Nigerians Must Return to Farming for Food Security – SAN

• Mohammed Ndarani urged Nigerians to return to farming, citing that 26.5 million people face food insecurity due to erratic seasons
• He emphasized the need for affluent Nigerians to invest in mechanized farming and encouraged households to grow vegetables in backyards

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, has called on Nigerians across all social classes to return to farming to ensure food security in the country.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja, Ndarani lamented the alarming report that 26.5 million Nigerians faced food insecurity in 2024 due to erratic farming seasons, flash floods, and prolonged droughts.

He recalled when every family actively engaged in farming, leading to abundant food supplies.

“While growing up, every family had farms. We were all farmers, going to the farm after school, and there was sufficient food in the country,” Ndarani said.

Encouraging a collective return to agriculture, he urged affluent Nigerians to invest in mechanized farming while advocating for smallholder farmers to maximize backyard farming.

“If every household grows vegetables in their backyard, prices will decrease, and the same applies to other crops. We must tackle food insecurity from all angles,” he emphasized.

Ndarani commended President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State for establishing the Abdulsalami Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action in Mokwa. He described it as a significant step towards addressing food security and combating unemployment.

“The university speaks to the vibrant vision of Governor Bago. It will reduce unemployment by creating diverse opportunities, both directly and indirectly, while also addressing food insecurity,” he said.

The SAN called on universities, particularly agricultural institutions, to focus on producing climate-resilient crops, improving water management systems, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

“We expect the new university to contribute to combating climate change and mitigating its effects on agriculture. Such innovations can catalyze economic growth and development in Mokwa, Niger State, and Nigeria as a whole,” he noted.

Ndarani urged Nigerians to embrace farming as a solution to food insecurity and advocated for collaborative efforts in addressing climate change’s impact on agriculture.