Food War

In Africa, food insecurity is dire. The United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation report shows a forthcoming global shift of food insecurity towards Africa. According to the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), violent conflicts in Africa have impaired food systems and contributed to growing hunger since 2014. Food insecurity exposes millions to malnutrition and undernutrition. By 2030, Africa is predicted to have half the global total of undernourished people.

Food security crises is a clog to the wheel of stabilisation efforts in conflict zones and managing the harsh realities of people affected by violence and climate change. For instance, the shrinking Lake Chad and activities of non-state armed fighters are driving people, especially pastoralists from the LCB region southwards, where they violently compete with sedentary farmers over access to lands in Nigeria. The ensuing protracted farmer-herder conflicts further deepen food insecurity and complicate government’s capacity to manage the challenges. Food insecurity also limits access to healthier foods for physical and mental development. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 37 per cent of the world’s stunted children live in Africa. With many of Nigeria’s food insecure population being children, those affected are more likely to suffer underdeveloped cognitive abilities. The same children are also at a disadvantage to be employed in high-paying jobs in the long run. Such a cycle deepens socio-economic challenges in crisis locations.

Food insecurity in Nigeria is largely linked to rising violent conflicts and climate change. The unmanaged conflict poses a challenge to millions of people, especially rural farmers who make up 70 per cent of Nigeria’s farming population and produces 90 per cent of the nation’s agricultural output. Security tensions have sacked farming communities, altered farming and food systems and hindered access to farmlands. On 28th November 2020, over 40 Zabarmari rice farmers were beheaded by Boko Haram insurgents.  In the same month, it was claimed that bandits levied farmers in Zamfara state before harvesting their crops. In July 2021, about 1000 hunters were recruited by the Borno state government to protect farmers in the state, who otherwise may be vulnerable to insurgents’ raids in their farmlands.

The first reaction to solve Nigeria’s food insecurity may be to increase agricultural production. However, it is not a walk in the park considering rising violence and unmanaged climate action. For these reasons, efforts must be channelled towards tackling the proliferation of non-state armed groups that pose severe threats to farming communities and livelihoods. Other measures include genuine conversations to solve the farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria and tailored efforts to manage push factors of migration in the Lake Chad Basin. Conflict issues in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin contributes to 54 per cent of the food crisis in Africa, according to a 2020 analysis by the World Food Programme (WFP).

The intensification of securitisation efforts, including the Multi-national Joint Task Force’s efficiency, will help address security threats that hinder farmers from accessing farmlands and alter farming and food systems. Agricultural reforms appear to be happening at the same time with attacks on farmers and farming communities. However, without securing farming communities, the goals of agro-economic reforms may be unachievable. In exploring options to end food insecurity, the government must liaise with donor agencies, community actors and security operatives to arrest security threats to agricultural activities. Communities are more inclined to work with government institutions if they feel safe and their sources of livelihood are secured.

Hence, while government continue to brainstorm and implement a range of agricultural reforms, it is also essential to focus on stabilising target communities. As current efforts are being made to return and resettle Nigeria’s displaced population, promoting food security through secured farming communities is one way of stabilising communities whose members are predominantly farmers. In addition, conditional cash transfer to the “poorest of the poor” can be improved to include food vouchers. The essence is to create access to basic food items that are highly nutritious and may not be generally affordable for Nigeria’s poor population.

Farming communities are caught in the triangle of conflict, climate change and ineffectual policies. Thus, government and development partners must increase intervention efforts geared towards food security and the attendant nutritional and developmental challenges. As agricultural production has become tied to safety, such intervention efforts must have a security component to promote safe farming for community members. It should also include funding to promote access to nutritional foods, especially for millions of Nigerians caught in the web of conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises. Tailored intervention efforts are needed to manage the triggers of food insecurity in Nigeria and its consequences.