Informed media reportage can influence policy-making in agriculture - Chinje

NaijaAgroNet:

The Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Media Initiative (AMI), Mr. Eric Chinje, has adduced some reasons behind the recently concluded assemblage of some 50 media practitioners in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, to leverage skills on covering agriculture, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Chinje who made this known at the three-day session wrap-up, informed NaijaAgroNet that the aim was to develop a critical mass of skilled reporters who are specialized in covering the agriculture sector, and belong to a professional network and continental community of practice.

On working with the World Bank, he said, AMI commenced this project in West Africa where a three-day training workshop was held in Yamoussoukro, between June 13 and 16, 2016, because they believe that well-informed, incorporating evidence-based knowledge and data could be used in broader development policy-making in areas such as poverty reduction, employment and labour policies, and overall economic policy.

He also outlined the objectives to comprise sensitizing participants to the importance of agriculture issues in their country and region; building participants’ capacity to gather and analyze agriculture data and render reports on agriculture that are “palatable and digestible by all levels of media consumers.”

Additionally, Chinje said, the workshop enriched national and regional dialogues on agricultural policies; animate an online network platform with their reports and documentaries, thus, allowing for well-researched and informed articles and audio-visual products to be widely disseminated beyond their own media organizations.

“About 50 journalists are expected to attend this training, that is, 40 from West Africa and 10 from the other regions, namely North, Central, East, Southern and the Indian Ocean Islands,” he said, stressing, that all the participants showed enthusiasm in agriculture.

Agriculture, he said, is a critical component of development in Africa, with a growing consensus that could directly affect state welfare and individual well-being, therefore, media coverage of the sector is important.

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Pix: Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Media Initiative (AMI), Mr. Eric Chinje

AMI, World Bank three-day workshop on media on agriculture opens

NaijaAgroNet:

 A three-day workshop on media on agriculture opened Monday in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire by the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Mamadou Coulibaly Sangafowa, who was represented by a director in the ministry, with over 50 media practitioners in attendance across Africa, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The meeting expected to last till Thursday, June 16 seeks indepth and informative media coverage on development themes was notably uninformed.

NaijaAgroNet reports that in addition, there have suspected superficial, perfunctory or lacking altogether in media across most of Africa, according to the organisers, the World Bank Group and the African Media Initiative (AMI).

They also said that the objective is to expand and deepen media understanding as well as coverage of agriculture and related issues by media on the continent.

The Chief executive, AIM, Mr. Eric Chinje, said the mission is to support the media to play a more decisive role in promoting democratic governance, economic growth, social development and citizen empowerment in Africa.

“It seeks to narrow the gap that currently exists between media content and national development agendas,”

He also said that AMI has two strategic pillars namely strengthening African media houses through viable business, models, technology use, effective audience measurement, and improved ethics, and improving media content by reinforcing the capacity of reporters to cover development stories, establishing platforms for program exchange and cross-fertilization, and identifying incentives for writers and other content producers. Its strategic goal is to reduce the gap between media content and the development agenda of countries on the continent.

Chinje also said that the organization supports the emergence of a media sector that is professionally proficient, financially sustainable, technologically efficient, and socially responsible so that it can best serve the public interest and informs the Africa narrative.

Thus, AMI seeks to engage, empower and strengthen the capacities of African media owners and operators by tackling key constraints to media action, and to drive the development content agenda through a programme of specialization among journalists in the critical sectors of the economy in Africa.

On the collaboration with the World Bank Group, he said, AMI look out to mainstream media coverage and promote content that enriches the continental dialogue on agriculture and its related issues. Both will work together with other relevant partners to develop training packages and generate the resources necessary to build a critical mass of media specialists to focus on agriculture, a sector that is critical to growth in national economies.

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G20 Ministers of agriculture affirm importance of ICT

NaijaAgroNet:

The G20 Ministers of Agriculture have affirmed the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the end of their meeting, reports NaijaAgroNet.

A communique from the meeting made available to NaijaAgroNet, the ministers affirmed the importance of ICT in agriculture, calling it “essential to human, social and economic development,” and stressing “the potential to reach farmers --including smallholders and family farmers-- with timely and accessible content on markets, sustainable and efficient farming practices and new technologies

The partnership structured at the G20 meeting, NaijaAgroNet gathered is part of a larger digital strategy Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is developing  to integrate a wide range of technologies, ranging from satellite data to mobile phones and social platforms, with the agency’s work to support the most vulnerable with access to information and bottom-up learning.

“We have to bear in mind that small farmers in developing countries are often constrained in their access to inputs, technology, and markets. In order to ensure that farmers fully leverage the ICT opportunities, it is essential to provide digital tailored access, foster capacity development and facilitate the exchange of experiences,” he said.

The FAO Director-General, José Graziano da, highlighted joint work between FAO and G20 countries on such projects as the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP) and the G20 Technical Platform for the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste.

He also underlined the ongoing international efforts to address Antimicrobial Resistance in partnership with the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health and called on G20 countries to support FAO in this endeavour. 

