President Muhammadu Buhari has given plaudits to the Africa Development Bank, AfDB, for planning ahead of unpredictable negative consequences that may come from the Russia-Ukraine war in terms of food security.
The President made the commendation in Abuja during an audience with the AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who briefed him on steps being taken by the bank to avert food crisis in Africa, in the foreseeable future.
He appreciated the bank for knowing Africa’s weaknesses and strengths, and for planning and working ahead, saying that his administration was aware of the need for food security, hence the encouragement of farmers and the closure of borders for about two years to curb smuggling.
The President of the Bank, Dr. Adesina had said the Russia-Ukraine war would create global problems, and particularly for Africa, which imports a huge percentage of its food from the two countries.
He noted that the the price of wheat had already gone up about 60 percent, adding that maize and other grains could also be affected.
Dr. Adesina said there might be about 2 million metric tons of fertiliser deficit., which would affect food production by about 20%.
He noted that Africa would lose 11 billion dollar worth of food, and that coming shortly after Covid-19, the situation would be rather serious.
In preparation against that, Dr Adesina said the AfDB had developed a 1.5 billion dollar Africa Emergency Food Plan, which is now before the bank’s Board for approval.
He said plans had been mooted to help farmers cultivate wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans to mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In Nigeria, Dr. Adesina said in the wet season of 2022, about 5 million smallholder farmers would be helped to cultivate 1 million hectares of maize, 1 million hectares of rice, and 250,000 hectares of sorghum and soybeans, saying that in total, the intervention will help Nigeria to produce 9.5 million metric tons of food.
He said the benefitting states were Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory.
He acknowledged President Buhari’s passion for agriculture, and pledged to help actualise his desire to ensure that Nigeria would not feel the impact of the envisaged food crisis.
BELLO WAKILI
