The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) is making a powerful case for the Nigerian government to ramp up its focus on agriculture, stressing that revitalizing farming could significantly boost food production, enhance food security, and contribute to economic growth.
The call was made during an event organized by Caritas Nigeria, the CBCN’s development arm, in Awo Ekiti, Ekiti State, where 500 farming households were provided with much-needed agricultural inputs.
The two-day event, which took place this week, also saw 150 farmers from Ekiti South West and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas receive training in modern farming techniques. They were equipped with essential tools including knapsack sprayers, 10kg of improved maize seeds, and cassava stems to help boost productivity.
Rev. Fr. Peter Audu, Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, underscored the importance of agriculture, saying, “Agriculture is key to any country’s economy because everyone must eat. Governments need to support farmers, particularly smallholder farmers in rural areas, by providing essential resources.”
Audu added that the government has a pivotal role in creating a more enabling environment for farmers. “It will be good to boost agriculture. Governments should support farmers by providing the enabling environment in terms of seedlings, space, and mechanization,” he explained. “Many people want to farm, but they don’t have access to land. And when you produce, how do you sell? The market is not there. The ordinary farmers cannot compete with mechanized farming on their own; they need support. Governments can provide all these mechanization. The governments can intervene.”
Nkese Udongwo, Director of Humanitarian Services at Caritas Nigeria, also elaborated on the event’s goal of empowering vulnerable households with knowledge and tools to fight poverty through agriculture. “The primary aim is to train them in climate-smart agricultural practices, provide them with agricultural inputs, and help them rise out of poverty,” Udongwo said.
She further urged the farmers to use the resources wisely, adding, “We hope that the farmers will plant in a way that ensures they can save some seeds for the next planting season, enabling sustainability.”
With these focused efforts on sustainable farming, the CBCN is calling on the government to take bolder steps in shaping a prosperous future through agriculture – one that is not only economically beneficial but also tackles pressing challenges like food insecurity and rural poverty.
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