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Agrotech on edge of second green revolution - Weilbach

NaijaAgroNet:

Agribusiness industry leader at PwC Africa, FransWeilbach, has said that agriculture is currently standing on the edge of a second green revolution with the aid of technology, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Speaking on desperate need for food security, Weilbach said that as the global population is growing rapidly, innovative technology and advancements in productivity are becoming increasingly important as pressure mounts on food systems.

“It is predicted that technological innovation will act as a catalyst in lifting agribusiness to the next level in Africa. The winners will be those agribusinesses that seize the opportunity to create new opportunities through technology – they will be able to reach their strategic goals faster and more efficiently,” he said.

Also commenting, the PwC Director in Kenya, Edward Kerich, said “Kenya relies heavily on the agricultural sector as the mainstay of its economy, with agriculture contributing 29 per cent of GDP. Kenya is SSA’s leading tea exporter and one of the world’s largest black tea producers. A significant development in the agricultural sector is growth in the number of privately owned tea factories outside of those owned by the KTDA and the large multinationals in the country, and the benefits realized is expected to increase as some factories move to cheaper renewable energy such as hydropower production.”

PwC Partner in Nigeria, Rasheed Rahji said “Agriculture contributed 24.18% to real GDP in Nigeria in Q4 2015 and this is mainly due to mechanised farming and to other activities in the agribusiness value chain.”

NaijaAgroNet gathered that human resources (HR) models and processes are beginning to evolve, with more emphasis being placed on technology to improve networks and data.

Though industry analysts observed that majority of agribusinesses view climate change as having significant impact on SSA agriculture in the future – 41.2 per cent indicated that there will be a significant impact in the short term, while 35.3 per cent said there will be an impact over the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, NaijaAgroNet reports that agribusiness leaders are considering investing in renewable energy, the main forms of energy being considered are solar energy and biogas.

Okoli Vincent/GEE

 

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Investments in agriculture will unlock prosperity in Africa – IFAD President

NaijaAgroNet:

The President of the United Nations (UN's) International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, has told African leaders that investments in agriculture have the capacity to unlock prosperity of the continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Nwanze in a message to African leaders participating in the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) in Kigali that he is optimistic that such investment which must be a collaborative one between government and businesses will grow Africa tremendously.

"Investments in agriculture can generate great riches for the continent and lift millions out of poverty and hunger," said Nwanze en route to Rwanda. "There are high returns to those countries that take agriculture seriously."

Since 2009, he said, Africa has been seen as the next great investment frontier yet, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic growth on the continent is now predicted to be slower than the rest of the world for the first time in sixteen years.

He emphasised that with many countries in southern and eastern Africa suffering from the worst drought in decades, coupled with fiscal deficits widening and conflicts increasing, some experts are questioning whether Africa is still on the rise.

Despite these dire predictions, Nwanze said Africa is still a continent of unprecedented opportunity, and supporting small-scale farmers and investing in rural areas are some of the best ways for countries to meet their broader development objectives, including poverty reduction.

“With the right investments, Africa could double its agricultural productivity in the next five years,” he said, stressing that half of the world's uncultivated land which is suited for growing food crops is in Africa.

"We need to work together to harness the continent's potential and this means investing in small-scale farmers who are the backbone of African agriculture," Nwanze said.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Build farmers capacity, increase efficiency – Lubinda

NaijaAgroNet:

The Zambian Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Given Lubinda, has stressed the importance for building farmers’ capacity on the continent, NaijaAgroNet reports.

He gave this position at an address to the just concluded World Farmers Organisation (WFO) General Assembly in Livingstone, Zambia, saying that building farmers capacity it will increase efficiency in the agriculture sector.

“Africa is home of the small scale ‪farmers poors that create wealth, and feed the world,” Lubinda said.

Farmers, the Minister said, need to develop the right skills and knowledge needed to effectively improve their capacity.

“A secure access to the land, ownership and control over land, access to productive resources and inputs, including modern technology, markets, inputs and financial resources are essential elements to enable farmers to improve agricultural efficiency and productivity,” Lubinda said.

The farmers, minister further said, need to develop their agricultural management and marketing skills to efficiently strengthen their entrepreneurial skills.

“In this respect, agricultural extension and advisory services are increasingly seen as a key means to build farmers’ capacity,” the Minister said.

These services, Lubinda pointed out, help farmers deal with risk and change, by providing options and capabilities to make the right choices at the right time.

“The services assist rural actors to share technology and practices, and support farmers to acquire a better position in value chains and markets,” Lubinda said.

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Nigeria, Arla Foods in talks to develop dairy sector

NaijaAgroNet:

As part of the follow up to the recent meeting between the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mr. Lars Loekke Rasmussen and President Muhammadu Buhari, a high-powered Nigerian delegation from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday held talks in Denmark with Arla Foods on the development of the dairy sector in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Arla Foods, NaijaAgroNet notes, is one of the world’s largest dairy companies. The visit is Arla’s second milestone in its declared commitment to invest in local production in Nigeria and help create a more sustainable local dairy industry, following the presentation of it's signed letter of intent to Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh. Arla's Letter of Intent was presented in February 2016 at the same meeting where Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen signed a letter of Intent with the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture to cooperate on the development of the local agriculture sector in Nigeria.

