Insecurity Greatest Threat To Food Production In Rural Communities — Alaafin

By RhemDy News

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has identified insecurity as the greatest threat being confronted by people in the rural communities in their effort to produce food.

Oba Owoade stressed that until the government deploys a coordinated, decisive response to the security crises in the country, the hope to reduce food importation or food prices stability will remain a forlorn hope

The revered monarch added that no matter the agricultural policies announced by the government, the reality in rural communities remains that insecurity has become the single greatest threat to food production.

In a statement his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade stated this on Thursday at the ancient Palace of Oyo, while addressing participants at an inter-faith prayer service.

The event was graced by a member of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi), High Chief Asimiyu Atanda, village heads,  religious leader, community leaders, and residents of Oyo.

Alaafin noted that a nation where food producers in the rural communities must negotiate access to their fields with armed bandits cannot claim to be mindful of food security.

The traditional ruler observed that adequate security of lives and property is the foundation of any thriving society, noting that it directly eliminates fear, protects human rights, and unlocks economic potentials, adding that without the guarantee of safety, the basic pillars of a nation collapse.

"Security is a sine qua non for societal progress. A secure environment encourages inter-communal collaboration and shared national identity. Kidnapping and rural insecurity severely cripple agricultural productivity by displacing  rural farmers from their lands, disrupting local supply chains, and draining household incomes to pay ransoms.

"These threats escalate food inflation, collapse rural credit systems, and lead to widespread food scarcity in affected communities. Farmers are often forced to liquidate their assets, livestock, and capital to pay ransoms, leaving them with no funds to purchase seeds, fertilizers, or equipment.

"The implication of all these is that insecurity in the country severely restricts local commerce, causing a devastating collapse of rural supply chains and agriculture, as armed bandits forces farmers to abandon farmlands, resulting in massive food shortages and localised inflation," the Oba said.

On the essence of the Prayer Service,  Alaafin pointed out that praying for divine intervention serves as a powerful spiritual anchor in times of crisis, saying it transcends human limitations, fortifies communities against insecurity, and fosters the necessary understanding to maintain peace and unity.

He further noted that only a higher power can soften hardened hearts, turning enemies toward dialogue and mutual respect.

"Peace is more than the absence of war; it is a state of stability and well-being. Prayers empower those actively working on the front lines to negotiate and maintain harmony.

"Prayer invites God's presence to establish justice, which is a biblical prerequisite for lasting peace. While unity is essential for communities and the nation to thrive," he added.

Oba Owoade further asserted that praying together for a common purpose bridges ethnic, tribal, and religious differences, aligning citizens under shared humanity.

In the same vein, Alaafin's Queen Consort, Ayaba Abiwunmi, stressed the importance of continued harmonious relationship, unfettered love and prayer for communal development, adding that in unity lies the strength.