Prof Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo has said that addressing climate change problems was the panacea to food insecurity in the country.
Mr Ezemonye said this on Thursday in Okada during a film screening on Food Security in Nigeria’s Changing Climate by the Musa Yar’Adua foundation at the University.
He said that desertification of the environment via climate change had led to vulnerability in various facets, especially in agriculture.
The don said that agriculture largely depended on rainfall, adding that the consequences of climate change in agriculture and by extension food security were enormous.
Mr Ezemonye listed some of the areas climate change affected agriculture and food security to include productivity, storage, livestock and water resources.
He, therefore, stressed need for Nigerians to join hands in the fight against climate change.
In his opening remarks, Amara Nwakpan, Director Public Policy Initiative of the Foundation said that the film, tagged “SWALLOW” was about the challenges faced by Nigerians.
Mr Nwakpan the film, he said, also highlighted the problem associated with climate change and how people were coping with the challenge.
Meanwhile, panellists at the event called for conscious efforts from government at all levels in addressing food insecurity in the country.
Prof. Chris Emokaro of the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Benin, said to conquer food insecurity, farming must be made attractive and profitable for more people to venture into it.
Contributing, Dr Theodora Obi, Head, Department of Chemistry, Igbinedion University said that the solution to food insecurity was to improve the process leading to increase in food production.
She advocated the provision of necessary infrastructure for farmers, all year round, to encourage them toward increased production.
Emmanuel Usoh, Edo Commissioner for Wealth Creation, said that to ensure food security, there must be interest on the parts of all stakeholders.
He also said that the state government was making efforts toward ensuring food security by making facilities available to farmers.
NAN
