The
Task Force on Food Security constituted by the Federal Executive Council on
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 had its inaugural meeting this morning.
At the
meeting presided over by the Ag. President, the Task Force focused on gaining a
full understanding of all factors that contribute to unduly high food prices,
especially at urban markets throughout the country. It also considered the ways
and means of urgently ameliorating the situation, particularly by addressing
issues of affordability and availability.
In
particular, it identified some key staple foods and the factors that were most
likely driving high food prices in some parts of the country, despite bumper
harvests at many farms.
Some
of the factors identified in this regard include: the poor state of rural
infrastructure like roads; multiple revenue collecting points on the highways;
and inadequacy of distribution networks-all of which contribute, among other
things to high transportation costs.
Against
this background, the Task Force felt that government could most usefully
intervene by resolving such bottlenecks. It also felt it important to clarify
that the assignment of the Task Force is not about government intervening
directly in the market for staple foods either though purchases or price
fixing.
The
Task Force will be coordinating various MDAs and working closely with the
private sector to explore ways and means of overcoming some of the supply
bottlenecks in the short term, while also reinforcing on-going medium and
long-term solutions including improving supplies and providing better storage.
A
more technical sub-group of the Task Force is now drawing up a draft plan of
action for further consideration.
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