Uganda host symposium & exhibition on agric November

NaijaAgroNet:

 A 5-day international symposium and exhibition designed to reflect on agricultural development in the East African Community (EAC) in the last 50 years is billed to hold 4-8 November 2013 at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The event is organized by the EAC Secretariat, Kilimo Trust, Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Uganda's Ministries of East African Community Affairs (MEACA- Uganda), and Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF- Uganda) respectively.

The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social sectors at the EAC Secretariat Hon. Jesca Eriyo states that "the event is also being held at a time when the continent's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is marking 10 years of implementation, stressing that it is only two years away from the target year 2015 for the EAC Partner States to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

NaijaAgroNet learnt  from Eriyo that the “symposium, the YiA workshop, the seminars and the executive roundtable will provide an opportunity to evaluate progress, lessons, and prospects for the future - in relation to national efforts since independence by articulating an EAC regional vision of  agriculture for the future as a modern and vibrant sector that fully takes advantage of the region's endowment with resources (youthful population, arable land, water and now the realization of oil and gas) coupled with the ever increasing global demand for food and agricultural products.”

Participants at the event will engage the private sector in agriculture including farmers, leaders of farmer organizations and agribusiness players along agricultural value chains; government ministries and departments; national agricultural research organizations; universities, and extension service providers; international and regional development organizations supporting agriculture in the EAC Region; civil society organizations; youth in agriculture among other practitioners in the agricultural sector.

AN/GEE

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Smith debunks Belmont Meats link to source of E.coil

NaijaAgroNet

The Chief Executive Officer of Belmont Meats, Duffy Smith has debunked the assertion that the possible E.coil contamination of a ground beef originated from his Toronto plant, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Smith, whose company has been at the center of a ground beef recall, said that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is checking where the beef trim that his company uses to make burgers came from so that the source of the E. coli can be traced.

"We fully vetted all our production systems and checks. They cover the gamut of federal requirements for handling raw meat and our operations are clean. They (CFIA) have gone back into the supply chain and they are working with several suppliers trying to source where the contamination came from," Duffy said.

Smith said the beef Belmont uses is certified and inspected by the CFIA from Canadian beef suppliers, which he declined to name, while a spokesman for the CFIA, Guy Gravelle said in an email from Ottawa that he could confirm that the agency continues to investigate.

It will be recalled that NaijaAgroNet reported this story of beef that has been linked to nine confirmed cases of people getting sick from E. coli in the province, two probable cases and four suspected cases.

It recorded also that the three main beef-processing plants in the country include two operated by Cargill Canada in High River, Alta., and Guelph, Ont, and the other is the JBS Food Canada Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta., formerly owned by XL Foods which was at the centre of the largest meat recall in Canadian history last year when eighteen people became ill.

 Since the agency began issuing health hazard alerts earlier this month about possible E. coli, Belmont has recalled about 68,000 kilograms of beef, including products distributed across Canada.While details of the alerts and recalls, including which products are involved, are posted on the agency's website.

AN/GEE

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FG engages non-militant youths in ICT, agric training

NaijaAgroNet              

The Federal Government has approved N807 million for the training of 2700 Niger Delta youth who are non-militants in information communication (ICT) technology and  agriculture in continuation of existing Programme with the Ministry of Agriculture, at the cost of N258.7 million and N549 million respectively, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Rueben Abati, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the weekly meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Minister of State for Niger Delta, Dairus Ishaku, explained that the contract is part of the continuous engagement of government with youth and traditional rulers, hence government have decided to attach the youth to employers after the training.

“The training will be staggered across states in the Niger Delta area, including Cross Rivers and other states,” he said.

The federal government already spends billions of naira annually to train former Niger Delta militants who accepted the government’s amnesty programme.

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pix:President Goodluck Jonathan

FG plans reduction on wheat importation by 20 %

NaijaAgroNet

The Federal Government has advanced plans to cut down wheat importation by 20 per cent and save over N127 billion from its annual wheat import bill of over N635 billion as from 2014.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina dropped the hint in Lokoja during a two-day training workshop on cassava bread organised for master bakers from the North Central zone, stressing that government took the stance in order to reduce the bill and  implement its policy of 20 per cent substitution of wheat with cassava flour in bread production.

The Minister who was represented by his technical adviser on cassava value chain, Toyin Adetunji said that the master bakers’ training was part of measures aimed at developing cassava industry, create jobs and boost the income of the people.

NaijaAgroNet reports that Nigeria has become the pace setter in cassava production with a capacity of 40 million metric tons per annum, and being trailed by Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia.

“The challenge to us as a nation is that Thailand, which is the third largest producer of cassava, controls over 80 percent of the world market of cassava starch. Hence, there is need for us to play our role as a leading producer nation,” he said.

He disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved N10 billion as cassava bread development fund while the training of the 770 master bakers cut  across the six geo-political zones with a minimum of six bakers from each local government area of the country.

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Costco recalls ground beef due to E. coli

NaijaAgroNet

Costco is recalling lean fresh ground beef that was sold to 342 customers at its Coon Rapids location last month because the product could be contaminated with a dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria, NaijaAgroNet report.

NaijaAgroNet gathered from the U.S. Department of Agriculture  that the recall affects 383 units of 88 per cent lean fresh ground beef sold between September  4 and September  7 and added that one person became ill late last month from E. coli O157: H7, and Minnesota officials confirmed a link to the ground beef.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Health are continuing to investigate the contaminated product, while officials said Costco has been trying to reach customers who purchased the ground beef.

NaijaAgroNet records that E.coli is short for the medical term Escherichia coli, a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. E. coli O157:H7 can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Older adults and children under five are more likely to suffer from complications from the illness, which can lead to kidney failure.

*With additional report from Minnesota Public Radio

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WAAPP to produce 250m fingerlings, brood stock

NaijaAgroNet

The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) in Nigeria has declared that it will produce 250 million fast growing fingerlings as well as high quality brood stock in one year for farmers.

The WAAPP’s National Project Coordinator, Prof. Damian Chikwendu, gave this assurance while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja and stressed that the programme is focused  to promote some newly introduced agricultural technology among farmers.

“We have about 120 communities we are working with while the research institutes and colleges are working with some secondary schools as well. We are trying to promote interest in agriculture among students in secondary schools. We are also working with research institutes to multiply breeder seeds, improve foundation seeds as well as working with the private sector to multiply certified seeds. We are also working with the research institutes and universities to multiply fast growing fingerlings and high quality brood stock; our target for fingerlings for one year is to provide 250 million fingerlings. The seeds and fingerlings that are being produced are for farmers and they are getting them already. The programme is also working toward popularising all local genetic materials, “Prof. Chikwendu said.

He mentioned the `Shika brown’ as an example  of a layer breed of chicken developed by the National Animal Production Research Institute, and said  that the “brown parent stocks” of the new breed would be reproduced with the parent stock and day old chicks distributed to farmers for adoption.

The World Bank Regional Task Team Leader in West Africa Dr Abdoulaye Toure, said the idea of the programme was to share innovations among countries to help develop the sector as well as food security and reduce poverty among West African countries, and urged countries to ensure speedy adoption of technologies and new approaches to development.

NaijaAgroNet recalls  that WAAPP is an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  initiative coordinated at the sub-regional level by the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, but  in Nigeria, it was approved by the World Bank and is being coordinated by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to cooperate with the West African sub-region in technology generation and dissemination.

The ARCN Executive Secretary, Prof. Baba-Yusuf Abubakar, also said that WAAPP programmes were in line with the federal government  Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), as it has supported some of the research institutes to produce the foundation seeds that eventually go to the National Seeds Council and then finally to the farmers.

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Adesina inaugurates agric boards, commend research institutes

NaijaAgroNet

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has inaugurated 15 boards of agencies and institutes under his ministry in Abuja with a charge to help the country generate revenue internally as well as become a  global player in the food export business, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Adesina said that the board should improve the relations between the management and staff among others things  within a period of nine months and commended the various research institutes, noting that “they are all operated under very harsh conditions, yet are doing very well.”

He said  that Nigeria can feed and sustain itself given its fertile land, labour and highly resourceful people and stressed that agriculture had been reformed from being a developmental activity to become a big business for all stakeholders at all levels.

“We have decided as a country to be more cohesive and efficient in achieving our agricultural dream of making Nigeria a food sufficient and food exporting country,” Adesina said.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the boards inaugurated include, the National Root Crops Research Institute, Abia, National Lake Chad Reasearch Institute, Maiduguri, National Institute for Fresh Water Fisheries Research, Niger, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, Bank of Agriculture, and National Horticultural  Institute,  the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Cooperation, National Veterinary Research Institute, Agricultural Research Development Council, FCT, Cocoa Research Institute Of Nigeria, National Cereals Research Institute, Ibadan and National Animal Research Institute.

Speaking on behalf of the board members, Chioma Ohakim assured the president of their support and commitment to ensuring the success of his administration’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

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Pix:Minister of Agric &Rural Dev. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

Unilever says Royco 'Now Meatier than Ever'

NaijaAgroNet:

Leader in consumer goods, Unilever Nigeria Plc, has re-launched its Royco seasoning brand with a new Chicken flavor and reformulation of the existing Beef flavour.

Unilever sources confirmed this to NaijaAgroNet saying that with the brand re-launch and extension, Royco now comes in three variants – Chicken, Beef and Goat – all of which deliver on a culinary promise of taste that is ‘Now Meatier than Ever’ before.

Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Thabo Mabe said that: ‘At Unilever, we are focused on the needs of our consumers and provide innovative products that will meet these needs in a unique manner, while improving their lives. This Royco re-launch further reinforces this commitment and I am confident that our new Royco Chicken and reformulated Royco Beef flavour will receive positive reviews and acceptance in the Nigerian market.’

Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme said that the re-launch was done against the background of a new campaign theme tagged, ‘The Great Taste of Home.’ The campaign seeks to connect Nigerians with the essence of the brand which is all about bringing to life the great taste of home in every meal prepared with Royco seasoning.

Okeme said, ‘We are happy to introduce the new variant and reformulated cube flavours to Nigerians. This is a great time for Nigerians to try out dishes prepared with Royco seasoning and appreciate their local dishes irrespective of the kind of food that is being prepared.’

Category Manager, Savoury, Unilever Nigeria, Bolanle Kehinde–Lawal, said that the new Royco brings uniqueness to the taste of seasonings available to the Nigerian consumer. She said, “We are here today to introduce to Nigeria the new and specially formulated Royco seasoning that makes the taste of everyday meals now meatier than ever with an irresistible aroma.’
Royco Chicken, the latest introduction to the existing Royco family, is specially formulated to deliver ‘irresistible chicken taste’ and great aroma, in addition to the existing Beef and Goat variants.

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*Pix: Launch of the new Royco.

WTO: G33 reopen talks on subsidies in December

Anthony Nwakaegho /NaijaAgroNet

A group of developing countries known as G33 plans to re-open World Trade Organization, (WTO) discussions on limits to support for farmers at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia in December.

The group said that the combined effects of the global economic slowdown and increasing climatic shocks are threatening food security in developing countries and want to exceed their agreed domestic support limits when they buy, stock and supply cereals and other food to boost food security among the poor, devoid of any legal challenge.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the WTO rules do not prescribe limits on the amount of food that can be bought at market prices for food stocks, and it does not limit the amount of food that can be provided as domestic food aid at subsidized prices, except that WTO only disciplines buying cereals at administered prices.

However, developed countries and some developing countries are concerned that the G33 proposal which is backed by India, China and Indonesia could affect food security in neighbouring countries as these measures could lead to surpluses in stocks, which the G33 members might dump in the global market thereby disrupting global prices.

Chairman of India's Commission for Agriculture Cost and Prices (CACP), Ashok Gulati, said that India wants more leeway to provide support for its farmers and consumers because the government is launching a massive subsidized food scheme through a public distribution system that will reach two-thirds of its population of nearly 800 million people.

 He explained that a situation where India would be in a position to dump excess stocks could arise "once in 10 years as the larger distortion will be domestic."

NaijaAgroNet noted that a representative from one of the G33 countries at the WTO, who preferred not to be named, said not all the members of the group were supportive of the proposal and stressed that “India is already the largest exporter of rice in the world... Small exporters will lose their competitiveness because of Indian subsidies... Rice prices are already going down, and with further subsidies it can lead to a price crash.”

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Cameroon cocoa sales decline by 45%

Anthony Nwakaegho /NaijaAgroNet

The National Cocoa and Coffee Board   (NCCB) said that Cameroon farmers’ cocoa sales  declined to 45 per cent from a year ago having sold 6,619 tonnes of cocoa beans for grinding in the first two months of the 2013/14 season, which began on August 1.

It said the Cameroon’s cocoa production hit 228,948 tonnes in 2012/2013, but months of dry, cool weather in the cocoa-producing Centre, South West and East Regions have sparked fears of a drop in production in 2013/14,

The NCCB said that Sic-Cacaos ,Cameroon’s largest grinder and a unit of Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut  purchased 4,057 tonnes of cocoa in September while Chocolaterie Confiserie du Cameroun (CHOCOCAM), the only other grinder in the world’s fifth-largest cocoa grower, did not make any purchases.

In the first two months of the 2012/13 season, by comparison, the two local grinders had purchased 11,984 tonnes, with Sic-Cacaos accounting for 11,183 tonnes and CHOCOCAM for 801 tonnes.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Sic-Cacaos processes cocoa beans into cocoa cake powder and liquor to be sold in the six-member Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC), and CHOCOCAM, an affiliate of South Africa’s Tiger Brand, manufactures chocolate that is sold only in Cameroon.

Both firms have announced plans to set up another plant in the Ivory Coast this season, extend their markets, CHOCOCAM to the other CEMAC countries and Sic-Cacaos to West Africa, particularly Nigeria.

NaijaAgroNet also noted that Cameroon’s cocoa season runs from August 1 to July 31, with the main harvest period from October to January/February and the light crop harvest from April/May to July.

*With additional reports from Reuters

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pix:President Paul Biya of Cameroon