Agric can still be the mainstay of Nigerian economy -SMEDAN DG

Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Alhaji Muhammed Nadada Umar said that the agricultural sector in the country could still be the stronghold of the nation's economy.

Alhaji Umar noted that there would be profitable returns for farmers if farming activities are taken as professionals.

According to him, full implementation of the Nigeria's Transformation Agenda as regards the agriculture sector would lead to the revival of the sector for the next two decades.

This, he made known to some members of the Society of Youth in Agriculture (SYA) during a recent courtesy visit to the agency's headquarters in Abuja.

Also speaking during the visit, SYA president, Mr. Bakare Oladimeji asserted that the objective of the visit is to seek areas where the SYA could collaborate with the agency towards the provision of technical and entrepreneurship training which are some of the objective of the youth's body.

The SYA president also told SMEDAN DG that the organisation had birthed several agricultural projects of which 'Operation Wake Up' is one of the numerous projects.

The 'Operation Wake Up,' initiative according to Oladimeji, is a Young Farmers Entrepreneurship Scheme aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment among youths in the nation.

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FG to transform agriculture sector to employ youths

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has promised to transform the agricultural sector so as to make the sector a wealth creator and able to accommodate youths.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan revealed that the present administration is keen on bringing its plans about transforming the agricultural sector to reality.

The president also affirmed the federal government's initiative to promote the subsistence farming to the establishment of agriculture as a very viable modern-day business.

“We have a very large youthful population and to create enough jobs for them we must develop agriculture, solid minerals and other sectors," President Jonathan said, adding that Nigeria has a lot of untapped potentials which would be beneficial to agricultural development.

He expressed delight over the $74 million about N11.7 billion virtually interest-free loan by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in a bid to support the federal government's agricultural programme.

He said Nigeria as well as himself is proud of the good work by IFAD with loans and grants summing up to $225 million for agricultural development in Nigeria since 1985.

 Yinka Awosanya

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300 leading cassava researchers to attend GCP21

About 300 global leading cassava researchers and stakeholders would attend Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st Century (GCP21) scheduled to hold between June 18 and 22, 2012.

The international cassava conference to be held in Uganda would focus on improving cassava productivity through scientific research and development.

The organisers in a press release made available to NaijaAgroNet stated that GCP21 consists of 45 member institutions working on research and development of cassava.

The Cassava Global Partnership, NaijaAgroNet learnt advocates for cassava issues while leveraging research and development by facilitating dialogue among farmers and stakeholders through scientific and technical meetings.

The partnership also seeks smart strategies, funding opportunities and catalyzing solutions to technical challenges like cassava genomics.

The chairman of GCP21-II, and scientist at NaCRRI, Dr. Yona Baguma said the greatest reward of his life time would be to bring about a significant transformation in cassava to impact on peoples' lives especially those who depend on the crop.

GCP21, in 2011 had initiated several research projects totaling over $60 million, about N9.6 billion in grants in the areas of cassava genomics, genetic engineering, biofortification, genetics and biology.

The report of the research projects would be presented at GCP21-II.

Participants will exchange knowledge and experiences in the areas of socio-economics, biodiversity and genetic resources, post-harvest, starch modification, nutrition, genomics, molecular genetic markers and gene discovery, tissue culture and transformation, biotic and abiotic stresses, participatory research and technology transfer.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

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World Bank commends Lagos on CADP implementation

The Lagos State implementation of Commercial Agriculture Development Projects (CADP) has received commendations from the World Bank country Director, Ms Francois Marie Nelle.

Other programmes, she said, were laudable include road rehabilitation projects and the energy interventions in support of agro-processing technology.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the World Bank country director also assured the state of World Bank’s future partnership in projects implementation.

Mr. Bukar Tijani, Minister of State for Agriculture confirmed that the Lagos State agricultural policy is in line with the transformation agenda of the federal government towards food security.

While applauding Lagos State for investing in project interventions, Mr. Tijani affirmed that the federal government would do more in terms of agricultural commercialization to make food sufficient and also improve agricultural value chains.

Responding, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal said the state's collaboration with the Federal Government and World Bank in the Commercial Agricultural Development Projects (CADP) is on a fruitful path as it has improved business environment for agriculture by assisting participating small and medium scale commercial farmers.

Source: LagosIndicator

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