The truth is that everybody needs food. But the challenges that come with providing adequate food to the increasing population of a nation shows why food security should be a top priority for all in leadership.
According to United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, Food Security implies "that all people, at all times, have physical, social and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life"
Following the changes with climate, growing global population, rising food prices and environmental conditions that pose difficult challenges in ensuring the availability of food to the world teeming population, some adaptive measures that align with the global changes such as provision of Water, application of land use act, and Postharvest food processing has been taken by some responsive leaders across the world to ensure sustainability of food security.
To ensure food security, for all countries both developed and developing, the place of Agriculture must not be neglected in every country's annual budgeting. That is why the Ondo state government under the leadership of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, made Agriculture paramount in his agenda.
In a bid to ensure food security, so many steps have been adopted by this present government to increase food production and Agribusiness. In 2018, not less than 450, 000 cocoa and 25,000 cashew seedlings were distributed to farmers just to boost its production and generate revenue for the State.
During the flag off of the Cocoa and Cashew seedling disbursement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric and Agricbusiness Mr. Akin Olotu, noted that the distribution of the seedlings was the first step to take the state back to its rightful position in cocoa production in the country and West Africa at large. This initiative is also tailored to create employment for the youths.
Also, Ondo state collaborated with the Federal government on National Egg Production Scheme with 64,000 layers which currently involves 32 farmers participating in the empowerment. This has in return yielded in the increase of meat supply as well as improving the nutritional intakes of citizens.
To encourage farmers and boost Agricultural productivity, Akeredolu's led administration procured and distributed 1,000 metric tons of fertilizer to various farm service centres in the state.
In recognition of the vital role that Agriculture play in the development of a nation, made available N2billion for the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme (CACS) fund. This fund was later distributed to farmers as credit loan to enhance their farm produce as well as improving the food supply in the State.
All these measures has yielded positively as a report recorded by Consumer Price Index CPI/ Inflation report released by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the prices of food items witnessed a decline in Ondo state while some other states across the nation battles with inflation in the prices of food. This was because of the government intervention in agriculture and food production.
Today the prices of food in Ondo state has drastically reduced as dwellers can now afford to live a dietary life style with little amount spent on food purchase. All these, is because of the governor's initiative of making the state a "Zero Hunger State". He will not stop at this, as other measures are being put in place to maintain food security in Ondo state.
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