Need to scale up wheat farming in Africa

The waves of economic tsunami bred by the Russia-Ukraine war are beginning to hitting Sub-Saharan Africa since the two countries contribute greatly to the global market and economy.  Russia and Ukraine are the largest producers of wheat: they produce one-third of global production. African nations heavily rely on importing this from them.   The UN’s […]

The waves of economic tsunami bred by the Russia-Ukraine war are beginning to hitting Sub-Saharan Africa since the two countries contribute greatly to the global market and economy. 

Russia and Ukraine are the largest producers of wheat: they produce one-third of global production. African nations heavily rely on importing this from them.  

The UN’s sanctions against Russia, coupled with domestic demand, are beginning to have negative effects in Africa. 

Earlier this month, the IMF raised alarm that the war and associated sanctions would have a severe impact on the global economy. These serious sweeping consequences include inflation, shortages of food and fuel and disruptions in energy supply. The reality is that most of the world’s nations are dependent on Russia’s products and agricultural produce. 

It is imperative to remember that wheat is used to make a wide range of foods. 

Nigeria imports 98 per cent of its wheat requirement.  According to the US Department of Agriculture’s data, Nigeria produces about 60,000 metric tonnes yearly and its annual demand stands at between 4.5 million and 5.0 million tonnes. 

Therefore, African nations should embrace agricultural mechanisation and application of science and technology in agricultural production tightly. Nigeria has no reason for not climbing the modern rescue sailboat of the scientific and technological trend of agriculture. 

The Russia-Ukraine war is a fair warning for Nigeria and other African countries to promptly mend their ways, wake up from their slumber, invest and engage their teeming unemployed young men and women in massive production of wheat to meet their domestic consumption and create jobs. 

Mustapha Baba, Alkali Musa Street, Azare Bauchi State ([email protected])