PwC has explained that with COVID-19, the challenges hampering the attainment of food security in Nigeria could deepen.
The impact is already being felt in the form of rising food prices. As at April 2020, food inflation rose to 15 per cent compared to 14.7 per cent in December 2019.
To ensure that the agricultural sector is not further impacted by the distortions caused by COVID-19, the government should ensure more palliatives are provided to farmers in the form of improved seedlings, basic farm implements at highly subsidized prices, and free or more affordable farm extension services.
Also, of importance is the need to ensure that the sector is accorded more budgetary allocations in line with the Maputo declaration, increase the operational capacity of the strategic grain reserves, and reintroduction of farming clusters to be financed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
In addition, state governments should reassess their area of core competence in the agriculture value chain and promote investment in that area.
