FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

IN NIGERIA

BY DR. 0.0. OYEBANJI SF, NSPFS Abuja

CAFSTON-Durbar Hotel, Kano26th to 27th May 2005

PREAMBLE

Achieving rapid improvement in Food Security and sustainable agricultural practices and total eradication of poverty in Nigeria is among the most serious challenges facing the present administration.

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Food Security is about •Self sufficiency• Self reliance•Availability and affordability of food in quantity and quality for

(a) Year round consumption,(b) Price stabilization, and(c) Reserve for- emergency relief- disaster relief and

charity

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DIMENSIONS OF NIGERIA FOOD PROBLEMS

• INPUTS SUPPLY• PRODUCTION• MARKETING• PROCESSING• FOOD DEMAND• PRICES OF FOOD• NUTRITIVE STANDARD• TECHNOLOGY ADAPTATIONS• MECHANIZATION• TRANSPORTATION• HUMAN CAPITAL

DEVELOPMENT• POPULATION GROWTH RATE.

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2004:PRODUCTIONMajor Crops

Crop Production (MT) 2004

Incremental Output 2004 over 2003(%)

SorghumMaizeMilletRiceGroundnutCowpeaSoya beanYamCassavaSweet potatoCocoyam

4,278,6794,582,0352,871,8792,582,4842,089,6731,238250377,963

21,983,28333,217,4842,896,2023,060,285

7.62.24.09.84.59.99.0

10.010.31.25.4

Source: PCU/ NAERLS 2004.

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2004:PRODUCTIONMajor Livestock

LIVESTOCK POPULATION 2004

INCREMENTAL Production 2004OVER 2003(%)

PoultryCattleSheepGoatPigs

143,507,16414,659.09230,808,47348,740,5325, 905,017

5.00.12.42.54.0

Source: RIM

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• Growing crops in the mixtures continue to be the dominant farming systems in all the agro-ecological zones.

• Generally, the livestock and fisheries sub-sectors did not witness any significant changes in factors affecting production in 2004 compared to 2003. However, capture fisheries were confirmed to be the major source of fish consumed in the country. Farmers have stated adopting integrated fish farming practices. Food supply in Nigeria has been increasing but at a very slow rate relative to the demand by the intimidating population estimate at between 130-150 million people.

Farming Systems

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Major Food Commodities: Average Market price (N/Kg) 2003 - 2005

Commodity Average Market Price-N/Kg2003 2004 2005

FirstQrt.

SorghumMaizeMilletRiceGroundnutCowpeaSoya beanYamGariBeefFish (Dry)Fowl (local)

404035854055305545

240200210

565548

1005660357050

325290252

60606055

12075904890

400340370

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GMPP: Major commodities 2004/2005

Commodity GMPP (N/TON)

Maize (White)Maize (Yellow)Sorghum (White) Sorghum (Red)MilletSoya beanGari

30,00032,00029,00028,00028,00040,00048,000

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Major Crops: Average Potentials and Practical Yields

Crop Potential Yield T/Ha

Range of farmers Yield T/Ha2004

AverageYield T/Ha 2004

Maize (Op)Maize (Hb)Millet (Op)Millet (Hb)SorghumRice (SMP)Rice (Upl)Cassava TYamYam (Hb)Sweet PotatoIrish Potato

4.08.03.55.05.06.03.060.014.027.025.030.0

1.0 - 2.03.0 - 6.00.6 - 1.52.0 - 3.51.2 - 2.02.0 - 4.01.5 - 2.011 - 165.0 - 8.010 - 189.0 - 12.06.0 - 10.0

1.54.01.13.01.22.51.8

12.26.5

11.46.47.8

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2004: Major Crops Cost of Production (N/Ha)

CropRange of Cost of

ProductionN/Ha

MaizeRiceSorghumMilletCowpeaSoya BeansCassavaYam

54,765 - 66, 86566,433 - 84, 70048,088 - 53, 15046,050 - 52, 45046,125 - 50, 92543,800 - 49, 05053,450 - 68, 450

100,250 - 130, 250

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EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY:

(A) Macro –economic policies• Fiscal – Increased capital

expenditure on agriculture• Monetary – Liberal credit to

agriculture through recapitalization of NACRDB to provide credit to farmers at concessionary interest rates.

