Agriculture, a core of the transformational agenda - Sambo

Vice President, Namadi Sambo

Nigeria’s vice President, Namadi Sambo asserted that agriculture would be the core of the transformation agenda of Nigeria, not only for food production but also for wealth creation and employment generation, ThisDay reports.

This he said at the meetings of the US Exim Bank in Washington DC where he also made known that the aim of the nation in pursuing the new agenda is to improve the value chain by Nigeria.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that he assured investors in the agricultural sector of high returns on their investment that the opportunities in the sector still remain untapped. 

Rice, cassava, sorghum, livestock, fisheries, maize, soya beans, palm oil, cocoa and cotton includes areas where Namadi Sambo said opportunities abound in the agro-business. He further urged investors to take advantage of the investor friendly policies and opportunities. Read more

Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

Taiwan supports The Gambia's food supplies with N472M

Samuel Chen, Taiwanese Ambassador

Taiwan government made provision for The Gambia the sum of $3 million; about N472 million to enable The Gambia fight food shortage, Observer reports.

The fund will be used to buy 2,300 metric tones of seeds and to also import 1, 360 metric tones of fertilizer in a bid to assist the country out of food shortage.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that last year's crop failure really affected food supply in The Gambia, hence the Taiwan support is appropriate and at the right time.

Samuel Chen, Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, announced the support at the opening of a 10-day seminar on crop production with special focus on rice for the Africa region and Haiti held at Bakau.

Ambassador Chen affirmed the need to maintain food security as a crucial policy in The Gambia with rice as one of the most important staple food of its people.

He added that Taiwan is glad to share her knowledge to her friends and diplomatic allies. ReadMore

 Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

UK supports agricultural statistics with N3.9bn

The Food and Agriculture Organisatoion (FAO) of the United Nations has signed an agreement with the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom to improve agricultural statistics.

According to the agreement, as revealed to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement made available by the UN agency, the Department for International Development is to support an innovative new global partnership with the sum of $25million, about N3.938 billion.

The innovative new global partnership is to ensure the improvement of agricultural statistics available to governments and farmers around the world.

The UK's contribution is to cover the programme's first phrase between 2012 and 2016. NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the contribution will support mainly African and Asian countries.

Commenting on the agreement, FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva said "Empowering farmers can change their lives. By improving statistics, this programme will contribute to this goal."

"The UK Government's generous support will help deliver enormous benefits to governments around the world and the people they serve," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva.

The first phase of the programmes is to improve how governments organize and manage their statistical systems and on technical assistance and staff training in national statistics offices and ministries of agriculture. 

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that the DFID's contribution will also support research to identify innovative approaches for cost-efficient data collection, analysis and dissemination. This includes digital and georeferencing technology and devices, such as smartphones, GPS and satellites.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

East African govts fight drought with new strategies

Governments of the Horn of Africa under the aegis of Inter-Governmental Authority of Development (IGAD) are working towards fighting drought and famine through the application of early warning mechanisms, reports CoastWeek.

Leaders of the seven countries that make up IGAD recently met in Kenya, which resulted in creation of new strategies to enable the region battle drought and famine.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that participants asserted that most of the requests for support made by IGAD from donors are usually meant to address drought emergency cases.

Participants also agreed the new plan should be based on addressing resilience and should be backed by a very strong drought early warning mechanisms that is well linked to institutions that coordinate response.

Mahboub Maalim, IGAD Executive Secretary affirmed the need to undertake and sustain long term programs aimed at vulnerability reduction and resilience building, following the changing cycle of drought where it was now occurring every two years. 

Highlighting the need for infrastructural investments in dry land areas to facilitate creation of wealth, Mahboub Maalim said “The region requires long term investments that will form the bedrock of this resilience. Short term projects should well link to the overall long term objectives." Readmore

Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology

African governments should come together for water resources management - Minister

Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Nigeria's Minister for Water Resources affirmed the need for African governments to combine their efforts and resources in order to face challenges in the water resources management, AfricaSTI reports.

In her words, the continent will not be able to overcome the challenges if resources and efforts are not pull together.

This NaijaAgroNet gathered was said at the launch of the 4th edition of the United Nations Water Development report held recently at World Water Forum in Marseille, France.

“In most parts of Africa, the main problem is not lack or inadequacy of water resources but the capacity and capability to exploit and manage it," she asserted.

The Nigerian Minister also highlighted the need for the Africa Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), which is the highest political body in the continent to ensure a coordinated approach to managing and allocating water across competing sectors to meet multiple goals and ensure balanced progress in all the sectors. 

"We are also mindful of the fact that strong institutions, political will and stakeholder involvement are necessary to achieve the set objectives," she said. Read more

Admin/LS

... Linking agrobiz, people & technology