Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, has said that the government of Nigeria’s choice to let significant food imports run the danger of ruining the nation’s agricultural sector.
This comes after Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, said on July 10 that the Federal Government will halt taxes, levies, and tariffs on the importation of cowpeas, wheat, husked brown rice, and maize over the nation’s land and maritime borders for a period of 150 days.
“It is disheartening to learn about Nigeria’s recently announced policy (link is external) to allow large-scale food imports in order to address temporary increases in food prices,” Adesina spoke to African Primates of the Anglican Church on Friday during a retreat in Abuja, Nigeria.
He issued a warning, saying the strategy may undo all of the laborious efforts and financial contributions made by private citizens to Nigeria’s agricultural industry.
“Nigeria cannot depend on food imports to keep prices stable. The head of the African Development Bank said that Nigeria had to increase food production in order to keep food prices stable. Additionally, by generating employment and cutting down on foreign currency expenditure, the country may further stabilize the Naira.
“Nigeria cannot become a nation that depends solely on food imports to overcome food insecurity,” he said.
Adesina warned that Nigeria “must feed itself with pride” and that “a nation that depends on others to feed itself, is independent only in name” during her speech on the topic of “Food security and financial sustainability in Africa: The role of the Church.”
Security of food and faith
Under the auspices of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA), which is composed of more than 40 million Anglicans on the continent, the clerics gathered in Abuja.
His Grace the Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), who hosted the event, stated in his introductory remarks that African Anglican leaders had a rare chance to strengthen their friendships and work together, as well as to share their collective knowledge and experiences.
Emeritus Professor of Science Education from Nigeria, Olugbemiro Jegede, chaired the event and said to Adesina, “You have the whole of Africa represented here.” A area is represented by each primate. Millions and millions of Anglicans who are listening to us here are behind these Primates.
The president of the African Development Bank stated that agriculture is essential for the diversification of economies and the transformation of rural areas, where more than 70% of Africa’s population resides, noting that Africa accounts for nearly a third of the more than 780 million hungry people worldwide. He emphasized, “It is evident therefore that Africa cannot eradicate poverty unless we transform agriculture.”
Africa, according to Adesina, has 65 percent of the world’s remaining arable land that may be used to feed 9.5 billion people by the year 2050. Thus, the future of food in the globe will depend on what Africa accomplishes with its agricultural sector. Food is essentially money. By 2030, the African market for food and agriculture will be worth $1 trillion.
revolutionary steps
Adesina gave the Primates an update on the Bank’s $25 billion initiative to modernize agriculture, enabling 40 million farmers to use high-performing farming technology and achieving food self-sufficiency in Africa by 2030.
He discussed how the Bank has been able to assist member nations in mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change by means of financial investments and its flagship initiative, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).
As per the Bank president, TAAT has facilitated Ethiopia’s transition into a net exporter of wheat in only five years, considerably boosted Sudan’s wheat output, and enabled Eastern and Southern African nations to sustain food production despite an extended drought.
“We have provided $520 million to support the establishment of Special Agricultural Processing Zones, which will allow private agribusinesses to establish industries that process and add value to agricultural commodities,” stated Adesina regarding Nigeria in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Furthermore, the Bank gave Nigeria $134 million for emergency food production under the national Agricultural Growth Scheme, which would greatly increase local production of cassava and wheat and assist reduce food price inflation.
Adesina encouraged the Nigerian government to encourage private sector agribusinesses, demonstrate stronger will and commitment to attaining food self-sufficiency, and capitalize on the Bank’s investments and assistance for African farmers.
With $4.5 billion raised so far, the African Development Bank Group and its partners are assisting in the establishment of 28 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in 11 countries to support Africa’s aspirations to advance up the global agricultural value chains.
The Most Reverend Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, spoke on behalf of the Most Reverend Albert Chama, the Bishop of Northern Zambia and Chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, who advocated for increased collaboration between the Anglican Church and the Bank Group.
“African issues must be solved with the African intellect at their core. We can do a lot together and make a difference if the African Development Bank mobilizes resources for the continent of Africa and the Church mobilizes resources for comprehensive change, according to Ole Sapit.
As a force for change, the church
Adesina said that the world urgently needs “visionary and passionate leaders who are strategic solution providers and transformational change makers,” offering answers for African agriculture.
He mentioned a number of measures to achieve this, such as encouraging young Africans to pursue agricultural entrepreneurship, investing in commercial farms, particularly in rural areas, advocating on climate change issues, and holding governments accountable for their financial actions. He also mentioned the need for food banks and other social protection programs run by churches to help combat hunger and malnutrition.