Transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system for healthier diets and higher farm incomes (The Nation)

The Nation (Nigeria) published an op-ed by Kwaw Andam, Olivier Ecker, and Tracy Brown. The authors state that Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, largest national economy, leading oil exporter, and largest food producer. Yet it is also a major net food importer and faces widespread food insecurity. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 40% of the population lived below the national poverty line, and many experienced food shortages. Escalating climate impacts and insecurity continue to put pressure on agriculture and food chains. In their IFPRI Brief, Transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system: Wealthier, but also healthier, the authors write, “to be crisis-resilient, environmentally sustainable, vibrant generators of jobs and wealth, and providers of healthy diets for all is essential to addressing these problems.” This will require a paradigm shift that puts consumers and their diets at the center of policymaking Agricultural policy that focuses on traditional objectives like farmer support, staple food availability, and price stability, and cash-crop export stimulation should be balanced with a new focus on better nutrition and health for all people.