The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has debunked media reports that the outbreak of armyworm in farms across some states in the country may result in severe food scarcity. The Minister stated this on Wednesday while making a presentation at the Capacity Building Training for ECOWAS member states organized by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The training was organized to teach the 15 participating countries how to control and manage armyworm in the region.
According to the Minister, although some states had witnessed outbreak of armyworm, the development poses no threat to food security in the country. “We have no shortage of food anywhere in the country. The prices are a bit high. Farmers won’t lose, but those who do not farm have to eat food as well."
Chief Ogbeh assured that experts in the sector were already developing strategies to manage the situation in the country. “Some professors have started developing how to manage this; then, we can deal with it in no time. That is why this seminar is very vital. We have to train the trainees, who will be going to states to teach farmers on how to spray their farms.
He blamed the high cost of food on absence of infrastructure like good roads as well as transportation.
"Roads are bad and transporter will tell you that it costs high to move food from one place to the other. I was in Ekiti recently. A tuber of yam I saw that was sold for N300 was sold for N1500 in Lagos. There is no reason for that kind of hike. We should all be reasonable and know that not all have to be farmers. Those that are not farmers played higher role in the country’s development too."
