By Peter Usman
Abuja (Nigeria) – Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hassan Buka has urged the Global Water Partnership, Nigeria and other relevant organisations to work closely with the Ministry in implementing the High Level Panel of Experts, HLPE recommendations on food and nutrition security.
Buka,made the appeal in Abuja at a one-day Consultative/Engagement workshop on Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem, WEFE nexus in sub-Sahara Africa.
He pointed out that water, energy, food and ecosystem are essential for meeting human needs, saying that each of these aforementioned are presently under pressure as climate change is making the situation of things worse in Africa.
According to him, “In Africa, people are most at risk, if we don’t deal with this challenge effectively. Furthermore, two third of African people rely on agriculture and fisheries for their livelihood. Hence an efficient sustainable management of the WEFE nexus in particular as it relates to food systems critical to achieving most of the SDGs in Africa.”
“In this context, the New Partnership for Africa, Global Water Partnership, GWP and FAO decided to join forces and develop a partnership initiative to promote effective policies and action at the local, country and regional levels, especially as they relate to integrated management of water energy, food and ecosystem in Africa” he said.
Also speaking , the Chairman, Global Water Partnership, Nigeria, Moses Beckley advised farmers and Fulani herdsmen to work together peacefully, seeing themselves as one and complement each other for peace to reign
Beckley stated that to attain improved productivity in agriculture and economic development, security of lives and properties must be guaranteed for peaceful coexistence among farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
The relationship between these two parties cannot be underestimated, he added.
“They should see themselves as one, they should be prepared to live together peacefully and complement each other. This is the only way there can be improved productivity and the economy of the country will definitely improved as well” he said.
Beckley, who asserted that water, food and nutrition, poverty reduction and peace are deeply linked in Nigeria and many African countries, stated that despite the growth rate in recent years in the agricultural sector, some specific issues remain critical to be dealt with, such as increase conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
“Furthermore, climate change is changing the game and new challenges are arising at an unexpected rate. In particular, conflicts between pastoralists and farmers for water and land use in Nigeria are currently expanding to almost 50% of the country”
Significant loss of lives and properties has occurred in many parts of Nigeria. Managing the crisis between the herdsmen and farmers is thus both a national and regional challenge” he stated.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2017/11/02/news/investigation-farmersherdsmen-conflicts-cause-setback-agriculture/
