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Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain deal is affecting Nigeria’s effort to become self-reliant in its wheat production. The deal allowed grain shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Now, the commodity will be even more scarce in Nigeria, as the country already faces production challenges due to climate change and insecurity. Timothy Obiezu has more on the story from Abuja.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script NIGERIA UKRAINE GRAIN DEAL TV, R
HEADLINE: Halt of Black Sea Grain Deals Blow to Nigeria's Struggle for Wheat Self-Sufficiency
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 8/8/23, 5:28p
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Timothy Obiezu
VIDEO EDITOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Purnell Murdock
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:52
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TV, R
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO) Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain deal is affecting Nigeria’s effort to become self-reliant in its wheat production. The deal allowed grain shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Now, the commodity will be even more scarce in Nigeria, as the country already faces production challenges due to climate change and insecurity. Timothy Obiezu has more on the story from Abuja.
((NARRATOR))
Nigerian farmer Shitu Mohammed grows maize, sorghum, rice and wheat on more than 17,000 hectares.
He’s decided to start a flour mill to process the grain he produces. But these days wheat — an essential ingredient for the factory — is very difficult to come by.
((Shitu Mohammed, SMK Flour Mill)) ((English))
"Wheat is [like] a diamond, not even gold, because you can see what political turmoil that wheat is causing in the world. // It's becoming difficult because the demand is higher than the supply."
((NARRATOR))
The Nigerian government says the country is the second-largest consumer of wheat in sub-Saharan Africa, after Ethiopia. But less than a tenth of that wheat is grown locally.
In 2015, authorities launched a program to help farmers grow more rice and wheat.
But experts say insecurity, climate change and policy inconsistencies have hindered progress.
((For Radio: Oluwasina Olabanji is the former Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute))
((Oluwasina Olabanji, Former Director at Lake Chad Research Institute)) ((English))
"There was inconsistency in the government policies, particularly in agriculture. Our policy has never been consistent."
((NARRATOR))
With two of the biggest producers of wheat in the world, Russia and Ukraine at war - prices of wheat in Nigeria are skyrocketing.
In July, Russia backed out of a deal reached a year ago to allow Ukrainian grain shipments through the Black Sea, blaming its withdrawal on western trade sanctions.
Soon after, Russia held a summit with African leaders and pledged free grain to Africa to soften the impact of its withdrawal from the deal.
((For Radio: Kabiru Ibrahim is the national president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria.))
((Kabiru Ibrahim, All Farmers Association of Nigeria))
"We feel that Russia might do politics with those grains, and it is possible that we get a piece of that action, and we'll be better off for it, because as far as we're concerned, we need it, we eat a lot of wheat in this country."
((NARRATOR))
In July, President Bola Tinibu declared a state of emergency on food security and ordered the release of fertilizers, seeds and grains to ease market pressures.
He also announced $132 million support for the production of 250,000 hectares of rice, maize, wheat and cassava during the next cropping season.
But Olabanji says Nigeria really needs to boost the use of mechanized agriculture.
((Oluwasina Olabanji, Consultant National)) ((English))
"Farming can no longer be manual, it can never work for food security."
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts wheat production in Nigeria will rise 42% by next year. If that’s true, it’s good news for people like Shitu Mohammed.
((Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Abuja, Nigeria
Embargo DateAugust 9, 2023 17:22 EDT
Byline
Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
