BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
In a bid to avert the impending threat of hunger and food insecurity in the land, the Federal Government has been urged to support farmers to boost maize production as well as other staples.
The Managing Director, Fempanath Nigeria Limited, Olukayode Olaitan, gave the urge recently during the commemoration of the 2021 World Maize Day.
Olaitan, who described maize as a major staple food in many parts of the world, noted that its popularity continued to gain momentum across the world, and in Africa especially because it could be easily grown, stored, prepared as a type of food with high nutritional value.
Dwelling on the theme, ‘Towards enabling self-sufficiency in maize production,’ he said that Nigeria ranked largest producer of maize in Africa and 11th globally.
However, he lamented that maize farmers in the country failed to adopt the use of hybrid seeds, “and most often than not, what they plant are the maize grains that were meant for consumption, or for the industries or used as animal feeds.
“Farmers need to be ready to give the maize supplemental irrigation if rain doesn’t fall and follow the normal agronomic practices, apply fertiliser at two weeks and six weeks. If there are insect attacks, then apply insecticide. About 60 per cent of Nigeria’s maize is used for the production of poultry feeds, 25per percent is used- up by the food and beverage industry, and the remaining 15per percent is consumed by households.”
He added that the Federal Government should build the capacity of farmers by getting simple machines that could help them improve maize productivity.
“Nigeria, which is the 11th largest producer of maize in the world, is producing 10 times more maize yearly now than it did at independence in 1960, data from the United States Department of Agriculture shows.
“Nigeria recorded a boost in the production of maize which rose from 12.8 to 13.94 million metric tons between 2020 and 2021. But, despite being the largest producer of the commodity in Africa, farmers are worried that cheaper maize imported from other African countries will crash the price in the country’s market and also limit their share of the larger African market.
“A lot of maize farmers felt demoralised when the borders were reopened because they had cultivated with a high cost of inputs and they were confident that they would sell, knowing the borders were closed. But now that the borders are opened, it has negative implications for farmers.
“Also, in spite of the high production in recent years, Nigeria has not met domestic and industrial demands.
“We, however, want to call for a subsidy policy regime for maize farmers in Nigeria. With this policy, we expect more investment in the maize farming industry and with such investment, we don’t expect anything less.”
While restating that Nigeria occupied a place of pride in enabling self-sufficiency in maize production, he further said, “Maize has fed and nourished many generations of human civilization and continues to be a vital part of our Global Food System.”
According to him, maize production should increase three-fold in sub-Saharan Africa, for it to meet the needs of future generations.
He said, “Sustainably increasing maize production will require a portfolio of complementary technologies and policies. On this day, we highlight some challenges to achieve this improvement. Improved nutritional density of maize in farmers’ fields and increased adoption of new varieties and faster varietal replacement.”
The problem of insecurity, he stated, must be addressed to attract farmers back to farm while the government at all levels in the country must stop paying mere lip-service to support for agriculture and food production.
