Expert predicts food shortage as farmers become resource-poor

By : Gordi Udeajah - Umuahia

Date: 9 April 2020 4:17am WAT

A vendor stand beside tubers of yams and waiting for buyers in a sparsely attended Mile 12 Market in Lagos, on April 6, 2020. - The lockdown of Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub has set food vendors at loggerheads with consumers . While food vendors are complaining of low patronage as securities operatives intensify enforcement of the sit-at-home order to contain the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, consumers are blaming the arbitrary hike in prices of foodstuffs across the state to trader's insensitivity to the suffering of the people. Traders attribute the price hike of food items on restriction of vehicle movement by security operatives enforcing the lockdown and difficulties in transportationing goods from rural areas to the metropolis. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

The Programme Manager of the Abia State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Chief Israel Amanze, has predicted a possible food shortage next season if farmers are not encouraged to plant during COVID-19 pandemic that coincides with the planting season.

He told The Guardian that authorities should not stop farmers, especially the animal caregivers engaged in poultry and piggery, from going to attend to their animals during the lockdown.

Preventing farmers from going to farms and planting during the lockdown could be catastrophic, as this could lead to famine as a result of underproduction of food.

Stressing the need for such farmers to be classed among those on essential services, the ADP manager said that in the case of poultry, lack of water and feeds for a day could decline production of laying birds for one month, while pigs might start cannibalism.

“If we neglect our poultry for only one day, the result will be catastrophic to both the poultry farmer and the population that depends on them and cause future poor harvest and food availability,” he said.