Business
Sustainable Peace’ Crucial For Food Security – Director
The Director of Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigerian (CRUDAN), Mr Kenechukwu Onukwube has said Nigeria’s quest for food security depends on sustainable peace in states famous for massive food production.
Onukwube said this in an interview in Jos last weekend.
Onukwube said that the absence of sustainable peace, particularly in Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa State, remained a threat to the nation’s quest for food security.
“Take the specific case of Plateau State, for instance, people are killed on their farms and that makes it difficult for producers to do their work for fear of such attacks.
“There are also reports of farms being destroyed in many areas around the state. This is usually strange, but it happens all the same.
“Again, even after harvest, the crops are burnt down during crises. I have personally seen large maize farms destroyed, heaps of yams set on fire and farm produce stored in barns were burnt.
“I have also witnessed cattle massively killed.
“These developments are a massive drawback on the dream of sustainable food supply.’’
He also noted that during such crises, many people were displaced, making it impossible for them to access food, while people trapped in conflict zones were cut off from market links and access to food supply.