• Trade – Until recently, Governmentadopted a very liberal policy on food imports. Today the importations of certain food items are banned to stimulate local production.

- Inclusion of 10% cassava flour in confectionery.

- Inclusion of gari in National Food Strategic Reserve.

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B. Micro – economic policiesPresent administration established/launched:• National Special Programme for Food

Security-NSPFS.• Community Based Agricultural and Rural

Development Programme- NACRDB.• National Fadama II Development Programme• National Poverty Eradication Programme

NAPEP.• Roots and Tubers Expansion Programme

RTEP.• Three (3) Commodity Development and

Marketing Companies.• Presidential initiative on cassava, rice and

fish; and encourage;Strengthening of related institutions- ADP- Research Institutes- NDE- National Strategic Food Reserve.

– Provision of tractors and animal traction to expand area cultivation.

– Collaboration with donor agencies for additional support.

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NATIONAL SPECIAL PROGRMMEE FOR FOOD SECURITY (NSPFS)

NSPFS Implementation started in November 2001 under project UTF/NIR/047/NIR wholly financed by the Federal Government with a budget of US $ 45.2 million. It involves some 23,000-25,000 farm families per site in 109 projects sites across the country.

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NSPFS COMPONENTS

• Direct support to SPFS on- Crop intensification

- Agro- processing- Farm diversification

- Cost recovery (US $ 30.511m)• Aquaculture & inland fisheries (US $

6.9m)

• Animal disease and trans-boundary pest control (US $4.45m)

• Marketing of Agricultural Commodities and Food Stock Management (US $1.239m)

• Soil fertility initiative (US $ 22.5m)• SSC initiative with peoples Republic of

China (US$22.5m)

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Thrust of NSPFSTo improve the productivity and

sustainability of agricultural systems with the ultimate objectives of achieving:

• Improved livelihood.• Reduced food insecurity.• Increased farmers income.• Reduced unemployment.• Enhanced socio- economic

status of the poor.

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NSPFS Implementation

Implementation started in November 2001 under project UTF/NIR/047/NIR wholly financed by the Federal Government of Nigeria with a budget of US $ 45.2 million. It adopts bottom-up participatory community development approach.

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF NSPFS

• Empowerment of farmers through self-driven income generating projects in crops, livestock, fisheries and processing activities.

• Mobilization of farmers in group dynamics:- Formation of viable enterprise groups.- Improved savings culture.- Effective linkage with credit

institutions.- Linkage of groups with end- users

and expanded markets.• Promotion of hygienic environment,

good health, nutrition and education on HIV/ AIDS.

• Improved commercial aptitudes and practices of farmers through participatory learning methods and approaches.

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF NSPFS Cont…

• Protection of the environment through agro-forestry practices, soil conservation and fertility initiatives

• Implementation of cost effective micro-projects in the States by the Chinese experts.

• Promotion of improved households processing activities for value addition.

• Encouragement of youth in agriculture through the promotion of school gardening.

• Establishment of post-harvest technology demonstration and training centres to educate and promote improved processing, packaging and marketing of standard farm produce.

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WAY FORWARD AND CONCLUSION

The impact of NSPFS on food security has no doubt been felt in each of the 109 farming community sites in the country.

• A lot more could be achieved with the available resources if effective linkages and synergies among all the food security programmes and stakeholders in the country are put in place. This is one of the ways the perceived benefits of setting them up could be achieved on a sustainable basis.

• Secondly, enabling environment needs to be created for our research institutes to be more pro-active in the development of crop varieties, animal breeds as well as farm level technologies that can triple the present productivity levels. This has the double advantage of increasing farmers income and apparently lower their cost of production.

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WAY FORWARD AND CONCLUSION Cont…

If farmers perception truly approximate reality:

• NSPFS (in collaboration with other Food Security Programmes) represents a potent vehicle for the diffusion of productivity, food security and income-enhancing innovation among smaller farmers.

• As a testimony to success stories of NSPFS implementation in the last 3-4 years, plans had been concluded to expand to additional sites i.e. to three sites in each senatorial district in the country.

• NSPFS is a viable multi-dimensional and integrated approach to solving the problems of poverty and food insecurity in Nigeria.

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