The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recently convened a meeting with representatives from West African countries to address increasing flood risks and ensure food security in the region.
Supported by the German government, the summit aimed to equip sub-regional governments with the tools needed to address floods and other natural disasters. These disasters have contributed to hunger affecting over 52 million people in the Sahel region.
During the opening of the regional workshop held in Abuja yesterday, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized the urgency of responding to the growing threat posed by floods.
He reiterated FAO’s commitment to supporting regional governments. The organization will assist them in developing new strategies and strengthening existing ones to effectively manage flood risks.
Kouacou stressed the importance of early warning systems and adequate funding to ensure swift operational responses on the ground.
Highlighting the devastating impact of recent floods, Kouacou revealed that over 2.4 million acres of land within the region have been destroyed. He pointed out that Nigeria alone could have fed around 5 million people using the land lost to floods.
“From the perspective of climate change, floods have a significant impact on agricultural production,” he said. “So, the question is, how can we better anticipate these events? By doing so, we can help our farmers and livestock producers cultivate and produce more effectively, ultimately boosting production in the region. This is a key objective of the regional workshop.”
“It is crucial for all of us to discuss ways to support farmers in increasing their production and yields,” he concluded.