Stakeholders in Ondo State have called for urgent government intervention to strengthen food security, boost agricultural production and ensure access to affordable and nutritious food.
The call was made as the state joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Food Day, themed “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”
Orange FM’s Oluwatunmise Oyeleye reports that the stakeholders identified insecurity, rising production and transportation costs, and inadequate rural infrastructure as major challenges affecting food production, availability and affordability across the country.
An agriculturalist, Mr Gbenga Obaweya, described insecurity as a major setback to farming, explaining that fear of travelling to farmlands had disrupted farming activities and reduced food production.
Obaweya also identified the rising cost of petrol and transportation as factors increasing the cost of agricultural production and the movement of food from farms to markets.
He urged the government to strengthen security around farmlands and improve rural road networks to facilitate access to farms and the transportation of agricultural produce.
On nutrition, a nutritionist, Mrs Oladesemola Joy, warned that unhealthy dietary choices and poor eating habits could contribute to malnutrition and other health challenges.
She encouraged members of the public to embrace balanced diets, stressing that healthy eating does not necessarily have to be expensive.
The stakeholders maintained that addressing food insecurity requires coordinated efforts to improve agricultural production, strengthen food distribution systems and promote healthy eating habits.
They stressed that effective interventions would help reduce food costs, improve access to nutritious meals and build a healthier and more resilient population.
