Expert wants more youths in agric to address food challenges

 An agriculture consultant, Prof. Chukwuemeka Omaliko, has said the current food challenges in the country could be remedied if more youths were involved in farming.

Omaliko said this in Awka on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that although there was an increase in food production in the country, the surge in population was making food supply insufficient.

The agronomist said the genetic make-up of crops had improved as more yields were now being harvested, but said that poor irrigation had made multiple cropping impossible.

``It is wrong to say that there is decrease in food production because the quantum of produce is relatively larger now than in the past.

``For example, it's possible to get yield of about eight tonnes of maize per hectare as against three tonnes, this is because the genetic make-up are improved.

``The major challenge is that the farming population in Nigeria is now ageing, they are largely between 50 years and 70 years, so the energy is not there.

``The technique is archaic unlike if energetic people are into agriculture with modern tools and techniques.

``Again, Nigeria`s population is increasing so much that the quantity of food produced does not match the rate of population increase.

``However, it is not likely to get to the Malthusian theoretical crisis because some of the basis had been taken care of, `` he said.

Omaliko lauded the Anambra Government for making the state food basket of a sort with strength in rice and cassava production.

He said with more adoption of cropping, according to area of comparative advantage, more productivity would be achieved.

``In Anambra, the state government has done well, we now have a brand: Anambra Rice, high quality, milled and without stone.

``What is needed is to plant crops on areas where the soil can make specific crops yield better, `` he said.