Japan donates urea fertilizer to Ethiopia

 Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

Japan has donated over 92,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser valued at valued at 490 million Japanese yen to Ethiopia based upon the exchange of notes signed between the two countries in December 2012 to complement Ethiopian government efforts to increase crop production.

The Japanese Ambassador to Ethiopia Hiroyuki Kishino while making the donation said that Japan was pleased to play a modest role in mitigating the existing supply-demand gap of fertilizer through its Grant-in-aid Scheme, KR II.

Kishino noted from that the fertilizer would contribute to improving the people’s livelihoods and facilitate the Ethiopian efforts being carried out to achieve the agricultural targets stipulated in the GTP.

“In view of the dominant role of agriculture in the Ethiopian economy and the projected average annual growth rate for agriculture of 8.6 per cent for five years, agriculture has continued to be a priority sector in Japan's ODA policy toward Ethiopia.

“Food security, which includes agricultural and rural development as well as water supply, is one of the two main pillars of Japan's ODA policy in Ethiopia together with industrial development. Japan would continue to support smallholder farmers so that they can increase productivity in agriculture,” the Japanese ambassador said.

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Nwanze advocates farmers train on new agro-tech

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr Kanayo Nwanze has canvassed for training of farmers on agriculture technology.

He made this call during his recent working visit to IFAD-assisted Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme (CBNRMP) in Asaba, Delta State, saying that training of Nigerian farmers on agro technology would avail them better chance to use fertiliser and water harvesting techniques in farming.

Nwanze lamented the role agriculture played in the history of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) which was put between 70 to 80 per cent before it nose-dived to abysmal less than 10 per cent and said that the discovery of crude oil resulted in the neglect of agriculture leading to the decline in the production of groundnut, cocoa, rice and many other crops.

NaijaAgroNet noted that CBNRMP is being implemented in the nine Niger Delta states of  Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers aimed at improving the standard of living and quality of life of or at least 400,000 poor rural households with emphasis on women and youths.

He explained that the ongoing agricultural transformation agenda of the Federal Government has come to restore the country’s lost glory in agriculture and urged Nigerians to embrace all aspects of agriculture because crude oil would one day finish while agriculture would continue to be renewed by nature.

In their remarks, the IFAD Country Programme Manager in Nigeria, Ms Atsuko Toda, urged the state programme officers to utilise the two-year extension of the programme to ensure the achievement of the goals of the programme, while the CBNRMP National Coordinator Jumbo-Ibeakuzie commended IFAD for cutting down the counterpart funding of the participating local governments from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, to make them more committed to the programme.

*with additional report from NAN

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USPF connects rural Nigeria to agriculture

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Ministry of Communication Technology (Commtech) has expressed its commitment on the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to really spend 80 per cent of fund to building or subsidising connectivity to the rural areas in order to boost agriculture in Nigeria.

The Minister of CommTech, Mrs Omobola Johnson gave this expose while addressing stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Agriculture Sectors recently in Abuja and said that with the number of programs that have been conceptualised prior to the creation of the ministry, the Mobile phone Expansion BTS program is being accelerated to create the desired impact in the sectors.

According to her, the Rural Broadband Initiative (RUBI) is providing wholesale internet bandwidth to all its cyber cafes, Community Communication Centres, and ICT centres in the rural areas at a subsidised rate to ensure that people have access to internet.

“We’re not just talking about farmers here but anybody that is involved in the business of agriculture, that is farmers, traders, agro-preneurs, extension workers, policy makers, buyers among others and what we need to do to bridge that gap is to take the information that is here and transform it to a way that is relevant, convenient and useful for these stakeholders to develop their businesses.

"We’ve established an IT Innovation Fund; first venture capital fund solely focused on ICT businesses and we’ll be putting this in the seed capital in the next couple of months. But the idea of these funds is to support these entrepreneurs as we focus on agriculture in the coming months, working in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) Programme that is looking at agriculture. They are going to be giving us ideas of the needs of this particular program and how they’re going to support and they’re also going to put some vent capital funds,” Johnson said.

