Stakeholders in the food chains industry have converged in Lagos to proffer solution to the menace of food shortage in the country as the world marks World Food Day.
Every October 16th has been set aside by the United Nations for countries around the world to deliberate on the common challenge of food shortage, hunger and recommend workable solutions.
At the event in Yaba area of Lagos state organised by the Foodclique Support Initiative to mark the day, Rafiat Gawat urged government to provide infrastructure like power, good road network and others to minimise waste in the distribution network of food items.
Gawat, the Head PR & Comms TGI Group said that there will be lot of improvement in the Agriculture sector in the country if the value chains is improved upon strictly in the industry.
According to her and i quote” we buy the products directly from farmers and they are happy about it.
When farmers are aware of benefits of putting in more time to work on the farmlands, they will devote time to the job. In this case, we are able to also tackle poverty among them.”
On his part, the Operational Head, Eric Kayser,, Tarek Khoury lamented that high percent of the world population are faced with hunger due to lack of food occasioned by Insecurity around the world.
He noted that the crisis had also largely affected food distribution globally.
While adding his voice, Akin Alabi who is the Founder, Corporate Farmers Inc advocated the need for deployment of more technology to minimise time consumption in food production and distribution.
He believes Nigeria is gradually keeping tap of the potentials of technology assuring that the country would be better for it in the long run.
Akin Alabi disclosed that in as much as technology will be an abler for them to achieve high productivity, the Public Private Partnership is the way to go for any sector of the economy thrive.
He cited the example of collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi states that produced Lake Rice few years ago.
Another Panelist at the forum, Tracy Dabul, Head of Sales and Partnerships, Leky Mills want the public sector to look into processing unit to reduce wastage in the distribution line.
She also made reference to the high cost of wheat in the global market affected by the Russia/Ukraine war.
The Foodclique Support Initiative Head of Research and Development, Tomilayo Sadiq reaffirmed their commitment to fighting food challenges in the country.
He said the group is glad joining the rest of the world in marking14th edition of the World Food Day adding their intervention had been felt in more than ten states in the country.
“We decided to look at the importance of public-private partnership to accomplish sustainable food security solution. Our gratitude also go to our sponsors and partners over the years which shows that we are not alone in this crusade”” he added.
One of the founding members of the group, Hareef Akerele pointed out that Netherlands, a non-cocoa producer, has one of the largest cocoa processing industry globally.
He explained that the processing and exportation of cocoa derivatives generated US$ 4.2 billion for the Dutch economy in 2016 compared to Nigeria which generated only US$ 144 million from exportation of cocoa derivatives.
The theme for this year’s World Food Day is “Water is life, water is good, leave no one behind”
