The United Nations (UN) has again predicted that 82 million Nigerians which will be about 64 per cent of the country’s population may go hungry by 2030. The Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), represented by Taofiq Braimoh disclosed this at a recent launch of CropWatch in Abuja.
He said, “The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey. This year’s results are alarming: approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2023, and around 80-82 million are at risk of severe food insecurity by 2030.
“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. As an agrarian society, our farms’ success directly impacts food availability for our population. Leveraging technology is crucial to strengthening our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.”
According to him, satellite-based crop monitoring provide real-time data on crop conditions which can enable farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions and optimise agricultural practices.
He further noted that the technology could aid to accelerate the accomplishment of sustainable development goals in food and agriculture.
This revelation comes as Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 40.66 percent in May 2024, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report stated that staple foods, rice, beans and others rose by at least 130 percent on a year-on-year basis. This recent surge represents the largest year-on-year increase in food prices since records began in 1996.
