Food Security and Entrepreneurship

The concept of Food Security is simplest of terms means capacity of households, States or Nations to mobilize sufficient food, either through production, acquisition, or distribution, on a sustainable basis, in the right quality and quantity, to live a healthy life style.
This Defination can be viewed as a soft blend of the definitions by the FAO and USDA; the quest for food security recently triggered a mega event at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, where great minds brainstormed on ways through which agriculture can get a boost, and Nigeria become food secure. below is a brief article of the event, as reported by Aigiomawu Nosakhare Omon.

An article on the Food Security and Agricultural Entrepreneurship Event held in Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday the 11^th of October, 2011.

By Aigiomawu Nosakhare Omon

The Food security and Entrepreneurship event organized by the United State Missions in collaboration with the Future Project served as an eye opener to budding entrepreneurs, as well as strengthened the Agro entrepreneurial spirit of the participants and mainly served as a networking opportunity between groups with varying interests.

This event saw a series of Short but loaded revelations by the stakeholders in key agricultural sub sectors, and exhibitions of indigenous products well package and with impressive quality; it revealed food and livestock feed options that a greater number of the participants never knew existed.

The expositions

Mr Godson Ononiwu, Director, Capacity Building & External Relations, and Bridge to MARKETS2, a project  of the USAID started this session by briefing on the Maximizing Agricultural Revenues & Key Enterprises in Targeted Sites (MARKETS) project of the body; emphasizing of the MARKETS approach as focusing on enterprises such as; Cowpea, Maize, Sorghum, Rice, Fisheries, Sesame, Cocoa, Cassava. Case studies on the Impact of the project in the Lives of farm families in the targeted locations were shared, and how yield increase in Rice production rose from less that 2MT/ha, to over 4MT/ha.

From his insight, more than one ways through which individuals and groups can collaborate with the USAID was revealed, however, to those with keen entrepreneurial eyes.

Professor Lateef   Sanni Oladimeji of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta followed with a brief on a workable extension strategy that can bring about a better developed agricultural sector.

This was immediately followed by the presentation of Prof Salako O., who represented the Vice chancellor, UNAAB, Prof Olaiya Oluwafemi Balogun, on the topic of discuss; He also mentioned the various enterprises that the University has developed over the years, vis, food products, beauty product, and a series of health and medicinal products from the University’s ventures. All these products were displayed for purchase as well as awareness.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Abdul-wasiu Gbolahan Lawal was not left out, as he was ably represented by Mrs Ovbiebo, to present some of the projects and collaborations on Agricultural Development projects been carried out by the Lagos State Government, vis, Apiary, Aquaculture, Poultry, etc. Mrs Oviebo pointed out that emphasis on value chain, and formation of commodity interest groups has been major initiatives that the Lagos State Government has used to achieve the success so far.

Mrs Lucy Kanu of Idea Builders was next, who despite been in her last trimester of pregnancy, followed her passion for supporting entrepreneurship, and some of the challenges entrepreneurs face and how to overcome them. She mentioned their support for women in rural areas as well as urban in areas of inputs support and trainings, farm trials, etc. She also mentioned encounters with youths in Agriculture.

Bayo Isaac talked on various issues, amongst them, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Foundation, and how support has been given to ex Corps members to start up various enterprises on Agriculture.

Chief Bayo Ajayi, Father Figure in the Agriculture recounts the pre independence Food Security Situation of the country and the groundnut pyramids, and other agricultural exploits of the different regions of the country. He lamented the present post independence food insecurity situation and the huge dependence on import of the country. He however expressed that although he is retiring in active farm practice, being over 80 years of Age, that he is hopeful that with the present position of certain individuals in the nation, that there is still hope for a food secure nation; he advised that individuals involved in Agriculture should endeavour to associate with umbrella bodies of the commodity group they belong to as this is mainly advantageous in best practices, technological advancements and access to subsidies etc.

Mrs Menasara of NAFDAC shed light on areas that most entrepreneurs never knew existed; she talked on issues of value addition, packaging, export standards, NAFDAC approvals and registration, and concessions that the regulatory body offers to young entrepreneurs to assist them meet up with standards at low or no cost, and that there are lots of support that NAFDAC has to offer if approached.

In-between these exposition, there was a questions and answers, as well as comment section, moderated by Prof. Sanni Lateef.

This Food Security and Agricultural Entrepreneurship event also had a networking and exhibition segment, and products from various companies were on display and sale.

It was a whole day event, and highly impacting, especially for product/services awareness, branding and networking.

It was another time for reaffirming that the pursuit for food security in Nigeria is possible; yes, even in our generation!

 Apologies: Sincere apologies for any mispelt name or typographical error that the above article/report might contain