Why we are transforming our food systems --- OSINBAJO
(Nigeria) Transforming Africa’s food system is an obvious task
requiring the active mobilization and prioritization of both public and private
investments, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
This explains the resolve of the Federal Government in
complementing existing development plans, sectoral strategies, and prioritizing
investments in specific innovations and technologies to transform food systems
in the country.
Osinbajo stated this today in his remarks delivered
virtually at the preparatory meeting of the United Nations Food Systems Summit
2021. The Pre-Summit is a prelude to the culminating global event scheduled for
Rome, Italy in September, 2021, an event the Vice President described as
crucial just as the previous dialogues held in several countries on food
systems.
Sharing insights on Nigeria’s efforts, the Vice President
noted that “the Nigerian Government is committed to addressing the drivers of
food insecurity such as food inflation, changing consumption patterns and
climate change, amongst other things.
“At the same time and as an outcome of 40 different food
systems dialogues in which up to 5,000 people participated, Nigeria is
prioritizing investments in specific innovations and technologies to scale up
and transform food systems.
“These actions complement existing development plans and
sectoral strategies such as our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the National
Policy on Food and Nutrition, and the National Policy on Food Safety.”
Continuing, Osinbajo said “a specific aim of our recently
launched National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy is to address hunger,
malnutrition and poverty as part of our target of lifting a hundred million
Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.”
The VP explained that at the heart of Nigeria’s
post-COVID-19 response is the Economic Sustainability Plan, noting that the
“plan has a major component, which is the Agriculture for Food and Jobs
Programme, AFJP, where we seek to leverage suitable technologies to build a
resilient food system for Nigeria.”
“Our Nutrition Policy addresses the issues of sustainable
and nutrition-sensitive food systems - and the country has prioritized key
nutrition actions that are impactful, cost-effective, scalable, and
sustainable.
“An integral part of our food systems’ transformation
strategy is to create an enabling and supportive environment to implement these
policies in a participatory manner involving farmers, investors and State
Governments,” the VP added, assuring significant improvements in crop yields,
affordable and healthy diets, among others.
Making a case for initiatives that support Africa and other
developing countries, Osinbajo said, "for example, when, as in
our country and several others, population growth exceeds growth in national
income, food supply would not meet the needs of people, especially when
distribution systems are inequitable.”
According to him, “post-harvest losses in Africa, and
particularly in Nigeria, are more than 20% of production for several food
groups. And this is due mainly to poor storage, poor rural infrastructure and
non-automation of food processing, amongst other things.
“The situation in many African countries is given increased
urgency with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to growing
levels of acute food insecurity. This is
of great concern to all of us, especially if we recall that prior to the
pandemic, the prevalence of severe food insecurity was as high as 22%.”
Acknowledging the work done by Nigeria earlier in her
remarks, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed said “let
me commend the effort of my home country, Nigeria, especially the Vice
President, for leading six ministers including the Minister of Finance, in the
dialogues and other efforts aimed at building sustainable food systems in the
country.”
“Food unites us all, as families, as communities, as
cultures and as humanity, now let’s use it to unite around the urgency and the
actions that are needed to transform our world by 2030,” she noted.
She added that the summit is designed to guide national
governments and other stakeholders looking to leverage their food systems to
support the SDGs, noting that food systems play a central role in building a
fairer, more sustainable world.
Aside from VP Osinbajo and Mohammed, participants at the second day of the preparatory meeting include the Prime Minister of Italy, Mr Mario Draghi; Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed; Ministers representing India, Canada, China, Norway, Egypt, amongst many other countries.
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