…Call for organic farming, backyard gardens, stronger nutrition laws
By Mercy Aikoye
Agricultural stakeholders and lawmakers have called for increased investment in indigenous seed production and sustainable farming practices, warning that Nigeria’s dependence on foreign seed suppliers could threaten its long-term food security.
They also urged households, schools and communities to embrace backyard gardening and small-scale food production as part of efforts to reduce hunger, improve nutrition and strengthen the country’s food sovereignty.
The call was made on Friday during a World Food Day media briefing at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, organised by the Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) in collaboration with the Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty under the Let’s Go Planting initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of CAfPRA and Deputy Director of CEFSAR, Segun Adebayo, said food security could not be guaranteed if the country depended heavily on external suppliers for seeds needed to sustain agricultural production.
He warned that reliance on imported seed varieties, particularly those that could not be replanted after harvest, could expose Nigerian farmers to supply disruptions and weaken the country’s capacity to produce food independently.
Adebayo advocated investment in locally produced and regenerative seeds that farmers could preserve and replant, describing seed control as a critical component of a resilient agricultural system.
He said access to food alone was insufficient without the ability to determine how that food was produced and sustained.
“Everybody must eat. Food is not discriminatory. But we have to be very careful about what we eat because what we eat matters a great deal,” he said.
The CEFSAR deputy director also urged Nigerians to adopt household food production, encouraging families to cultivate vegetables, fruits and other crops in available spaces, including backyards, gardens and school premises.
He maintained that food production should not be left solely to commercial farmers, arguing that individual and community efforts could complement national agricultural programmes and improve access to nutritious food.
“Let’s Go Planting is not just a slogan; it is a call to action,” Adebayo said.
Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Agriculture at the Loveworld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, Pastor Tom Obiazi, called for greater adoption of farming methods that protect soil fertility, the environment and public health.
Obiazi expressed concern about the use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, urging farmers and policymakers to give greater consideration to organic farming and safer alternatives where appropriate.
He argued that agricultural success should not be measured by increased yields alone but should also reflect the safety of food produced and the long-term sustainability of farming practices.
The Chief Executive Officer of Women Food, Juliet Okumoku Eniakor, stressed the importance of access to quality organic seeds in improving food production and safety.
Eniakor said her company prioritised organic seeds for farmers supplying its food-processing operations, adding that the Let’s Go Planting initiative could help raise public awareness of sustainable agriculture and healthier food choices.
Similarly, Ifeanyi A. Nwaokolo, representing the Loveworld Ministry of Food Sovereignty, called for stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, investors, food processors and distributors to strengthen local agricultural capacity.
He said making diverse seed varieties available to farmers, particularly varieties that could be replanted after harvest, would help reduce dependence on external suppliers and improve the sustainability of domestic food production.
Lucasamo of Lou Freys Global Enterprise also urged Nigerians to pay greater attention to food safety, processing and packaging, noting that sustainable agriculture must be supported by responsible food-handling practices.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to tackling malnutrition and strengthening the country’s nutrition policy framework.
Okafor, who was represented by the committee’s clerk, Adm. Agenti Milicent, disclosed that nutrition and food security committees had been established in 32 states as part of efforts to strengthen legislative action and coordination on nutrition-related issues.
He said the development had culminated in the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, which was working on legislative proposals to address major nutrition challenges.
According to him, the proposals include extending maternity leave to six months and regulating the sale of adulterated vegetable oils in open markets.
He also disclosed that the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill (HB.2659) had passed second reading in the House of Representatives, with a public hearing scheduled for October 20, 2026.
The committee chairman further said the National Nutrition Bill, an executive bill, was at an advanced stage ahead of its transmission to the National Assembly for consideration.
He identified effective oversight of nutrition funding, protection of local food systems and safeguards against the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods to children as priorities in the fight against malnutrition.
Okafor warned that food insecurity and malnutrition continued to pose challenges to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development, with rising inflation placing additional pressure on households struggling to afford adequate and nutritious meals.
He called for stronger partnerships among government agencies, development partners and private organisations to improve access to nutritious food and address the underlying causes of hunger.
The stakeholders maintained that Nigeria’s path to sustainable food security depended on strengthening local seed systems, improving agricultural practices, supporting domestic food production and implementing effective nutrition policies.
They urged Nigerians to translate discussions on food security into practical action through gardening and other forms of household food cultivation, while calling on the government to provide the policy support and investment needed to build a more self-reliant food system.