The Nigerian delegation was made up of the key line departments responsible for the dairy development comprising Dr. Gideon Mshelbwala, Director, Veterinary Services and Pest Control; Dr. Mrs. Egejuru Eze, Director. Animal Production and Husbandry as well as Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Andrew Kwasari and Hon. Saleh Hassan, Member, House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture.

Welcoming the delegation to one of Arla’s dairy farms, Steen Hadsbjerg, Senior Vice President and Head of Arla Foods for Sub-Saharan Africa, stated that, Nigeria is key to Arla’s ability to sell its farmer owners’ milk in West Africa in the future. 

Hadsbejerg declared, “we understand that developing the Nigerian local dairy industry to create a sustainable value chain that contributes to food security, local jobs and prosperity are important issues for the government. The Nigerian government welcomes companies and initiative that will help this development.”

"The purpose of this visit is for Arla to understand the challenges in developing a sustainable dairy sector in Nigeria and how Arla can most effectively contribute to the solution. It is also for Arla to share our knowledge and experience about how our farmer owners have organised and developed their value chain. The result will benefit Arla’s opportunities whilst ensuring the good development of the dairy market in Nigeria for the benefit of all parties,” Hadsbjerg further said.

Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, said, “this visit has been an eye opener for me. Arla is an organised cooperative that has done very well and work in a sustainable manner. Arla is run by the farmers themselves and to protect the interest of their farmer colleagues and ensure better returns on their milk, they set a higher standard for their milk quality than expected by the government.”

“We hope for a partnership with Arla and knowledge sharing that will help us empower Nigerian farmers who face multiple challenges with logistics, infrastructure, organisation, quality and productivity. We could definitely see Arla as a partner to help build a sustainable dairy industry in Nigeria from the very beginning based on its globally proven concept of 'Dairy enterprise of the farmers, for the farmers by the farmers,” he said.

Speaking during a tour of the Arla facility in Copehangen, Member, House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Hassan Saleh, commended Arla Foods for its high production standard saying, “Arla Foods has demonstrated it is a very organised company and their processes are impeccable resulting in high quality products. I am very impressed with what I have seen and I believe that Arla will be a good partner to help us improve our milk production and make it more sustainable.” 

Saleh also said, “Nigeria will need both local farmers and imported products, so there will be a market for both in the future and I see a strong future for Arla in Nigeria. We will not be self-sufficient for some years to come.”

In continuation of their visit to Denmark, members of the Nigerian delegation also attended round table discussions with Arla and Danish food and agriculture companies where they shared knowledge about farm and dairy technology solutions and discussed potential partnerships to help develop the Nigerian dairy industry.

Nigeria spends $1.3b dollars on dairy imports. The Nigerian government’s target is to double the milk production over the next three to four years so as to meet up with domestic consumption and export. 

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Pix: L-R: Mr. Kasper Thormod Nielson,  Director, Trade Policy, Arla Foods, Mr.Steen Hadsberg, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Arla International, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister for Agriculture and Mrs. Heather Akanni,Technical Assistant to the Minister, Quality Control and Standardization during a visit of the Federal government delegation to Arla Foods' Slagelse Dairy farm in Denmark on Wednesday 13, April 2016.

Mo Ibrahim delivers IFAD lecture, canvasses creating opportunities for African youngsters

NaijaAgroNet:

Globally recognized entrepreneur and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, at the weekend delivered the annual lecture for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), canvassing for the creation of opportunities for African youngsters in agriculture, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Dr. Ibrahim who spoke in Rome, took African governments to task for not living up to their commitments to invest in agriculture and rural development, stressing that its essential that they create opportunities for young people in agriculture so that they are able to resist the dangerous call of extremism. 

“No jobs, no hope,” he said, adding that Africa has more hungry, malnourished people than anywhere else in the world. “We are by far the least productive region in the agriculture sector but because we have more uncultivated, arable land than anywhere else, it presents opportunities.”

NaijaAgroNet equally gathered that a private-sector panel which included Sunny Verghese, Co-founder and Group CEO of Olam International, highlighted the need for bold initiatives to better link smallholder farmers to markets. Panel participants emphasized that everyone – government, the private sector, financing institutions such as IFAD, small- and medium-sized enterprises and smallholders farmers – have a role to play. 

While the second panel discussion, facilitated by IFAD Associate Vice President Périn Saint Ange, focused on innovative agricultural solutions to many of the global challenges discussed over the two days, including IFAD investments in farming technologies, approaches to empower women and youth, and the use of new technology to enhance rural development project design and management.

Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, told correspondent that the world is at a crossroad in terms of its overuse of natural resources, and that the Middle East and North Africa region already has some of the highest water scarcity in the world.

"Climate change impacts the poor and marginalized most of all,” she said, underlining that they have huge challenges ahead, and there is need to act now.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that some of the outcomes from the Farmers’ Forum, a two-day meeting held in conjunction with IFAD’s Governing Council, organizers announced a plan to make the platform for dialogue more inclusive, inviting pastoralists and livestock breeders to take part, and more decentralized creating stronger links to smallholders and family farmers on the ground.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +Naija AgroNet

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Pix: Mo Ibrahim