The Director of the Fresh Food Hub at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, has said that adulteration in the country’s food sector is down to substandard practices by key players across the agricultural value chain.
She recently shared that erring farmers, traders, and market vendors are to blame for the lack of development in the sector.
Speaking during a Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the Right to Food Act held in Lagos, Oluranti disclosed that the disconnect between government interventions and their long-term outcomes is a major problem that needs to be fixed.
She noted that despite the regular support and funding farmers enjoy, many of the interventions have failed to guarantee any significant growth.
She urged the government to concentrate on guaranteeing an enabling environment instead of directly engaging in food production.
“We often return to the same communities one or two years after providing assistance, only to discover there’s no trace of the support that was given.
The government shouldn’t be farming. It should be empowering farmers with the tools and knowledge necessary to scale food production. However, there’s a growing expectation among some farmers that they should continue receiving government support year after year, regardless of the assistance already provided,” she said.
Highlighting the need for accountability at all levels, Oluranti reminded key players in Nigeria’s agricultural sector that everyone has a crucial role to play to ensure food availability.
She concluded by encouraging stakeholders across the board to reassess their responsibilities to ensure real transformation in Nigeria’s food system.
“Everyone has a role to play in ensuring food availability. Accountability starts with each of us. As a government official, I must be accountable for my duties. Likewise, farmers must be responsible stewards of the resources and support they receive.
When food is compromised through unethical practices in its production or distribution, can we still blame the government for those lapses? If we all take ownership of our roles, real transformation in Nigeria’s food system is possible.
Too often, we expect the government to be everything. But the truth is, the government has its place, and so do individuals. Many of us have failed to play our part. Before demanding accountability from leadership, we must first hold ourselves accountable. When citizens begin to do the right thing, it compels the government to also sit up and act right,” she added.
