The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo has stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt modern agricultural practices, including mechanized farming and sustainable land development, to overcome the nation’s food insecurity challenges.
Delivering the 111th Inaugural Lecture of the university, titled “Farming System in Nigeria: Wallowing in Food Insecurity Amid Abundance?,” Prof. Ndaeyo lamented the country’s struggle to achieve food security despite its vast agricultural potential.
He pointed out that while Nigeria is rich in agricultural resources and produces a variety of food crops, the country continues to face serious food security issues.
“There is an abundance of food in Nigeria, yet we are still struggling with food insecurity. This paradox shows the systemic inefficiencies that have pervaded the agricultural sector,” he said.
Prof. Ndaeyo, an expert in farming systems agronomy at the Department of Crop Science, attributed Nigeria’s food security problems to the persistence of outdated farming techniques and a general lack of mechanization.
“Despite considerable research in areas like bush clearing, soil fertility, and improved farming practices for crops such as maize, cassava, cocoyam, yam, okra, fluted pumpkin, cowpea, and onion, we have yet to see significant progress in addressing food insecurity,” he added.
He proposed a shift from traditional, land-expansion farming practices to more modern, intensive approaches that focus on maximizing productivity per hectare.
“Expanding farmland alone is not the solution. We must shift focus on intensification, which emphasizes improving yields through technology and better farming practices,” Ndaeyo said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the current administration to tackle the problem, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that long-term solutions to Nigeria’s food insecurity would require not just policy changes but a holistic approach involving the efficient use of resources and a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
Ndaeyo also encouraged Nigerians to adopt responsible and industrious farming techniques, citing Proverbs 12:11 as a reminder of the importance of hard work in farming.
“Nigeria is blessed with over 36.9 million hectares of arable land and a population exceeding 200 million. With the right strategies and technologies, we have all it takes to be food-secure,” he said.
