Science Reporting Food Security Development in Africa Tonnie

Science Reporting: Food Security & Development in Africa Tonnie O. Iredia Ph. D, OON

Introduction � � With African Hunger increasing steadily, a conf on food security is apt Is there anything scientists & the media can do about it? � That’s the main thrust of this paper � I am delighted to be part of it

Security � Community or national security is wrongly perceived in Africa � � � Prevalence of civil strife draws attention to weaponry and warfare What about job or food security? While civil strife is easily more visible disequilibrium in a social system can be devastating

Security : Official approach � � � � More resources to Defence 2013, water needed N 350 b, got N 39 b Defence got N 924 b larger than 12 ministries Posers -Does warfare produce water & or food? -Do warriors not need food & water? 2014 AU Year of Agriculture & Food Security Malabo declaration: 10% of budget agreed Hardly followed Nigeria gave 3. 2% in 2018.

Approach of Science � Increasing food productivity chorus-effect of the Malthusian theory of big population, small food � Affordability: Is production not affected by prices? � Food items are on display along highways � On line sources in Mauritania show them � Paradox of food insecurity depicting hunger in the midst of plenty

Can we blame Scientists? � � Poor transportation, bad roads & general poverty are govt business These no doubt instigate high prices of food items But meaningful development depends on technology & its innovators Diffusion & Technological Determinism Theory � African scientists must take charge of the region’s problems � Improved sciences of crop genetics/average yield per hectare � Better methods will encourage economies of scale & reduce high prices

Contributive negligence � � Silence is golden policy The world is divided into 2 a. action & inactions b. awareness of a. If scientists remain silent, their activities are deemed not to exist Science Research efforts can hardly be supported

Cooper’s categorization 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Science Details Precision Impersonal Technical Lasting Facts Number Journalism Brevity Approximation Personal Colloquial Immediate Stories Words Quentin Cooper, BBC Science journalist

Aggressive publicity � Differences should not mean misuse of social order � There are similarities too- � truth, verification, corroboration and information dissemination � The media have much to do, so can’t do all � Scientists may take a little cue from other interest groups � Science writers association now exist � Science Communication hub also exists now � Collaboration has been made easy

Media mandate � To keep people informed about events around them & beyond � Agenda setting � Gate keeping � Force multiplication

Conclusion � � Silence is golden policy is ineffectual Modern media must be used for mass information If food insecurity persists, media will also be blame worthy Scientists & media professionals must therefore work together