The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has raised concerns over a potential food crisis in Nigeria, affecting at least 26.5 million people in Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara states, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, between June and August 2024.
According to FAO’s country representative, Dominique Kouacou, this projection is based on the October to November round of the Cadre Harmonise (CH) food security and early warning analysis.
The analysis was conducted in 26 states and the FCT to assess the food security situation and make predictions for the future.
Several factors have contributed to this potential crisis, including persistent insecurity due to insurgency and banditry, natural resource-based conflicts, high food and agricultural input costs caused by inflation, and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains.
These challenges have created a difficult situation for food security.
The Nigerian government is facing significant challenges in reviving the nation’s economy, with factors such as the lingering impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and the Russia-Ukraine war disrupting food systems and increasing input prices and food prices.
The removal of petroleum subsidies has further exacerbated these pressures, leading to food inflation and rising consumer prices.
Environmental and human factors, such as climate change, insecurity-related displacements, and seasonal flooding, have also contributed to food security concerns in the country.
The Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is determined to address these challenges and is working on mainstreaming all 36 states of the country in the CH analysis by the end of 2024 to better monitor and address food security issues.
Source: Premium Times