Expert canvasses family farming to achieve food security

A sustainable food and feed system consultant, Saidat Shonoiki, has advocated adopting family farming as a sustainable strategy towards achieving food security in Nigeria.

Shonoiki stated this during a virtual conference in Abuja, saying agriculture is currently at a crossroads and under increasing pressure to provide enough food that is both affordable and nutritious for the teeming population.
“There has been an increase in the number of people moving from rural to urban areas. Cities that have never seen such a high level of having a low capacity for absorption confront problems to social exclusion and, on occasion, conflicts.”

The expert also explained that dealing with the impact of climate change and destruction of ecosystems, lack of natural resources, such as water, soil depletion and biodiversity loss, are issues that need to be addressed urgently.

According to her, “It is critical to feed the planet and do so in a sustainable manner. ‘’A significant adjustment in our food systems is required. Transformation acts are equally highly required considering many interconnected goals, such as economic and environmental factors,” she said.
“We need to feed the growing population with the limited resources, and then climate change is knocking. Insecurity, social injustice is the norm of the day. Family farming is the major producer of food and major investor in agriculture as the backbone of the rural economic structure,” she said.

The Guardian