NaijaAgroNet recorded that there is collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Investment and Ministry of Communication Technology and Finance to deliver the first online Commodities Exchange, as the Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange have been transformed into an online trading platform for commodities.

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pix: Minister of CommTech, Mrs Omobola Johnson

Djibouti, Saudi sign N807m for economic development

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The government of Djibouti and the Saudi Fund for Development has signed a $5 million, about N807 million loan agreement to support Djibouti’s economic development.

According to the statement from the Saudi government sighted by NaijaAgroNet loan is to support Djibouti in its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and create 2,400 jobs for graduates.

The signing of the agreement was done by the Djibouti Minister of Economy and Industrial Finance, Ilyas Moussa, who signed on behalf of his country, while Yousef Bin Ibrahim al-Bassam signed for the Saudi Fund for Development.

According to the statement, a large proportion of the funds would be allocated to support women in the areas of agriculture, fishing and transport.

The Saudi Fund for Development NaijaAgroNet learnt is a Saudi government agency established by a royal decree in 1974, began operations in 1975 to channel bilateral aid to developing countries, primarily through grants and soft loans.

 President Ismail Omar, in the statement also said that the government main concern through the provision of the loans and grants is to drastically reduce unemployment among the women, youths, including the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals and health clinics, expansion of water and sanitation services

The statement also revealed that the Saudi fund has offered export credit and insurance amenities for non-crude oil national exports in Africa, to promote domestic economic diversification that contributes to development within recipient countries.

*With additional report from NAN

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Kogi focus on agriculture for transformation of state economy –Wada

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Kogi State Government has declared its commitment in focusing on agriculture to drive the state’s economy and improve the living standard of the people of the state.

The State Governor, Mr Idris Wada, disclosed his administration intention on the state agriculture sector when he played host to the delegates of the High Level Forum on South-South Cooperation (SSC) comprising representatives from 14 countries in Africa, including Nigeria as well as Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Chinese officials.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from Wada, that if the ongoing Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government is properly implemented, it would address the peace and food security issues in the country.

"We are determined to make agriculture a focus of our administration for the transformation of the economy of Kogi State and improving the living standard of the people of the state,” he said.

*With additional report from NAN

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pix: Kogi State Gov.Mr Idris Wada,

India, Africa enter partnership to promote food security

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The India and Africa Partnership in Agriculture (IAPA) has made a debut with the mission to promote food security in their regions.

This partnership consists of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and International Agriculture Consulting Group (IACG) that will transform agriculture in Africa and significantly contribute to the global food security.

Director-General, ICAR, Dr. S. Ayyappan confirmed this to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement endorsed by IACG, revealing that the initiative would take forward the recommendations of the critical stakeholders in India Africa partnership in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and agribusiness sector for assisting African nations to realize the food and nutritional security in ways that are environmentally sustainable.

NaijaAgroNet gathered from Director-General, ICRISAT, Dr. William Dar that India is committed to the sustainable agriculture development of Africa under the South -South Initiative, emphasising, “The new platform will take on board various stake-holders and provide the Indian expertise and experiences to support African countries in finding solutions to their food, agriculture and development challenges."

IACG President, Dr. MJ Khan asserted that the collective strength of three powerful partners will be able to make substantial difference to the engagement of India with the African continent, while IACG will serve as effective delivery vehicle to execute the projects and programs of varied natures, whether sponsored by Government of India or other national and international organisations or the India’s corporate sector.

NaijaAgroNet gathered from Ms. Sumana Sarkar representing Exim Bank that over 16 lines of credit have been extended to African nations with $ 649 million, about N102.2 billion being the highest for East Africa followed by $150 million, about N23.6 billion for West Africa and $40 million ,N6.3 billion each for South and Central African nations. 

Mr. Julian Parr of CIP International pointed that in the Africa Indian partnership, learning has to be both ways, India needs to learn from Africa and at the same there is much that Africa needs to learn from innovation in technologies, practices, processes, institution building that has made India reach where it is now in the field of food and nutritional security and agribusiness development.

