The Nexus of Agriculture and Technology as a Panacea for Food Insecurity in Nigeria
Keywords:
Food Security, Food Insecurity, Agriculture, Technology, PovertyAbstract
Agriculture and technology are very important for the growth and development of the food industry in Nigeria. The agricultural sector in conjunction with technology plays tangible roles in the improvement of the availability and affordability of food and also in the achievement of food security in Nigeria. Increased crop production, and government policies can address challenges and maximize the prospects of the food industry in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of agriculture and technology in ensuring food security in Nigeria. The Nigerian government has adopted various agricultural programmes, policies and strategies in order to ensure food security. These include: The Green Revolution, Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), among others. These laudable programmes and policies notwithstanding, the country is still experiencing food insecurity due to the following factors: gender inequality, policy inconsistencies, negligence of the role of technology, among others. The paper concluded by stating categorically that agricultural programmes and policies, coupled with improvements in science and technology, must have their targets at the peasant farmers and their rural communities and environments for the objective of food security to be achieved. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made: Firstly, there should be commercialization of agriculture, manufacturing and services to encourage infrastructural development. Secondly, there is need for the Nigerian government to set strong targets for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, among others.Downloads
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