Experts on famine management in the Sahel and West Africa have deplored impact of insecurity on rising food prices.

They noted though that the 2023 farming season’s forecast indicated favourable rains for good yield, but, observed that factors, including insecurity, policies and implementation, could worsen the crisis in the regions.

Head, Information and Research Agreement at Agriculture Hydrology (AGRHMET), Dr. Abdou Ali, noted that monitoring of food and nutrition security in the zones revealed average rainfall, thus foreclosing drought.

He made the disclosure at a meeting of the Regional Food Crisis Prevention and Management Mechanism, (PREGEC), yesterday, in Abuja.

Ali said: “The current situation is characterised by high market prices. Last year, we recognise that food production was relatively good, yet we are facing very stressful situations.

“We are not going to face general drought situations, and this will have a good impact on food production in the region, but we need to also consider other factors such as insecurity, which also has impact on the situation, among others.”

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, clarifed that PREGEC, as an interventionist body, provides information on food and nutrition security in the regions.

Represented by the Director, Special Duties, Fausat Lawal, the permanent secretary said report of the 2022 Cadre Harmonise for Identification of Risk Area and Vulnerable Populations in 21 states showed that 14.5 million Nigerians fall under vulnerability populace, hence urgent assistance.

“The Federal Government has responded to some of these challenges through several interventions and support,” he added.

In his remarks, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Head of Regional and Resilience Team Leader, West Africa, Kouacou Koffy, said the body is concretising efforts at finding viable solutions to the numerous problems associated with exorbitant prices and nutrition deficiency in the zones.

He stated that FAO is studying impacts of factors like Ukraine/Russia crisis on “our region, climate change, insecurity and others on prices of food.”