1 min
Addressing some foundational issues such as data gathering, data integrity and political willingness to implement life changing policies in the agricultural sector, should be the starting point in our journey to food security. Without strategically solving these challenges, we are still far from the goal; we would only be addressing symptoms that keep hurting us, without any feasible changes and solutions to the food system.
After addressing the foundation challenges, there is a need to address the knowledge gaps that exist amongst the farmers. In this 21st century, farmers, irrespective of their locations, should have unfelted access to agricultural information that helps improve their productivity at the farm-level. In many developing countries, this is still a mirage where farmers, especially smallholder farmers, have limited or no access to relevant agricultural information, resulting in low productivity and efficiency. This is not about knowing about Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) alone but actually doing them correctly. Beyond GAP, more information is needed on improved varieties that are adaptable and accessible, weather forecasts, soil information and new information on the control of infectious diseases amongst others. Farmers in the remote areas (hard-to-reach region) are completely alienated from accessing this information due to lack of infrastructure and complete collapse of the extension system which made information dissemination very expensive. This is a big threat to achieving food security.
We cannot allow the knowledge gap continue to cripple our efforts towards zero hunger and productivity at the farm level. Beyond providing training and capacity building for the farmers, we need to resuscitate our "dying" agricultural extension system into a working and effective system that bridges the information gap amongst farmers -- whether they are in hard-to-reach communities or semi- urban or rural communities -- where full accessibility is assured. Also, we need to promote private-led extension services that can address the changing needs of farmers to promote more economic empowerment and employment opportunities for other farm families.
We cannot afford to continue to lose our identity and sovereignty as food producers for our people because of inadequate knowledge. Let us build a system that constantly nourishes the farmers and other actors on new information and insights that improve our knowledge and impact the food system. Therefore, achieving food security is everyone's business and solving its challenges needs the contributions and accountability of every stakeholder. The work is here, the time is limited and the population is still on the rise. How much longer do we want our people to live with hunger?
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
We cannot allow the knowledge gap continue to cripple our efforts towards zero hunger and productivity at the farm level. Beyond providing training and capacity building for the farmers, we need to resuscitate our "dying" agricultural extension system into a working and effective system that bridges the information gap amongst farmers -- whether they are in hard-to-reach communities or semi- urban or rural communities -- where full accessibility is assured. Also, we need to promote private-led extension services that can address the changing needs of farmers to promote more economic empowerment and employment opportunities for other farm families.
We cannot afford to continue to lose our identity and sovereignty as food producers for our people because of inadequate knowledge. Let us build a system that constantly nourishes the farmers and other actors on new information and insights that improve our knowledge and impact the food system. Therefore, achieving food security is everyone's business and solving its challenges needs the contributions and accountability of every stakeholder. The work is here, the time is limited and the population is still on the rise. How much longer do we want our people to live with hunger?
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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