Food Shortages Can Cause War – Ex-Minister

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joy Ogwu has stressed the need to support initiatives geared towards ensuring food security in the country.

Ogwu, who stated this on Friday at the public presentation and launching of an agricultural magazine, Nigerian Harvest in Abuja, said having a large population that the country that cannot adequately feed is a liability.

The ex-Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations particularly called on the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals to support the publishing platform in order to continue providing a platform in considering several dimensions of agriculture.

According to her, food security is the most vital tool for the survival of any nation, adding that absence of it leads to conflicts and eventually war.

“I learnt from the science of politics, what constitutes the elements of power, beyond the political power there was one element of power that so is important; it is called human security; and in the area of human security you have more than seven elements; health security, environmental security, the right to housing and all that, but one that stands out so prominent and one that is so vital to the survival of any nation state is food security. And that is why this platform today is so relevant, so vital because food security is what ensures and sustains the power of a nation.

“Without enough food, you have conflict and if you have conflict, that’s war. It can be within the confines of a state, it can also be intra-state. Over the years we have heard of efforts being made not only by government but especially by individuals to ensure that there is adequate food security. Within this context food security is expanded to include the availability of food, the affordability of food and the access to food at the right time and in the right place in the right quality.”

Ogwu lamented that questions that often agitates the mind is the situation of the farmers who produce the foods and the absence of adequate rewards for their labour, which now makes the younger generation feel that agriculture is slow in its rewards.

She also commended the publisher for his efforts in trying to tackle the several dimensions of agriculture, thereby adding value to the efforts of Nigerian farmers in over four decades, adding that “I want to urge all Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), government representatives and individuals to partner with this outfit, to identify with this platform and to sustain this worthy initiative.”

She called for the empowerment of women in the process of agricultural production in the society, noting that if the women are not utilized, retrogression will set in.

Earlier in a remark, the publisher of the magazine, Godson Ononiwu said he was spurred into publishing an agricultural magazine to bridge the information gap through gathering and serving the reading public with news about promising agricultural and rural development initiatives.

According to Ononimu, having traversed the length and breadth of the country for over four decades, and participated in most agricultural and rural development programmes, he is placed on a pedestal to leverage on agricultural insights, harvest experiences and identify initiatives worthy of sharing.

He called on the government and the private sector to galvanise efforts to support promising initiatives so that Nigeria may enjoy agricultural boost.

While reviewing the magazine, Philip Idinoba commended the editorial team for the in-depth reportage of stories therein as well the aesthetic outlook and feel of the publication.

Idinoba said the scope of the magazine is well situated, as it did not limit itself to just an area in the field of agriculture.

He further called on readers and lovers of agriculture to acquire copies of the magazine to read as it contains very insightful all round agricultural information.

Highpoint of the event was the unveiling and launching of the publication as well as goodwill messages from friends, representatives from the ministry of agriculture and well-wishers.