AfDB okays $1.5b to mitigate food crisis in Africa

President of the AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who made this known during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, also said the food plan was awaiting the ratification of the bank’s Board.

Adesina also said owing to the conflict, the price of wheat had gone up about 60 per cent, adding that it would affect about 20 per cent of Africa’s food production.

Buhari, who said his administration is keen on protecting the country’s food security, had explained that his administration shut the country’s land boarders for about two years to encourage farmers, adding that much had been achieved through the plan.

He, however, lauded the AfDB for planning against the negative consequences that might arise from the Russia-Ukraine conflict in terms of food security.

“Thank you for knowing our weaknesses and our strengths, and for planning and working ahead,” Buhari said, adding: “We are very much aware of the need for food security, and to encourage our local farmers that was why we closed our borders for about two years to curb smuggling. We made some progress.”

Adesina briefed Buhari on steps taken by the bank to avert food crisis in Africa, in the foreseeable future.

Adesina said the Russia-Ukraine war would create global problems, and particularly for Africa, which imports a huge percentage of its food from the two countries.

“Already, the price of wheat has gone up about 60per cent. Maize and other grains will also be affected. There may be fertiliser crisis, as there would be about two million metric tons deficit. And that will affect food production by about 20per cent. Africa will lose $11 billion worth of food, and coming shortly after COVID-19, that would be rather serious,” the AfDB president said.

To prepare against the evil day, Adesina said the AfDB had developed a $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan, which was before the bank’s Board for approval.

“We were not ready for COVID-19, but we are planning to avert food crisis on the continent. There is plan to help farmers cultivate wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. It will mitigate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said.

Talking specifically of Nigeria, Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture, said in the wet season of the year, at least five million smallholder farmers would be helped to cultivate one million hectares of maize, one million hectares of rice, and 250,000 hectares of sorghum and soybeans.

“In total, our support will help Nigeria to produce 9.5 million metric tons of food.”

States that will benefit from the assistance include Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adesina added: “Mr President, you have a passion for agriculture. We are behind you strongly, and we want to ensure Nigeria won’t feel the impact of the food crisis.”