The Federal Government declared on Monday that pests cause the loss of 50 percent of crop produce.
Mohammed Mahmood, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the announcement at a news conference held by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service in Abuja to commemorate the International Day of Plant Health.
He said that we must treat plant health seriously since plants are constantly at risk from viruses, bacteria, nematodes, insects, aphids, and fungi.
These plant health problems jeopardize food security and put livelihoods reliant on crop value chains at risk.
He also added that we lose 50% of our annual farm gate value in Nigeria due to bug damage.They limit food availability and raise food prices by reducing yield and quality.
He did say, however, that the government recognized plant health as a national priority, which led to the creation of the Plant Health Protection Agency.
