Climate Change Can Lead To Food Insecurity In Nigeria If - Don

A Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta FUNAAB, Olusola Kehinde, has raised alarm that the current negative effects of climate change could lead to food insecurity in Nigeria, if the Federal Government failed to sustain effort to mitigate against its effect 

The don issued the warning on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while delivering the university's 70th Inaugural Lecture at the Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building of the University, Titled: From Generation to Generation: Plant Genetics Diversity, Continuity and Discontinuity.

The FUNAAB Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) cautioned the Federal Government against being non-challant to the global issue of climate change, inorder to prevent such food crisis in the country

He also stressed the need to bridge the gap between University researcher and scientists at the National Research Institute, with a view to enhancing research outputs in the agricultural value chain which will ensure food security in the country.

According to him, the synergy and collaboration between them needs to be strengthened so as to carry out demand driven, centred and problem solving researches that will justify their existence, stressing that Federal and State governments need to demonstrate sincere commitment towards research activities by increasing the funding made available to Universities and research Institutes.

Prof. Kehinde, called for adequate funding and sustained efforts for plant genetic resources exploration, collection, characterization and conservation in Nigeria, for both cultivated species and their wild relatives.

He emphasised the need for relevant authorities and agencies to ensure regular review of existing national legislations backing plant genetic resources conservation and utilization, stressing that concerted efforts must also be made to enforce these laws.

Prof. Kehinde insisted that Nigeria must not shy away from the cultivation and use of Genetically Modified (GM) crops, adding that "Concerned regulatory authorities should however, ensure that such crops meet biosafety standards ". 

He stressed the need for FUNAAB to further strengthen the existing synergy and collaboration between the Institute for Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR); Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) and relevant colleges in the University to carry out demand driven, farmer centred and problem solving researches that will justify the existence of the University.

"Our University should also continue to develop human capacity and materials resources in biotechnology which should be deployed towards promoting agricultural research and food production in our catchment areas", he further stressed.