The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an environmental group, has asked the federal government to safeguard local seeds and farmers’ rights. They warned that industrial farming methods and strict seed rules could harm food security, biodiversity, and nutrition.
This call came on Friday as they marked World Food Day, which takes place every year on 16 October. HOMEF noted that hunger and malnutrition still exist in resource-rich countries because of political and economic choices that hurt smallholder farmers and local food systems.
In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES by Kome Odhomor, the Media and Communications Manager, HOMEF explained that food security means more than just growing more food. They urged for policies that protect local seed varieties, promote ecological farming, and give farming communities more control over what they grow and how they produce food.
The group also encouraged Nigerians to pay more attention to where their food comes from and its nutritional value. They warned that climate change, economic problems, and conflicts continue to threaten food production and distribution.
Food sovereignty
Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF’s executive director, said Nigeria’s food system relies too much on monoculture and cash crops. He pointed out that this weakens food supply chains, damages soil health, and limits farmers’ control over agricultural production.
“World Food Day should be a day of reflection. It must also be a day of structural reckoning,” Mr Bassey said. He called for a change from industrial farming to diverse and ecologically sustainable practices.
He stated that local seeds are important for adapting to climate change because they help maintain genetic diversity that supports drought resistance, pest control, and better nutrition.
“We must move beyond the short-sighted goal of ‘yield at any cost’ and support a transition to agroecology,” he said.
Agroecology uses ecological principles in farming, focusing on soil health, biodiversity, local knowledge, and sustainable relationships between farming communities and the environment.
Mr Bassey emphasized that protecting local seeds is vital to prevent biodiversity loss and support ecosystems. He argued that food systems should not trade environmental health for quick production gains.
Seed laws, farmers’ rights
Joyce Brown, HOMEF’s Director of Programmes, said hunger in resource-rich African countries shows failures in political and economic decisions.
She noted that food should not just be seen as a profit-making item but as a basic human right linked to public health, cultural identity, and community livelihoods.
Ms Brown urged governments and international bodies to rethink policies that prioritize industrial exporters over small-scale farmers who feed local communities.
She raised concerns about Nigeria’s Plant Variety Protection Act, 2021, saying that limits on farmers’ ability to save and reuse seeds could jeopardize food and nutritional security for vulnerable communities.
The law sets rules for protecting the rights of breeders of new plant varieties. The discussion around it includes how to balance breeders’ rights with farmers’ traditional practices and seed access.
Ms Brown stated that agricultural policies should respect farmers’ rights and ensure that communities closest to the land have meaningful control over what they grow and how they use their resources.
‘Industrial agriculture not the only solution’
Mariann Bassey-Olsson, deputy director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, highlighted that seed-saving and exchange are key to farmers’ independence and preserving cultural heritage.
She disagreed with the idea that industrial agriculture is the only way to feed the world. She noted that smallholder farmers have supported communities for generations with locally adapted farming methods.
Ms Bassey-Olsson said local seeds carry generations of farmers’ knowledge and adaptation to local soils and climates.
She warned that losing control of local seed varieties could make farmers more dependent on foreign companies and limit their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
She also opposed genetically modified crops, saying they could threaten farmers’ seed rights, biodiversity, and increase reliance on foreign businesses.
Her views align with HOMEF’s call for more investment in agroecology and locally controlled food systems instead of focusing on industrial agricultural interests.
Food security, climate change
HOMEF stated that future food systems should focus on nutrition, environmental sustainability, and farmers’ livelihoods, rather than just boosting yields.
They called for better access to agricultural knowledge, tools, and resources for smallholder farmers and marginalized communities. They warned that climate change and other economic pressures could further disrupt food supplies.
The organization also urged governments to support diverse local food systems that can withstand climate shocks while protecting biodiversity and improving soil health.
World Food Day is an annual international event that raises awareness of hunger and food insecurity while promoting access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.
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