The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for an enabling environment to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, support smallholder farmers and promote agribusiness entrepreneurship.

The President of LCCI, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, made the call at the opening of the 2023 LCCI Agrofair and Symposium, on Wednesday in Lagos.

Olawale-Cole said that the event’s theme,” Food Security and National Development in Nigeria”, resonated deeply as it addressed a national and global fundamental challenge.

He noted that the Federal Government, in July, declared a national emergency on food security as inflation made basic foods unaffordable to many, pushing up malnutrition rate.

The LCCI president said that food security – the ability to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all – was a vital foundation upon which communities, the economy and the future were built.

He said that while the resilience and determination of farmers and entrepreneurs had resulted in noteworthy advancements, challenges still persisted.

“In Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant agricultural resources, the importance of food security cannot be overstated.

“Our ability to provide ample food for our citizens has a direct impact on our overall development, stability and progress.

“We must embrace modern technologies that enhance productivity while safeguarding our natural resources.

“Moreover, we must recognise the interconnectedness of food security with other critical aspects of national development such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare,” he said.

Olawale-Cole said that the 2023 LCCI Agrofair and Symposium served as a platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration on innovative farming techniques and supply chain efficiency to market access and trade policies.

The Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ibironke Emokpae, said that the theme of the symposium was pertinent to ensuring food security in the country.

“The theme of the symposium is very pertinent in our rapidly-changing world.

“As we deliberate on the critical intersection of food security and our nation’s development, we must recognise the profound implications that this theme holds to our society, our economy and our future.

“Food security is not only ensuring that every individual has access to enough food for sustenance.

“It encompasses factors that include not only availability of food, but also the accessibility, affordability and nutritional value,’’ she said.

The official said that in a country as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, where agriculture played a significant role in the economy, food security was beyond a moral imperative.

She said that food security was also a strategic necessity for national development.

“Historically, agriculture has been the backbone of our economy, providing employment to a substantial portion of our population and contributing significantly to the gross domestic product.

“Addressing the challenges of the agricultural sector requires a comprehensive approach that will involve governments, the private sector, investors, the academia, civil society groups,” Emokpae said.

The Chairman of LCCI Agro and Allied Sector, Mr Kola Aderigbigbe, said that there was the need to make agribusiness the frontier of national development.

He said that the sector was one of the highest employers of labour notwithstanding its current low profitability due to poor infrastructure and investment.

Aderigbigbe called for more investment in security and innovations to boost agricultural production and increase exports.

He added that Nigeria should emphasise sustainable food production which, he said, required collective efforts.

“There are several issues that must be considered holistically to create the enabling environment for food security and national development,’’ he said.

He listed the issues to include ecological system, security of farmers and adequate infrastructure.

“The ministry of agriculture is very critical to national survival and development; so, the ministry must get it right to deliver its mandate of national food security and seamless flow of agriculture-based raw materials for industrial development.

“When a nation sufficiently builds the capacity to self-feed, it would literally move to the next stage of development which is transferring its agricultural surplus to industrial raw materials.

“If we are going to get it right and lay the real foundation for the total development of Nigeria, we must begin by getting it right in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Aderigbigbe said that there was the need to address the country’s ecological system to guard against flooding and achieve sustainable food security.

He expressed the hope that effective implementation of Bola Tinubu administration’s agriculture strategic plans and other initiatives would lead to attainment of national food security.

The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Alwan Hassan, represented by the South-West Zonal Manager of the Bank, Mr Adekunle Osho, said that ensuring food security in Nigeria was pertinent.

“Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for most Nigerians, and it remains the foundation of the country’s economy.

“Achievement of food security in any nation is driven by several factors.

“These factors affect agro production level, handling of produce, value addition, seamless distribution that ensures all-round availability and the right details of food items for healthy living. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria