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Updated: May 17, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been called on by The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying that the federal government should put an end to what PDP referred to as insensitivity and to take urgent steps to address the worsened food insecurity and the attendant hunger and starvation across the nation.

On Sunday, Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the party lamented that under Buhari’s leadership, over 82.9 million Nigerians can no longer afford to feed themselves daily due to the nonchalant nature of the administration to take evidential steps to grow and protect the food sector, thereby leading to severe food scarcity and heightened hunger with increased food prices beyond the reach of Nigerians.

The statement reads: “Due to the misrule of the APC and Buhari administration, our country now ranks as 98 out of 107 in Global Hunger Index, with an agonizing food shortage, collapsed purchasing power; alarming 33.3 percent unemployment and 22.95 food inflation rates as well as increased morbidity and mortality rates.

“Today, under the APC, a bag of rice which sold for N8,000 under the PDP now sells for N30,000, a measure of garri and beans which sold for N150 and N250 now sells for N500 and N800 respectively; a measure of maize and guinea corn which sold for about N150 now sells for N400 while a kilo of meat which sold for about N800 now sells for about N2,300.”

The main opposition party noted that the current food crisis is occasioned by the failure of the APC administration to recalibrate our agricultural sector as well as to take decisive steps to address the violence, terrorism and banditry in food production areas.

According to PDP: “Nigerians recall how the APC administration had to remain insensitive to calls by our party and well-meaning Nigerians asking it to address the escalated violent attacks and killing of farmers as well as livestock producers, by bandits, terrorists and criminal herders resulting in the desertion of farms in various parts of our country.

“Nigerians can also recall the response of the APC administration to the beheading of 43 rice farmers in Borno State, wherein it heaped blames on the slain patriots instead of immediately tracking down their killers and ensuring the security of our farmers in the area.

“Under the APC and Buhari watch, our farmers now overflow in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps as their fields and farmhouses have been overrun by bandits and terrorists including political mercenaries brought into the country.

“Moreover, escalated insecurity on our highways has also hampered production and distribution value chain, with no hope in sight.”

The party therefore charged Mr. President to take drastic steps to address the urgent issue of hunger by opening our silos to cushion the situation and bring a reduction to prices.

It adviced the federal government to also realign the agricultural sector by heighten security in food production areas so that farmers can return to the farmland.

The party also aired out its belief that the time has come for President Buhari to provide direct stimuli to small businesses as an incentive to pay salaries, revamp production and boost purchasing power.

We can only imagine what will happen to our agriculture and food systems if the earth’s temperature increases by 2-4°C. The prospect threatens to reverse gains in food security and economic growth. It threatens our ability to feed 9 billion people by 2050. And it will remove all chance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of eradicating poverty.

Addressing this challenge is a priority for world leaders meeting this week in Marrakech for the United Nations climate change conference. We therefore welcome the Moroccan Government’s Adaption of African Agriculture initiative (AAA) to help build the resilience of the continent’s agriculture.

It is particularly pertinent that this conference is on African soil. While all countries will feel the impact of climate change, Africa will perhaps feel it most. The continent’s agricultural productivity has long lagged behind the rest of the world. Crop yields grew across Asia from 1960 onwards, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, but stagnated in Africa where cereal yields stayed largely unchanged for the 30 years of the green revolution.

As a consequence, many African countries have met increased demand for food through overseas food imports, a wasted opportunity given that the continent boasts 60% of the world’s available arable land. This over-reliance on imports is also a risk, as trade restrictions and price hikes in volatile times leave populations at risk of food insecurity.

If climate change isn’t tackled, Africa will simply never begin to fulfil its potential. It will only make things harder for the continent’s millions of smallholder farmers who rely on farming for their income or livelihood. According to the AAA initiative, the slump in crop yields could reach 20% in 2050, even if global warming is contained under 2°C.

The good news is that we know investment in agriculture works and we have seen encouraging progress. Research from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) shows how governments that invested 10% of spending in agriculture and supported the sector, have seen productivity and GDP rise, and poverty rates decline since 2005.

So we have an opportunity and a duty to act – to create a resilient and sustainable agriculture system that supports smallholders and builds the continent’s food security. Reforming African agriculture will not only mean it can finally feed more people and contribute to growth but also that it does not itself exacerbate climate change – since we know agriculture sectors account for one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Momentum has been building for several years now with promising public and private sector initiatives such as Grow Africa, AGRA, the Malabo Declaration, the New Alliance, and now the triple AAA initiative. African governments have committed to allocate at least 10% of public expenditure to agriculture.

Agriculture is also increasingly seen as an engine of economic growth and a source of jobs for the continent’s large youth population. The Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa has noted that the continent’s food market could be worth US$1 trillion in just 15 years.

Businesses such as Olam are supporting farmers directly – last year, 140,000 farmers and 300,000 hectares benefited from training on sustainable soil management. Unilever, through its relationship with Olam and other suppliers, is committed to sourcing raw materials sustainably, improving the lives of millions of family and smallholder farmers in its supply chains worldwide.

Despite these initiatives, agriculture continues to receive insufficient support to face climate change. Africa receives under 5% of funds available to tackle climate change. On top of that, adaptation measures receive less than 20% of public funds, as the majority of funding goes to emission-cutting measures. We have a situation where the sector that will be hit worst by climate change is the least well-resourced to manage its effects.

To help catalyse these initiatives and mobilise the funding and wider support to make African agriculture a success story, the private sector needs to play a central  role. We know that businesses’ long-term performance depends on having a reliable supply of high-quality, safe and affordable food.

It is also a great opportunity – the Business and Sustainable Development Commission estimates that companies could unlock US$2.3 trillion a year in the food and agriculture sectors, securing a seven-fold return if they invest US$320 billion in sustainable business models each year.

Agriculture is a complex activity, bringing together smallholders, business and the public sector – so we must work together.  An opportunity like COP22 is one of the few chances to stand together and set a new direction. If we act now, we won’t just protect agriculture from climate change, we’ll feed the continent, create jobs and help realise the Sustainable Development Goals. We’ll leave nobody behind.

Sunny Verghese is co-founder and Group CEO of Olam International. CNBC africa