The Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Professor Abubakar O Sulaiman, has called for the urgent need to address the challenges bedeviling the agricultural value chain, especially post harvest losses, to promote food supply, affordability, availability and sustainability.

The DG said this on Thursday at the University of Abuja while attending the 53rd Annual Conference of the Entomological Society of Nigeria (ESN) where he doubled capacities as Chairman of the occasion and also, recipient of the Chairman, Board of Honorary Fellows (HFESN) award.

“we have continued to interrogate factors driving post-harvest losses…..with our nation grappling with food shortages and high food prices, this conference therefore re-echoes the need to improve food and crop farming practices as well as to promote resilient farming practices that will enable Nigeria to increase its food production while eliminating threats from insects and harnessing the opportunities thereof.”

He therefore clamoured for the need to urgently address the challenges facing the agricultural value chain while improving food productivity, supply, affordability and availability while urging participants to make recommendations that would address the threat of insects in the food value chain while optimizing their benefits for sustainable environmental practices.

Highlight of the ceremony was the Investiture of the Director General NILDS, Professor Abubakar O Sulaiman as Chairman Board of Council of Fellows. While receiving the award, he expressed his gratitude for the honor to Chair the Board and assures the society of his continued commitment and support.