Ezekwesili lauds development in agric sector

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Former Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,   has commended the Federal Government’s strides in the development of the agricultural sector in the country, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Ezekwesili made this commendation while speaking the press in Lagos, stressing that the focus on agricultur

e has empowered the farmers and also redirected the attention of over 60 per cent of the population into agriculture and other allied businesses.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from her that government initiative towards agriculture and agribusiness is very good as such was enhancing productivity in the sector and helping to tackle poverty.

``So, you go to that informal sector of agriculture, you provide them with the kind of tools and the kinds of facilities, the extension services, the links to the market, the seeds and inputs, the access to credit. With the better business environment, all of these add together to improve their productivity, and   therefore, will improve their income. Because when you enhance the income of the farmers, what it means is that they have more money that they can spend even in offering education to their children. So that circle of activities is so important for taking the entire society out of poverty. You don’t lift people out of poverty; you give people what they need in order to lift themselves out of poverty,” she said

*with additional report from NAN

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pix: Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,

EU seeks business partnership with Nigeria agric sector

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Indications have emerged that businesses of European Union (EU) origin are poised to seeking more business opportunities and partnerships in Nigeria, especially in the agricultural sector, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina confirmed this after a meeting the stakeholders on European Union-Nigeria business forum in the  move being made by Europe and reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s support in getting the country to move towards this fresh produce export market with Europe.

 “There is a lot of opportunities for Europe and Nigeria for agribusiness investment partnerships. We plan to play big in the horticulture market in Europe because Nigeria is closer to Europe than Kenya, Tanzania or even Mozambique. We are going to take advantage of our big size in the horticulture market.

“The largest market is in Europe, but that market is quite difficult to penetrate because it is based on a lot of safety standards, consumer standards that we have to meet, so we have been working together with the ambassadors of the European countries to prepare Nigeria to enter that global horticulture market,” Adesina said.

He explained that issues such as certification, farm audits, and contracts with supermarkets were hurdles to be crossed which is being handled in consultation with the ambassadors of those European countries, while National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), an agency under the ministry is the one that gives certification to farmers that want to export.

NaijaAgroNet gathered from the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Nigerian German Business Association, Jennifer Ijeoma Anoika, that “a lot of Nigerians do not know the regulations or the changes in the regulations, the SMEs in particular. We want to see more small companies such as Tropical Natural, which is doing quite well with the Dudu Osun, with export products.”

Lawrence Ohue-Inegbenoise, from Friesland Campina, said the company‘s plans is to get more indigenous farmers and investors involved in sourcing milk for its production.

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Reasonable tariff set in Agric sector to protect local production-Minister

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The Federal Government introduction of reasonable tariff in the Agricultural sector is said to protect local production, despite the criticism on increased tariff and outright bans of certain food items Nigeria can produce.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Adewunmi Adesina made this clarification recently to the agriculture stakeholders and stressed that “while lower tariffs will benefit smaller West African economies dependent on imports, they will create major disincentives for local production in Nigeria, where we are trying to unlock the huge land, labour and demand potential to drive rapid agriculture and agribusiness growth.”

He lamented that  local production cannot be encouraged in a situation where there is unbridled dumping of cheap low-quality products on Nigerian markets as such a trend  would simply discourages the local farmers, increases rural poverty, and also increase unemployment.  

NaijaAgroNet  gathered from the minister that even though some are clamouring for the reduction in tariff and duty on the importation of crude palm oil, rice, sugar, fish and so on, it is right to   ensure that fiscal and trade policies are well aligned to further boost the ongoing transformation in the agricultural sector, while rapid gains are still being made.

“While rapid gains are being made, we must ensure that fiscal and trade policies are well aligned to further boost the ongoing transformation in the agricultural sector. Policies and institutional incentives must be sustained, and we must avoid policy reversals, which have scuttled many efforts in the past. Of particular concern is the issue of the Common External Tariff of the ECOWAS region,” he said.

NaijaAgroNet also learnt from Adesina that “Nigeria should protect its farmers from the effects of dumping of subsidized products smuggled daily into the country.  America does it. European Union does it. Nigeria should do the same.”

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Nigeria targets 10% global fertilizer market by 2017-Alison Madueke

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The development of new fertilizer plants in the country will position Nigeria as the nation targets control of 10 per cent of global fertilizer by 2017, to assist in the drive in all sector of the economy, especially the agricultural sector.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke disclosed to NaijaAgroNet while speaking recently at a plenary session of the 19th Nigerian Economic Summit titled, “Building a World Class Petrochemical and Fertilizer Industry in Nigeria.”

 Alison-Madueke said that the need to get the gas sector to drive growth in all sectors of the economy mostly in agricultural sector necessitated the excision of some key areas of the Gas Master Plan from the Petroleum Industry Bill, (PIB) for accelerated implementation under the Gas Revolution Agenda.

The Minister listed some of the proposed fertilizer plants to include the Dangote Petrochemical and Fertilizer Plant to be built at Olokola, Indorama Fertilizer Plant at Eleme, Brass Fertilizer Company at Brass, Nagarjuna Fertilizer Plant at Ogidigben, and another plant by the International Fertilizer Association.
 

Speaking further on the gas policy framework, Alison-Madueke explained that the thrust of the two-pronged policy of gas-to-power and gas-to-industries is to drive linkages between the power and industrial sectors with the agricultural sector serving as a linchpin in the industrial sector on account of its enormous job creation potential and multiplier effect in the economy.

The Managing Director of Gas Aggregator Company of Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Allen, stated that apart from Notore which is already into fertilizer production, six new companies have approached the Gas Aggregator Company to firm up gas supply arrangements for their fertilizer plants and that talks are at an advanced stage with the companies.

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*pix: Alison-Madueke Minister of Petroleum Resources