- As stakeholders caution against dependence on foreign seeds
House of Representativess has reaffirmed its commitment to providing the legislative framework needed to tackle malnutrition in the country.
The chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, stated at an event organized by by Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research(CEFSAR) in conjunction with Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, to commemorate the World Food Day.
Okafor, who was represented by the Committee Clerk, Agenti milicent, noted that food insecurity is major concern, stating that the House is working on bills that would go a long way in addressing the nutrition challenges in the country.
According to him, “food is a major need of man. It is important to note that malnutrition and food insecurity remain a constant threat to socio-economic development in Nigeria, as much as it has become an existential threat. Worsening inflation has also aggravated this burden on ordinary Nigerians.”
Also, stakeholders, in the agricultural sector, while speaking at the event warned that growing dependence on foreign seed is capable of undermining Nigeria’s food sovereignty and called for increased investment in local seed production, organic farming and household food cultivation.
Deputy Director, CEFSAR, Segun Adebayo,
warned that a country which depends on foreign seeds for agricultural production, could have food for consumption but still lack food sovereignty .
According to him, excessive reliance on imported seeds, particularly varieties that could not be replanted after harvest, posed potential risks to Nigeria’s long-term food security, especially in the event of disruptions to international supply chains.
He advocated greater investment in locally produced, regenerative seeds that farmers could preserve and replant, stressing that the ability to control seed production was fundamental to building a resilient and self-sustaining food system.
“Everybody must eat. Food is not discriminatory. But we have to be very careful about what we eat because what we eat matters a great deal,” Adebayo stated.
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