An agriculture expert, Mr Ismail Olawale, has called for encouragement and improved irrigation farming support for small-holder farmers for the nation’s food security.
Olawale, a Development Communication expert at the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), made the call in an interview on Monday in Lagos.
The expert noted that it was pertinent for the government at all levels to promote and support irrigation farming efforts to ensure all-year-round food production.
“As a short term strategy, to boost food production in Nigeria and less dependence on a rain-fed agriculture system we must invest more in irrigation farming.
“To secure our food system as a country is to encourage irrigation farming, if the government can come up with a short term irrigation support system that will attract farmers it will improve food production.
“We have enough land in Nigeria where government can quickly accelerate and support irrigation farming.
“With Irrigation farming, crop cultivation can be carried out all year round regardless of the weather or season; it can be practiced in all regions of the country,” he said.
Olawale blamed low food production output on dependence on rain-fed agriculture and poor or lack of irrigation facilities for local farmers.
According to him, Nigerian farmers will be able to cultivate most vegetable crops all year round if they get the right support.
“If there can be immense support for irrigation farming during the dry season of a 5-month span, we will be able to produce seasonal crops or veggies all year round.
“The question that needs answer is that what are we doing to support local farmers as regards irrigation during the dry season to cultivate more crops?
“Vegetables like carrot, onions, peppers, tomatoes, are essentials that the average Nigerian needs and can be produced all year round if we have appropriate irrigation systems in place.
“Most farmers go idle or go into alternative businesses like trading during the dry season because of their inability to cultivate crops during the season.
“If the government supports these farmers in the procurement of irrigation farming inputs, this will increase food production in the country.
“There are lot irrigation farming policies and reports that can be implemented across the country to ensure the nation’s food security and a decline in food price,” Olawale said.