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We’re fixing hindrances in agric sector – Minister

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said his ministry focus is in fixing key issues that has hampered the performance of the agricultural sector with a view to unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s agriculture.

This, he also said would move the sector from its ignoble status as one of the largest food importers in the world to a food self- sufficient country, in addition to expanding into export.

Adesina disclosed this recently in Asaba to NaijaAgroNet, stressing that his ministry is doing this through the rapid transformation of agricultural value chains by treating agriculture as a money-making business and not as a charitable development project.

The ministry, he said, mustered the courage to break the jinx that for decades made successive governments corrupt in Nigeria through the procurement and distribution of fertilizers to rich and powerful politician farmers to the detriment of the private sector and genuine farmers.

“Corruption was incipient, as sand was mixed with fertilizers and sold to government, payments were made for fertilizers not supplied and subsidized fertilizers were resold back to government with a lot more sold off to neighbouring countries. To put it bluntly, government was not subsidizing farmers; instead it was subsidizing corruption. Farmers’ powerlessness worsened as high quality of seeds and fertilizers they need to raise their farm productivity were taken over by the elite, the rich and politically powerful.

“But we have changed all that. Within the first 90 days of this administration; we ended the forty year-old fertilizer sector racket and corruption. The old system of government buying and selling fertilizers was scrapped, and all fertilizer companies were required to sell directly to farmers and not government warehouses,” he said.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) Electronic Wallet System which has seen over 3.4 million farmers receiving their subsidized inputs via the GES programme and Electronic Wallet Scheme has greatly improved the sector which now target close to five million farmers by the end of the dry season.

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Pix: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina

Oman reiterates support to enrich biodiversity

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The fifth meeting of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ( ITPGRFA) kicked off at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel on Tuesday at Oman.

The opening ceremony of the meeting organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries was sponsored by His Highness Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Al Said, adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and continues till September 28.

His Excellency, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Fuad Bin Jaafar Al Sajwani, said the Sultanate’s hosting of the meeting shows its support for efforts to enrich the state of biodiversity in general and genetic resources in particular, coming after the ministerial conference for the Near East and North Africa and a meeting of Donor Funds on the challenges of food security across the world.

The Director General of the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development Ir. Haryono, speaking on behalf of the Indonesian minister of agriculture, stressed the importance of working together and pointed out that the genetic resources have become an integral part of the laws and regulation across the world which now faces climate challenges, draught and water scarcity.

 NaijaAgroNet  gathered that the Director General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), José Graziano da Silvawas, delivered a recorded speech from the Organisation Headquarters in Rome, and pointed out that the treaty which is one of the most successful plays a vital role for food security by ensuring fair distribution.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from the meeting that  the Near East countries in Asia and Africa are among the richest in the world in terms of plant resources, yet  lack food security, suffer  from instability, climate changes, exhaustion of bio resources, such as soil and water, while the FAO efforts is on how to  secure food for nine billion people by 2050.

*With additional report from Oman News Agency

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EU, FAO partner to help six countries achieve MDG on hunger

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

Less than two years before the deadline set to achieve international development goals, the European Union (EU) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have teamed up to reduce world hunger by assisting two million people in six countries with agricultural development activities worth nearly €60 million about N15.6 billion.

The funding comes from a €1 billion, about N259.4 billion EU initiative that aims to foster speedier progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

During a special event on the Millennium Development Goals at the UN General Assembly, FAO’s Director-General José Graziano da Silva said "So close to the deadline, when there is still so much to do, this good investment in agriculture will enable FAO to increase its efforts to eradicate hunger and do even more to help countries halve the proportion of hungry people by 2015."

Commenting on the development the EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said "I find it unacceptable in the 21st century that some 870 million people are still going hungry and malnutrition is responsible for over 3 million child deaths annually. This funding underlines our commitment to stepping up our work on hunger and to meeting the MDGs.”

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the MDG-initiative promotes strong partnerships with the UN agencies, while the EU and FAO focus on agricultural development involving smallholder farmers and their families on improved nutrition in Burudi, Burkina Faso,Gambia , Haiti, Madagascar and Mozambique.

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

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

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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