By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate passed for a second reading yesterday, a bill seeking an Act to establish a National Food Reserve Agency to address hunger and starvation among Nigerians.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC Kwara Central), seeks to further develop the agricultural sector by ensuring national food security and income through marketing and storage services and addressing the emergency food crisis.
In his lead debate, Mustapha said the proposed food reserve agency would fill the apparent gap in Agricultural Development and coordination of programmes and projects in the nation by collaborating with national and international agencies.
According to him, establishing an agency for food reserve is essential to enhancing food and nutrition security. A strategic grain reserve will stabilize staple food prices, benefiting both consumers and farmers.
He said, “The National Food Reserve Agency, when established, would facilitate and provide guidelines for establishing and maintaining buffer stock to ensure price stabilization and food security.
“The proposed Food Reserve Agency will strategically store food grains and other commodities.
“The present hardship faced about soaring prices of food commodities can be mitigated with the existence of this Agency which could have ensured price stabilization and ensure availability of food produce with the maintenance of buffer stock.”
He added that the Bill’s objectives included implementing the overall National Food Reserve Policy to ensure a reliable supply of designated commodities and meet local shortfalls in the country’s designated commodity supply.
He also said it would reduce post-harvest losses by construction and management of silos, warehouses, and other suitable storage facilities to be installed at such places and ensure the maintenance, availability, and functionality of all plants, equipment, and ancillary facilities within the country.
He said, “It would facilitate and provide guidelines for establishing and maintaining buffer stock by all States of the Federation, amongst others. When passed into law, this Bill will fulfill the nation’s aspiration of feeding itself and attaining national food security.”
After passing the bill for a second reading, the Senate referred it to its committee on Agriculture for more legislative input and a report in four weeks.
