Mr. Akin Olotu, a former Senior Special Assistant (Agric and Agribusiness) to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has called upon the federal government to tackle climate change to prevent the ongoing food crisis from extending beyond expectations.
He also emphasised that the only way Nigeria could solve the ongoing food crisis is to tackle climate change, pest infestations and other threats to agricultural productivity.
Olotu made the call in Akure at the annual lecture series of the Correspondents’ Chapel of thOlotumadee Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday.
“In the months ahead, there will be more food crises. The present climatic condition is not favourable to farming activities. Something has to be done. Food crisis is still ahead.
“President Bola Tinubu has to set targets for the state and local councils. Presently, Nigeria’s poultry industry has collapsed.”
The agric expert noted that the food crisis worsened in the country as a result of conflicts, economic instability, and atypical staple food prices.
He, therefore, urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to place a premium on agriculture by dedicating 24 percent of the state’s 2025 budget to agriculture with a view to enhancing food production.
Olotu disclosed that the late Governor Akeredolu cultivated 87,000 hectares of oil palm out of a target of 100,000 hectares in pursuit of the ‘Red Gold’ revolution, which absorbed over 30,000 job seekers.
According to him, “Ondo State has a comparative advantage in tree crops. We targeted 100,000 hectares for oil palm, but we did 87,000 hectares.
“We also succeeded in tomato cultivation in Ondo. Nigeria is importing oil palm heavily. We need concerted effort to tackle food shortage. We need to plan, we need to know where we are and where we are going.”
The agric expert revealed that his previous warning on the food crisis was ignored, warning that the climatic condition this year was not favourable to farming.
He admitted that the United Nations’ earlier prediction that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030 was true.
Olotu expressed disappointment in agricultural research institutes for poor performance in proffering solutions to the food crisis in the country and bridging the gap between research and knowledge.
“There should be aggressive rural transformation. The government needs to curb rural-urban drift. If we do not have rural transformation, we are going nowhere,” Olotu said.
In his address at the event, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa assured that his administration has embarked on several initiatives that would boost food production in the state and improve the welfare of the citizens.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, the governor also charged journalists in the state to report only the truth at all times and avoid information that could disrupt the peace of the society.
Speaking on the theme; “Electioneering: Roles and Responsibilities of the Media,” the Guest Lecturer and immediate past Head, Department of Mass Communication, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Dr. Olugbenga Abimbola tasked journalists to be well-versed in election timelines, processes and laws with a view to ensuring a successful poll.