Government to attack food shortage in Nigeria in 2013

Since many Nigerian state have been affected by flooding this year, there is the possibility of food shortage next year. So
the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in patnershisp with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIRRO) has decide to ensure  utilisation of excess farm produce.
According to Prof. Ita Okon Bassey, Minister of Science and Technology, yesterday in lagos said that FIRRO was already involved in post-harvest research and development to ensure food security in the country.
He explained: “Food insecurity is real in Nigeria although it is an aberration.  Nigeria ranked first in the world production of citrus, fruit, shea nut, cassava, yam, cocoyam and melon seed; it ranks second in production of cowpea, millet, cashew nuts, sorghum, plantains and okra; third in production of groundnut, papaya, palm kernels, palm oil and sweet potatoes; fourth in production of cocoa beans, onions; fifth in ginger production and seventh in sesame production.
When considering the above ranking, Nigeria should have no business with hunger but for high rate of post-harvest losses thereby making large percentage of harvested crops not available as food.
Bassey reiterated government’s readiness to provision of enabling policies through appropriate legal framework needed to for harnessing science, technology and innovation in all areas of human endeavour for socio-economic development of Nigeria.
The Director-General of FIRRO, Dr. Gloria  Elemo, at the event also said, FIRRO was ready to collaborate with NIFST and other stakeholders to ensure food security and nutrition security,
I can see the end of these problems already in sight considering the enormous agro-resources and the indigenous capabilities and capacities for processing these resources into shelf products being developed at institute. FIRRO is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology with core mandate in Research and Development into food and agro-allied processing.
Dr. John Onuora President of NIFST also stressed the need for the Federal Government to make move to estimate the likely shortfall in the food supply Nigeria because of the flood that ravaged many states.
“Government must act fast to conserve what food harvest is left in Nigeria to prevent avoidable post-harvest losses.  Otherwise we might see a massive U-turn in the agricultural transformation agenda next year if government is pressurized to unplug the restrictions on the importation of rice and other commodities in the pretext of avoiding starvation resulting from the flood disaster. “Government in supplying urgently required food aid to the flood victims should also put in place hygienic distribution and storage practices to avert incidences of food poisoning”.