to the health of Nigerians. If God has given us all that we need to feed well and feed right, it is the responsibility of the government to utilize the local resources and avoid food importation.

TAKE MEASURES TO PROMOTE FARMING APPROACHES THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES DEVELOP RESILLIENCY AND COMBAT HUNGER AND POVERTY

The Christian Council of Nigeria hereby applaud the Senate on the recent passing of FOOD SECURITY bill, which will definitely encourage Nigerians to go into community farming, family farming and backyard farming, etc. Family farming, individual family community farming will attune Nigerians and communities to develop resiliency and fight hunger and poverty. People will be able to produce food to eat, spend less on food purchase and be able to feed themselves in appropriate ways.

NIGERIANS TO REFRAIN FROM EATING IMPORTED FROZEN FOODS

We call on all Nigerians to refrain from eating imported foods especially frozen foods and rice. We speak with all sincerity that most of imported foods to Nigeria are contaminated and no longer good for human consumption. Why should we go ahead and consume foods that destroy our health and expose our body to all manner of terminal diseases? Let us all be cautious of what we eat in Nigeria. Eat what is grown in Nigeria and grow what is consumed in our country. By this way, we save our bodies from imported diseases.

REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL BIOSAFETY MANAGEMENT ACT, 2015

We call the attention of the Senate Committee on Agriculture to facilitate action for a review of the national Biosafety Management Act, 2015. The bill is highly controversial and causing a lot of contentions among Nigerians. Nigerians are so much bothered about the implication of the Biosafety Act on our soil, local crops, on the health of Nigerians and on peasant farmers who devote their whole lives farming to feed the nation and cater for themselves and their families. Reports from countries that hastily embraced genetically modified seeds / organisms indicate danger, which Nigeria, the giant country should thread with caution. We also recall that research has testified that genetically modified seeds (GMOs) are harmful to Nigerian soils.

SUBSIDIZATION FOR FARMERS’ NEEDS EG FEEDS, FERTILIZERS, EQUIPMENTS; AND CONDUCT OF PERIODIC TRAINING FOR FARMERS

We are aware that buying of some farming facilities like fertilizer is subsidized for small scale farmers but we call on government to further subsidize the cost of fish feeds, chicken feeds, fertilizer, farm tools and equipment. We also encourage governments through state ministries of agriculture to organize and conduct periodic training for local farmers. The training boosts and enhances farmers’ farming skills, exposes them to information, motivates them and encourages more food production.

LOOK INTO IMPORTATION OF ANIMAL FEEDS TO CURTAIL ADULTERATION:

Through our interactions with some farmers, we are aware that most of the fish feeds used in Nigeria are imported. Charlatans have taken advantage of the business and some of the products are adulterated. Feeding animals on adulterated feeds have caused disaster to the farmers and reduction or scarcity of food in the market. This constitutes food insecurity. We therefore call on government to intervene. If government monitors and checks the trend, it will boost production of food as well as enhance people’s consumption of nutritious food.

INVESTING IN THE SOIL AND SUPPORT AGRO ECOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO AGRICULTURE

As in every human endeavor, research brings about increase in knowledge which ultimately leads to better quality of life. Research and findings by genuinely true experts will equip farmers with knowledge required to cope with farming in the soils and making utmost use of the soil as a natural resource. Putting the right crops in the right soil assists to preserve the soil as the soil is essential for food security and our sustainable future. We call on all and sundry to refrain from destroying our soil with chemicals and pesticides, our soil is a non-renewable resource. It is essential for food security and our sustainable future.

TAKE MEASURES TO CURTAIL THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD PRODUCTION

It is obvious to all of us that our climate is fast changing. Rain falls to excess these days and sometimes washes off crops in the farms. Sometimes it comes late when the farmers should have long expected it. The abnormalities or changes affect farm crops. It is high time government and citizens of Nigeria came to the realization that the climate is changing. The change affects every aspect of our living, especially the soil, water, food production, etc. Let all Nigerians take measures and put mechanisms to address the trend and curtail the negative effects of climate change on food production.

REGULARIZATION AND MONITORING OF IMPORTED FOODS

We applaud the recent regulation by government on frozen foods. We sincerely ask that stringent rules should be applied as these items still flood our markets. We are reliably informed by our international partner that the frozen chicken smuggled into Nigeria are mostly the ones marked as dangerous to health in the countries exporting them to Nigeria. There are yet other substandard food items that flood Nigerian markets and they are detrimental to human health. We call on the Executive arm of our government to take more concrete measures to protect food consumed by Nigerians to check the spread of deadly diseases in the country.

Until all are fed, we cry out,

Until all Nigerians have food,

Like the One who loves us,

Each and every one,

We serve, until all are fed!!!

Rev. Dr. Wushishi I. Yusuf Celine Osukwu

General Secretary. National Coordinator,

Ecumenical Food Security and Peace building Advocacy program.