How to address food security in Nigeria amidst COVID-19

Uka Eje, CEO of Thrive Agric, a technology-driven agricultural company passionate about ensuring global food security. [PHOTO CREDIT: Thrive Agric official website]declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic on March 11, much of our news has been dominated by the economic and social impact of the disease. We have heard this thrown around a lot; that the coronavirus is the ‘great equaliser’.

At Thrive Agric, our contribution to ensuring that Nigeria is food sufficient has always meant that we prioritized the farmer. Now more than ever, at a time where the Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned of a looming food crisis, a farmer-centric approach must dominate our response to this challenge. Many of these farmers have inherited their livelihoods from their fathers and have not been able to expand production beyond what their fathers had.

Yet, the current state of the economy and the predicted downturn has meant that many financial institutions are less inclined to lend money to farmers at this time. Besides this, the fact that banks use one-size-fits-all risk assessment frameworks greatly undermines the importance of farmers and agriculture to the fabric of society and the economy. Simply put: if farmers cannot access credit to support their farms, we risk amplifying the already fragile food security levels in the country.

More importantly, however, there is a fundamental need for the Nigerian government to incentivize the agricultural sector, this needs to take shape in the form of government policy that encourages private sector loans. In the U.S., banks are mandated to give loans to farmers at a negative percentage, these sorts of forward-thinking policies can provide the necessary support for smallholder farmers.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

Just allow us to go to farm. We are ready to farm. Life after covid19 is food.

Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Amidst lockdown ease, Nigeria's weekly COVID-19 cases reduce, recoveries doubleAs Nigerians continue to experience the nationwide ease in lockdown announced by President Muhammadu Buhari, the country recorded a 16 per cent drop in coronavirus cases last week compared to the previous week, an analysis of data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows. hadisirika FAAN_Official open the airspace. We need to move to something better. Isn't God wonderful? ....dis heading where u put now go make dis fake ppl increase deir fake number 2moro.... especially sanwo olu of Lagos....u no..dis has been his major source of income...
Source: PremiumTimesng - 🏆 3. / 78 Read more »

Nigeria Records 288 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 5,445Nigeria Records 288 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 5,445 Follow me I follow you back God save us all Okkrr
Source: channelstv - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

Nigeria records 288 new cases of coronavirus - Premium Times NigeriaNigeria, on Friday, recorded 288 cases of COVID-19, its highest daily figure for the week. O almighty Allah protect my country
Source: PremiumTimesng - 🏆 3. / 78 Read more »

Nigeria Records 176 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 5,621ICYMI: Nigeria Records 176 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Infections Now 5,621 Goodnews abeg 😫😫 Livescore updated. NCDC still dey give live scores , I thought the match has ended ..
Source: channelstv - 🏆 7. / 63 Read more »

INVESTIGATION: Between Nigeria and Benin Republic, corrupt security officials help breach COVID-19 travel banAcross the globe, countries are in a race against time to curb the spread of the deadly virus and to rescue what they can of lives and the economy from its wreckage. Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 28. AdejumoKabir2 well done sir. You'll always be a mentor This is hilarious. I read with strong apprehension. Investigative journalism with a difference. Keep it up! 💔Not surprised though. It's a big shame on our security agencies. The nation's collapse is imminent. May God save us 🙏🙏
Source: PremiumTimesng - 🏆 3. / 78 Read more »

COVID-19: Bayelsa discharges two patients - Premium Times NigeriaTwo COVID-19 patients in Bayelsa were discharged on Saturday, Inodu Apoku, the co-chairman, Bayelsa COVID-19 task force, has said. Kudos to our medical staffs. We appreciate your sacrifice. God bless
Source: PremiumTimesng - 🏆 3. / 78 Read more »