The United Nations in Nigeria has disclosed that the food economy in West Africa and the Sahel sub-region would grow to $480 billion by 2030 as non-agricultural sector accounts for 49% of the total value added.
The UN via its Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, disclosed this On Tuesday, 16th March at the 13th Multidisciplinary Team Meeting in Abuja, with the theme: “Joining Efforts to Build Resilient Agrifood Systems in West Africa and Sahel”
The projection in growth was attributed to the systemic approach launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in securing the development gains in the fight against hunger.
During the meeting, Schmale emplored West African countries to seize the opportunities for building resilient agri-food systems in the region – pointing that this is important to provide great prospects for food system and to increase production and creating value and job creation as well as food security in West Africa.
Schmale also pointed out the adverse effect of climate change in the region and how it has evidently affected West Africa in terms of food production and food security. Speaking at the meeting, Matthias said: “All of these have adversely impacted agri-food systems, causing agric production and yields in the sub-region to be the lowest in the world. COVID-19 significantly worsened the food security situation of many households in the region, especially poorer households.”
Investors King recall that this update is also coming on the heels of an earlier report by the FAO where the international organisation projected that Nigeria stands at risk of food insecurity by August 2022.
Also present at the meeting was the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, who noted that the three-day meeting is targeted at deliberating on the current food and nutrition situation in the West African sub-region, its determinants, and mitigation measures.
Kafeero spoke extensively on the importance of data and analytics for generation of evidence to guide responsible investments and partnerships for food systems transformation. “We are glad our partners from ECOWAS are joining us to advance food security and nutrition in West Africa and to contribute to knowledge sharing regarding challenges, threats, and opportunities to move agri-food systems in the region towards sustainability”, Kafeero said.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, however, disclosed that Nigeria’s food and nutrition security is still a big challenge despite the country’s modest achievements in the sector. He also assured the federal government’s willingness to partner with the international bodies other development partners to drive productive actions towards a resilient agrifood systems in the country.
