Olam, NGO give healthcare support to rural Africans

One of the leading global integrated supply chain managers and processor of agricultural products, Olam International is partnered some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to give vital information and healthcare support to rural Africans.

The partnership, according to a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet is to support the year's United Nations' World AIDS Day for December 1, 2012.

The NGOs in the partnership include GIZ, Engender Health and Action Health incorporation.

In Nigeria, the partnership targets students in the fight against HIV and AIDS in supporting the national effort.

A community focused campaign was also created to prevent new HIV infections among young people by mobilising them as community change agents for development, of which Osun State is one of the states that has witnessed the campaign.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the campaign is to serve as a challenge for the youths for the year's World AIDS Day them, 'Getting to Zero.'

Commenting on the partnership, Ms. Temitope Ijiwole of Action Health Incorporated said the initiative contributed to the national response of reducing new HIV infections to zero.

Also speaking, Olam Head, East and Southern Africa Region, MD Ramesh revealed that the company depends on 3.4 million small scale farmers across Africa and that the initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility in the sensitive agricultural sector of the continent with a belief of supporting healthcare programmes.

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FAO boss urges academia to join fight against hunger

da Silva, FAO DG

The Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), José Graziano da Silva has called on the academia to be involved in the essential and politically important research into rural poverty.

According to José, one of the great challenges man faces today is to make use of academic knowledge to comprehend and improve the life of rural populations all over the world. “We need to look at the reality outside of university walls,” he said.

José in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet affirmed that food insecurity, nutrient deficiencies and unsafe food top the list of most pressing issues in the fight against hunger and rural development.

Unequal competition between small-scale and large scale food producers, NaijaAgroNet gathered also contributes to hunger, yet small-scale farmers account for a larger percentage of food produce and any unequal competition will drive them out of operation.

“Academics should look into the issue of governance of the food and agriculture sector, both at global and local levels, and how to achieve a fair distribution of benefits,” José recommended that there is the need to reduce transportation and storage cost as well as food waste and loss if we want more people to be eating healthy diets, based on fresh foods.

The FAO boss also recommended a better conceptual clarification and practical proposals from academics and policy makers.

Yinka Awosanya
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FAO boss urges academia to join fight against hunger

José, FAO Director General

The Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), José Graziano da Silva has called on the academia to be involved in the essential and politically important research into rural poverty.

According to José, one of the great challenges man faces today is to make use of academic knowledge to comprehend and improve the life of rural populations all over the world. “We need to look at the reality outside of university walls,” he said.

José in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet affirmed that food insecurity, nutrient deficiencies and unsafe food top the list of most pressing issues in the fight against hunger and rural development.

Unequal competition between small-scale and large scale food producers, NaijaAgroNet gathered also contributes to hunger, yet small-scale farmers account for a larger percentage of food produce and any unequal competition will drive them out of operation.

“Academics should look into the issue of governance of the food and agriculture sector, both at global and local levels, and how to achieve a fair distribution of benefits,” José recommended that there is the need to reduce transportation and storage cost as well as food waste and loss if we want more people to be eating healthy diets, based on fresh foods.

The FAO boss also recommended a better conceptual clarification and practical proposals from academics and policy makers.

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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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