Ugwunagbo Community Hosts United Nation’ Food Dialogue Initiative, Abia LIFE-ND Pilots Event

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, in Umuahia, Abia state, on Tuesday hosted the United Nations Food System dialogue at Amuzu council hall, Ihe-Iyi autonomous community of Ugwunagbo local government area of Abia State.

According to the State Project coordinator(SPC), Dr Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, while briefing pressmen revealed that “from his understanding, there’s going to be a food system dialogue where UN will have a platform to discuss food security and food system for the future”

“I think within the states, the policy makers have developed the system of what they want to go with. There was this community based food system thought about, the future food system and food security that led to what we are doing today.” Dr Rowland Added.

Dr Rowland however hinted that Ugwunagbo was however selected to host the dialogue in Abia state and Abia state is the only state selected in the south east geopolitical zone to make up other states selected from each zones. Thus, one state each was selected from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Those selected to participate in the dialogue were agro stakeholders made up men and women who practically are deeply involved in agriculture food production such as farmers, processors, food vendors and others who are actors in the food system of the communities.

Also present at the dialogue event was Bassey Unaowo, the project coordinating unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Abuja.

While briefing newsmen about the federal government’ role in the dialogue he said ” we are here to dialogue on food security program. Food security is a United Nation program. It’s part of UN 2020-2030 goals to make sure that there’s food sufficiency for consumption and quality nutrition.”

The dialogue is said to be taking place in the geopolitical zones of Nigeria and across the world.

“We are her her to interact with the rural people who always feel the impact of poverty. We want to dialogue with them to get the feedback in other to see what Nigeria and United Nations can do to reduce food insufficiency. So that when the decision is taken we will have in mind that we were part of the interaction. It will be noted that the solution came from the grassroot.” Bassey Unaowo added.

The dialogue section among the agro experts was done in five segmented groups which worked out practical solutions to foreseen food crisis.

At the end of the dialogue, a communique was released which showed practical solutions to tackle food insecurity and systems.

Part of the communique reads:

*Lack of proper education and provision of essential service to farmers.

*Nonchalant attitude by young persons towards farming.

*Negligence and ignorance of citizens in taking balance diet.

*Limited storage facilities.

*Increased intake of processed food in our communities.

*Lack of government interested in rural communities.

*Lack of infrastructure.

*Inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables.

*Poor access roads.

*Lack of Nutritional knowledge and finance.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD) was said to be a key stakeholder operating in Nigeria through their existing supported key projects such as The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), Value Chain Development Projects(VCDP).

Also involved in the project is the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, The Federal Ministry of Finance, budget and National Planning, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the United Nations representatives.