Dr. Adetunji Oredipe urges Nigeria to adopt large-scale farming and a National Food Prices Management Plan to address rising food prices effectively.
Dr Adetunji Oredipe, a Senior Agricultural Economist with the World Bank, has called on Nigerian authorities to re-strategise in tackling the rising food prices and its associated impacts.
He proposed the immediate adoption of a National Food Prices Management Plan (NFPMP) and advocated for a shift towards large-scale commercial agriculture as a sustainable solution to the food crisis.
Also read: Food prices will crash in 180 days — Agriculture minister
Delivering the keynote address at the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr Oredipe underscored the urgency for decisive actions to stabilise food prices while ensuring food security.
He noted that Nigeria’s current reliance on small-scale farming limits its ability to meet large-scale economic and nutritional demands.
Dr Oredipe urged the government to create an enabling environment for privately driven, large-scale farming enterprises similar to models seen in Latin America, where farming is treated as big business. He highlighted the benefits of this model:
- Economies of scale: Modern mechanised farms increase efficiency and productivity.
- Job creation: They can employ both skilled and unskilled workers, boosting rural economies.
- Food security: Large-scale farms can significantly increase food supply to curb inflation and reduce import dependency.
While acknowledging concerns about ecological impacts and chemical use in large-scale farming, he maintained that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in Nigeria’s current economic circumstances.
“Small-scale farming, even with advanced technologies, cannot unleash the economic potential needed at scale,” he stated. “Small-scale farmers can form nuclear farms around large commercial farms, ensuring inclusivity while driving growth.”
Dr Oredipe proposed the development of a National Food Prices Management Plan to define food crises, enable timely responses, and mitigate the impacts of price volatility.
The plan would involve collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to achieve its goals.
He clarified that this approach does not advocate for price controls but seeks to stabilise prices through strategic measures, such as connecting food production programmes to commercial food reserve operations.
These operations would help moderate the prices of essential staples like maize, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and cowpea.
Dr Oredipe outlined complementary strategies to boost food security and manage prices effectively:
- Urban agriculture: Encouraging cities to enhance food self-sufficiency.
- Farm preservation: Protecting existing agricultural estates and settlements from urban encroachment.
- Value addition: Investing in food processing to minimise post-harvest losses and ensure year-round availability.
- Youth involvement: Creating favourable conditions for young people to engage in agriculture.
- Sustainable food banks: Establishing commercially viable reserves to address emergencies.
He also stressed the need for a balanced trade policy, promoting imports of goods that cannot be produced locally while supporting domestic agriculture to ensure long-term sustainability.
Dr Oredipe concluded by emphasising the transformative potential of large-scale farming and strategic food management.
By implementing these measures, Nigeria can achieve food security, moderate inflation, and position itself for economic stability.
