[NaijaagroNet] GESS is a boost to farming – AFAN

NaijaAgroNet:

The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) has been described as a boost to farming industry in Nigeria, according to the secretary of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Garba Bichi, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The GESS, NaijaAgroNet also reports, is a policy introduced by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to help farmers in growing their crops using fertilizer at a subsidize rate.

Alhaji Bichi told NaijaAgroNet in Kano, that not less than 120,000 farmers specialize in rice farming are going to receive fertilizer at a subsidize rate from the Federal Government for irrigation rice production.

Some aim of the scheme, he said, include targeting of 5 million farmers each year for 4 years that will receive GESS in their mobile phone directly totaling 20 million at the end of 4 years and to provide support directly to farmers to enable them procure agricultural inputs at affordable prices, at the right time and place.

Alhaji Bichi confirmed that the distribution will commenced Monday, February 2, 2015 and it would be in 44 Local Government Areas in 48 recovery centers in the state of Kano.

Stressing that the distribution will be at all the redemption centers in the state on receipt of short message service alert on their handsets and enjoined farmers to look out and ensure they participate fully.

ChidozieAnibueze/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

[NaijaagroNet] FAO supports AU to end hunger in Africa

 NaijaAgroNet:

The Director General for Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Mr.Graziano Silva has given his support to the African Union(AU) to put an end to hunger in Africa, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The support came during the African Union summit that was held in January, 2015 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where Heads of State and Government met in respect to the Malobo pledge made in 2014.

Graziano da Silva said that his Organization’s support has been with the African Union ever since they started the journey.

"My presence at the AU summit, where the Malabo implementation strategy and road map have been presented and approved by heads of state, is crucial for FAO, we have accompanied the AU and NEPAD since the beginning of this journey, and will continue to do so until we get a hunger free Africa with the participation of key stakeholders governments, private sector, civil society, youth and women."

The FAO has been in support since the first realization plan of the post Malobo roadmap, and they also attract both public and private sectors to bring solution in putting to stop every factor that could lead to food shortage.

ChidozieAnibueze/GEE

  ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

[NaijaAgroNet] Kofi Annan says Africa can end global food insecurity, nutrition crisis

NaijaAgroNet:

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan has declared that Africa has the capacity to feed the world and put an end to the global food insecurity and nutrition crises, reports NaijaAgroNet

Speaking at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, NaijaAgroNet reports that Annan said, Africa has the largest uncultivated arable land that needs to be put in use in order to provide more environments for both youth and adult farmers to provide the quantity of food needed.

“About 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated land is located in the Sub-Saharan Africa,” he declared.

According to him, Africa has all it takes to boost its economy and add growth to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NaijaAgroNet recalls that Kofi A. Annan was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations and founding chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and was in 2001, alongside the United Nations jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swissnonprofitfoundation, based in Cologny, Geneva. It describes itself as an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

ChidozieAnibueze/GEE

 ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Security: Fashola improves Lagos State with ICT Resource Centre

NaijaAgroNet:

Setting a path to follow, the Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has improved security in the state with a donation of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Resource Center to the Lagos Police Command, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The centre which is located at C Police command Surulere area of Lagos State, he said, is part of some 100 resource centers being built by his government and expressed hope the centres will be completed and handed over to police across the state before the end of his tenure by May 29, 2015. 

The Governor added that the resource center will help the police to carry out an effective operation in reducing tedious record management system and tracking crime evidence locations, as capable staff has been trained by the ministry of science and technology to man the facilities, which include Digital Asset Management Systems, Digital Camera and two KW sola installations among others.

The governor also stressed the importance of communications technology saying “We cannot over-emphasize the importance of information communications in our lives. What we have done with these centers is to empower and enable the police to be able to keep detailed records of evidences. 

For instance, why do we have to keep a vehicle that was involved in an accident in the station for so long and allow it to rot, thereby losing value and depriving the owner of the vehicle? With this centre, the police can just take the photographs of the vehicle from all possible angle and incident it in their electronic file,” he said.

Kayode Aderanti, the commissioner of police commended Fashola for his concerns on the welfare of the police, saying that police would not have attained the height they are right now in Lagos, if not for the governor.

 
Dozie Anibueze/GEE
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

Vlisco Group, FG sign investment MoU on cotton, textile and fashion sectors

PR@NaijaAgroNet:

The Dutch textile and design company, Vlisco Group, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria, creating a platform for significant expansion in Africa’s largest economy. 

The Nigerian government in December 2014 approved a major revitalisation and reform of its Cotton, Textiles and Garment (CTG) sector. This will catalyse growth and jobs in Nigeria across the entire value-chain from cotton to fashion.

The pathfinding Memorandum of Understanding between The Vlisco Group and the Nigerian government details wide-ranging collaboration and support. Vlisco Group intends to offer Nigeria’s 188m consumers its four brands (Woodin, Vlisco, Uniwax and GTP). The Group will participate across the sector value chain from sourcing of cotton, textile printing, wholesale, retail and e-commerce distribution, garment manufacturing and supporting and promoting Nigerian fashion designers.

The MoU is expected to yield benefits for the Nigerian economy in terms of economic diversification and job creation in line with the Government’s Industrial Revolution strategy. Vlisco Group’s activities are expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs in Nigeria in the medium term. 

The Honourable Minster of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, commenting on the MoU stated: ”The Government of Nigeria is delighted to welcome this investment and partnership from the Vlisco Group into Nigeria. We are determined to rebuild this historically important sector with its job creation impact across the entire value chain from cotton fields to fashion. We are looking forward to implementing this strategic partnership with the Vlisco Group”.

Hans Ouwendijk, CEO of Vlisco Group: “We commend the Nigerian Government for its focus on revitalising this critical sector. The new policy enables the Vlisco Group to invest in Nigeria and to contribute to the building of a vibrant CTG sector. Nigeria is Africa’s largest consumer market and the opportunity to fully deploy our brands and business models in Nigeria provides a major boost to our growth ambition.”

Actis, as the majority shareholder in Vlisco Group, fully supports the Nigerian Government’s strategy for revitalising the textile sector. Fash Sawyerr, Director at Actis LLP: ”We applaud the Nigerian government’s focus on revitalising its CTG sector and diversifying its economy. We believe this significant agreement with Vlisco Group will be highly beneficial to Nigeria, job creation and to the Vlisco Group. We will provide our support to both parties to develop the intended benefits and economic impact across the textile value chain in Nigeria.”

 

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology