Food is the most important basic need of man in his social and physical milieu. The chronic inability of the agricultural sector of the economy to provide logistics solutions to satisfy the food needs of Nigerians is very alarming.
Farmers are not provided with adequate infrastructural assistance. In Enugu State, Nigeria, farmers cultivate a range of food crops, and each is dependent on the efficiency of the supply system. However, overall food production has not kept up with Nigeria’s population growth, particularly in Enugu State.
Enugu State’s economy heavily depends on agriculture. The principal crops are yams, oil palm products, taro, corn (maize), rice, and cassava (manioc). Dr. Edward Isiwu, the state coordinator for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), claims that Enugu is establishing itself as a center for Nigeria’s cash and staple crops.
The expense of food has been a continual problem for the people of Enugu State despite the production of foods like yam, plantain, fufu, and garri as well as a virtually surplus supply of foods like corn, pear, mango, Okro, vegetables, and other crops.
Food aggregators in Nigeria have significant challenges because of poor road networks and logistical challenges. Although the target state in this article has been able to address the issue of inadequate road networks, logistical challenges continue to be an issue and a significant barrier to the supply of food in Enugu State.
Food Logistics Solutions to the Rescue
Equitable and sustainable food supply chains that empower farmers are key to solving food cost challenges in Enugu. Smallholder farmers are an integral part of the state’s food system and must be accounted for. However, they remain logistically excluded, leaving the state dependent on a few producers, mainly outside the state.
A Twiga Foods-styled market solution will be integral in bridging the gap between the need for social impact and equitability in the food supply chain, and the commercial interests of stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
Peter Njonjo and Grant Brooke’s Twiga Foods have been able to transform and organize Kenya’s informal retail system, build efficient supply chains, and reduce the cost of food. With over 400 goods and 8000 farmers, Twiga has grown to be Kenya’s top fresh produce buyer. Additionally, 35,000 store owners and nearly 4,000 farmers are served by the startup.
In the 1950s and the first half of the 1960s, Nigeria held a 43% share of the global market for palm oil, making it the largest producer of the oil at the time. Nigeria’s exports have declined, and the nation now imports to make up for domestic imbalances.
The challenging conditions that farmers encounter in all African nations make the adoption of technologies essential. Numerous small- and medium-sized farmers in Enugu do not have access to digital services. Agritech must be expanded by creating tools that all farmers with limited technical knowledge and education can use.
Aligning Policies
To develop the agricultural produce value chain, the State is not left out. Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu State, has pledged to work with business owners to create MSME for the processing, packaging, shipping, and marketing of agricultural products in SAPZs and farmer cooperatives in rural areas.
In addition to targeting cash crops like Ogbono, maize, Nsukka pepper, palm oil, and cashew nuts, among others, the value chain expansion will also focus on staple crops like rice and wheat.
The accelerated Technologies for Agricultural Systems Transformation in Enugu State (TASTE) program will work with the private sector and development partners to quickly access agricultural technologies like fertilizers, machinery, seeds, logistics, and fertilizers that will help many African nations achieve self-sufficiency in key staple crops. The program is modeled after the African Development Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), which has helped many African nations achieve this goal.
Africa’s research and agritech agenda is being driven by private investors since inventors and business owners have little choice but to go for venture finance. The prospects that abound in food logistics in Enugu State are highlighted in this article as a call to action for the government, entrepreneurs, innovators, and VCs.
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