Planning bane of Agric Sector, aiding Food price inflation

The persistent Food price inflation has been described as a function of a lack of planning in addressing the fundamental issues that affect the Agriculture Sector.

African Farmer Mogaji, an Agric Expert made this disclosure while speaking to Tolulope Ogunjobi on the TVC News programme Business Nigeria on the Issue of Food Price Inflation in Nigeria.

He said the lack of planning in the Agric Sector is one that has affected the Food Price Inflation especially with most inputs like Chemicals, Insecticides and Seeds mainly sourced from outside Nigeria and Dollar denominated.

He disclosed that this has ensured that whenever anything happens to the Dollar especially in terms of rise in value it will affect every value chain within the Agric Sector without being in the news.

According to him, planning as a food production person must come with the added caveat that the government must make a Policy summersault during the year to ensure one breaks even.

He described failure to plan for Policy Summersault within the Agric Sector will lead to one running at a loss within the Sector.

He added that whenever the Naira losses value, it becomes more difficult to get Labour which usually comes from outside the country.

He said the issues affects the Big and Large Scale producers of Food more since the scale are obviously larger for them.

He said the current situation as it is expected to pan out will lead to many Nigerians at the last count 25 Million according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Programme will go hungry between June and August this year.

Going Further, He said those who have been on the campaign trail have not shown any inclination that they have a plan to address the situation.

He also said that the Data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics has shown that most Nigerians spend up to 50 percent of their earnings on Food alone adding that this should be the main priority for all those currently on the campaign trail.

He however said that he has a belief that since the 3 main contenders are people with Business background that they will eventually come up with something to address the situation which is verging on unsustainable.

He added that improvements have been made in the Agric Sector, Poultry production but will be lost if care is not taken.

Going Further, he said the Federal Government is too invested in bringing inputs into the equation but not making systems better.

He added that for things to get better within the Sector, the Government must invest in putting in place good systems.

RESIDENTS PROTEST FUEL SCARCITY IN BENIN CITY

Protesters in Benin the capital city of Edo state have threatened to picket fuel stations selling above the government approved pump price in the state.

They also called for the setting up of pump price control committee in the state.

Civil Society groups and residents in Benin city made their position known during a protest against the continued Fuel price hike in the state.

Long queues have become a norm as motorists struggle not only to get premium motor spirit known as petrol but also to pay for it at exorbitant rates.

The product which is officially pegged between 180 and 190 naira is now being sold as much as 600 naira.

Angered by this, residents of Benin City took to the streets in protest, threatening to picket any fuel station that sells above the regulated pump price.

The protesters barricaded major roads thereby causing traffic gridlock in Benin city.

They marched along different streets to the government house where the Chief of Staff to the Governor addressed them.

They are asking the state government to set up a Price control committee to check the prices of petrol and other essential commodities.

There were heavy security presence around the Oba Ovoramen square as the protesters moved to the State House of Assembly to meet with the speaker.