Sydani Group, an international management consulting firm, has urged the federal and state governments to adequately empower smallholder farmers across the country to ensure food security in Nigeria.
It pointed out that smallholder farmers provide the bulk of food consumed in Nigeria, but noted that most of these farmers lack the required tools for efficient farming.
The Agricultural Business Specialist, Sydani Group, Godfrey Petgrave, said there are numerous innovations and approaches worldwide that provide farmers with tools to improve their farming activities, as well as boost their resilience to climate change.
He spoke during a media roundtable titled, “Driving Sustainability: A Comprehensive Analysis of Nigeria’s Key Growth Areas,” organised by the firm in Abuja, where it proffered solutions to challenges in some sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“There is a need for the empowerment of smallholder farmers. Government should prioritise access to finance, training, and technology for smallholder farmers to enhance productivity sustainably,” Petgrave stated.
He said Nigeria’s food crisis necessitates urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders, as challenges of climate change, conflict, infrastructure deficiencies, economic instability, and policy gaps are complex and interconnected.
“Sydani Farms is committed to addressing these challenges and paving the way for a resilient and food-secure future for Nigeria.
“Therefore the action plan involves investment in resilience-building by allocating resources for climate-smart agriculture practices, infrastructure development, and capacity-building initiatives,” Petgrave stated.
He noted that collaborative effort was needed from all sectors of society, and called for policy reforms and institutional strengthening that would promote sustainable agricultural practices and collaboration among stakeholders.
“Implement policies for promoting economic inclusion, particularly for women and marginalised groups in the agricultural sector. Embrace digital agriculture solutions, precision farming technologies, and data-driven insights to optimise resource management,” he stated.
SOURCE: PUNCHNG
