By Uthman Abubakar
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has expressed grave concern over the raging impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security in the country.
Senator Kyari was delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian Society of Engineers’ International Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting, Tuesday, November 18 in Abuja.
“Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent droughts severely impact crop yields and livestock health, especially in the northern region where temperatures are projected to increase by 1.4°C to 2°C by 2050,” he noted.
The minister said the problem is compounded by the 35 percent degradation of Nigeria’s soil by unsustainable farming practices and deforestation.
“Poor water management and pollution from agriculture runoff impact water availability and quality,” Kyari grieved, saying, ” “With projected water scarcity due to climate change, effective water management is critical for agricultural sustainability.”
He said to address food security and climate change, “government is implementing policies that promote sustainable engineering solutions through the application of innovative technologies, renewable energy integration, efficient resource management, sustainable infrastructure development and good agricultural practices to enhance agricultural resilience, productivity and sustainability, a significant contribution to food security challenge.”
The minister said Federal Government, through the National Agricultural Seed Council, is promoting the use of drought-resistant and climate-adaptive crop varieties to combat erratic rainfall patterns.
Relevant agencies, Kyari said, are also implementing water conservation practices and establish weather information systems to help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns.
The minister said “Nigeria’s food security and climate resilience face pressing challenges that demand innovative and sustainable engineering solutions,” maintaining, “This imperative makes it very expedient that we collectively set an agenda for retooling towards strengthening the significant and inevitable role that Engineering plays in ensuring a resilient food system in Nigeria.”
He said government would explore challenges, identify its expectations of engineers, and underscore its unwavering support in pursuing solutions.
Earlier, in her welcome address, Margaret Aina Oguntala, President and Chairman-in-Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, said the theme for this year’s conference: Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,”l reflects the pressing challenges of the current times.
“The twin challenges of food security and climate change are not just theoretical—they are issues that define the survival and progress of our nation today,” she noted.
“Food insecurity remains a critical issue, exacerbated by climate change, which disrupts agricultural productivity and endangers livelihoods,” the NSE president noted further, believing that engineers hold the tools to pioneer sustainable solutions—whether through advancements in precision agriculture, renewable energy for rural communities, or climate-adapted infrastructure. END