Hunger-Free World Unrealistic, Says Agricultural Economist — Land Scarcity Rules Out RUGA in Southeast

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15/09/25 • 21 Lượt xem • 0 Đăng lại • Xuất bản năm Khác

Despite global efforts to achieve **Zero Hunger** under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2), a professor of agricultural economics at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, **Prof. Uzochukwu Anelechi Ubaferem Onyebinama**, has declared that a hunger-free world is an unrealistic dream.

Delivering the institution’s 63rd inaugural lecture, titled *“Tales in Quest of Freedom from Hunger,”* the scholar argued that while complete eradication of hunger is unattainable, nations can strive towards ensuring **freedom from hunger**, defined as access to at least two proper meals daily.

Citing global statistics, Onyebinama recalled that in 2023, **733 million people—about 9.2% of the world’s population—faced hunger**, while **2.33 billion experienced moderate to severe food insecurity.** He maintained that these figures underline why hunger cannot be fully eradicated and why scarce land resources in regions such as the Southeast cannot support initiatives like **Rural Grazing Areas (RUGA).**

Quoting scripture and agricultural history, Onyebinama contended that land, by divine order, can never yield its full potential. “When God cursed Cain, He said the land would no longer yield her increase. This implies that despite human efforts, absolute freedom from hunger is beyond reach,” he said.

The professor, however, stressed that **sustainable agriculture, research-driven innovation, and government support** can provide pathways toward reducing hunger. He criticized Nigeria’s government for neglecting agriculture, noting that farmers lack guaranteed access to land, security, and modern processing technologies.

“Governments seize land for housing estates, motor parks, and private interests, depriving agriculture of its most basic resource. Instead of importing technologies, Nigeria should fund indigenous research and adapt process technologies suitable for local needs,” he charged.

On the contentious RUGA debate, Onyebinama highlighted stark regional disparities in land distribution. While Niger State alone occupies **76,363 square kilometres**, with about **85% arable land**, the entire Southeast’s five states share only **29,388 square kilometres.**
“The land area of Niger State is over two and a half times that of the whole Southeast. With such imbalance, establishing grazing reserves in the Southeast is both impractical and unjustifiable,” he argued.

Vice-Chancellor of MOUAU, **Prof. Maduebibisi Ofor Iwe**, who presided over the session, commended Onyebinama’s lecture and reinforced the position that while hunger cannot be eradicated, targeted policies on agricultural development, land reforms, and process technology funding could guarantee food security and rural development.

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