The Nigerian Army has announced the deployment of troops in several northern states to protect farmers upon the commencement of the rainy season.
In a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major Gen. Edward Buba mentioned that the deployment was made particularly in the Northwest and North Central states.
As the country battle food shortage which has further worsened food inflation, security had been the major issue preventing farmers from visiting their farms. Nigeria’s inflation figure is currently estimated at 33.40%.
According to Buba, the move has since “enabled several farmers access to farmers for a hitch-free planting season towards a bumper harvest.”
Food Inflation
A breakdown of the NBS data indicated that food inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Edo (47.34 per cent), Kogi (46.37 per cent), Cross River (45.28 per cent), while Nasarawa (34.31 per cent), Bauchi (34.78 per cent) and Adamawa State (35.96 per cent), recorded the slowest rise in food inflation.
On a month-on-month basis, June 2024 food inflation was highest in Yobe (4.75 per cent), Adamawa (4.74 per cent), and Taraba (4.12 per cent), while Nasarawa (0.14 per cent), Kano (0.96 per cent) and Lagos (1.25 per cent) recorded the slowest rise.
Experts have since blamed insecurity, lack of equipment, and other issues as major challenges affecting food production in Nigeria.
Government efforts
The Federal Government in the wake of the rising prices of essential commodities reeled out a number of measures to address the challenge.
It initially announced sale of rice to Nigerians at a subsidized rate, but the activity was later suspended without giving any reason. They also suspended duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders, for 180 days.
It also approved the procurement of 2,000 tractors, and 1,200 trailers and set up a committee to help in proffering solutions to the food crisis rocking the nation.
If the farmers are secure in their farms, the food crisis situation would improve immensely in the country.
