West and Central Africa are intensifying their efforts to achieve wheat self-sufficiency as the Second Regional Summit on Wheat Production in West Central Africa convenes in Abuja on October 2-3, 2024.
The summit unites representatives from several countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad, to address the pressing need for enhanced regional agricultural capacity.
At a pre-conference press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Regional Coordinator of West and Central Africa Wheat, Prof. Benjamin Ubi, underscored the urgency of strategic policy implementation.
“This gathering marks a crucial milestone in our collective efforts to promote food security and economic growth in our region,” he stated.
He pointed out that Nigeria currently imports approximately six million metric tonnes of wheat annually, amounting to around $3bn.
“Imagine if we allocated half of this amount to research and development; we could sustain our wheat production and even export surplus,” he added.
He added that the recent geopolitical tensions, notably the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have further highlighted the vulnerabilities in global food supply chains.
Ubi stressed the need for regional cooperation stating, “We must work together to avoid vulnerabilities in our food supply chain and ensure food sovereignty.”
He called for the implementation of national wheat strategies in the region.
Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, Baba-Gana Kabir reiterated the call for government support in agricultural initiatives.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed commitment to reducing food importation and achieving self-sufficiency in food production. We urge them to speed up implementation of the wheat roadmap and support our research efforts,” he remarked.
Kabir also emphasised several key interventions required for success, including the establishment of a robust extension system to relay research findings to farmers, increased mechanization to boost efficiency, and enhanced funding for agricultural research.
Kabir noted, “To achieve self-sufficiency in wheat production, we need a robust extension system.”
