The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) and the Gombe State Budget Committee Group have raised concerns about the impact of climate change on food security, urging the government to adopt climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices.
The recommendations were made during the presentation of the Gombe State 2024 agriculture budget observations and recommendations, supported by the Hope Foundation for the Lonely and ActionAid Nigeria.
Airudia Mamman, the Gombe State coordinator for SWOFON, highlighted the pressing need for the government to encourage agroecology to boost productivity and harness the state’s potential in achieving food security.
Mamman emphasized that adopting climate-resilient practices is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture.
“With the increase in climatic changes, such as global warming and floods, and their adverse effects on agricultural yields, coupled with the insecurity resulting from food scarcity, there is a need for climate-resilient/agroecological practices and technology for sustainable food production.
“These practices include improved soil and land management, crop production interventions, cropping systems, organic manures, and pesticides,” Mamman stated.
SWOFON pointed out that the 2024 agriculture budget has not allocated funds for Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA), despite ongoing advocacy by the Budget Committee for its inclusion.
This omission, they argue, overlooks the critical need for sustainable agricultural practices in the face of global climatic changes.
The call for climate-resilient agriculture aligns with broader national and international concerns about food security.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recently urged state governments to focus more on food security, while the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to addressing food insecurity across Nigeria.
Mamman concluded, “The situation has been the same for years despite advocacies by the Budget Committee for the government to adopt climate resilient sustainable agriculture due to climatic change globally.
“It’s time for Gombe State to take decisive action and prioritize climate resilient agriculture in its budgeting and policy frameworks.”
In a related development, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has taken significant steps towards enhancing agricultural productivity in Nigeria by distributing agrarian inputs to 900 accredited farmers in Ebonyi and Osun States.
The initiative, part of NALDA’s agricultural empowerment program, aims to support farmers in maximizing crop cultivation for improved yields and increased food production.
The beneficiaries, consisting of farmers from both states, received NALDA-branded bags containing high-grade fertilizer, herbicides, and improved rice, maize, and bean seeds.
