Top fishery officials say aquaculture comes of age

NaijaAgroNet:

High-level delegations of fisheries ministries from over 50 countries have gathered in Agadir, Morocco for a summit to discuss emerging governance needs in the aquaculture, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Also, NaijaAgroNet gathered,  is that fishery sector provides the world with 17 per cent of its animal protein and developing countries with more export revenue than meat, tobacco, rice and sugar combined. 

Audun Lem, Deputy-Director in FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division observed that the globalization of the fish trade, driven in large part by fast growth in aquaculture, raises challenging needs for better rules and practices regarding traceability, labor conditions and the protection of biodiversity as well as commercial preparations for shifts in demand, consumption habits, climate change impacts, and the rapid rise of supermarkets with their corollary supply chains. 

"Trade in fish is much more important than people think, both in absolute and relative terms," said Lem, who also is secretary of the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade whose biennial meeting is being held in Africa for the first time. 

Dialogues over the week-long meeting in Morocco, Lem said would help FAO, its member countries and industry representatives understand new trends, opportunities and challenges in the fishing sector, fostering the development of strategies that could be the best position developing countries to develop their fisheries sectors in a sustainable manner and to maximize their economic benefit from the growth we expect to witness. 

Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Expert says agro-biotechnologies essential in fighting hunger

NaijaAgroNet:

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) José Graziano da Silva has said that agro-biotechnologies are essential in fight against hunger, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Addressing the opening session of the FAO-hosted international symposium on "The Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition the need for a broad portfolio of tools and approaches to eradicate hunger, fight every form of malnutrition and achieve sustainable agriculture." 

"As a neutral forum, FAO has been promoting debates, dialogues and exchanges of information in order to enhance our knowledge of these tools and approaches," the DG said.

The symposium, de Silva said, focuses mainly on the broad range of biotechnologies that could result in yield increases, better nutritional qualities, and improved productivities of crops, livestock, fish and trees benefitting family farmers and their food systems, nutrition and livelihoods. 

These, he said, include many "low tech" applications, for example fermentation processes, bio-fertilizers, artificial insemination, the production of vaccines, disease diagnostics, the development of bio-pesticides and the use of molecular markers in developing new varieties and breeds.

"We cannot lose sight that biotechnologies, knowledge and innovation must be available, accessible and applicable to family farmers including small holders," Graziano da Silva told symposium participants. "We must find the means to remove the barriers that prevent their availability to family farmers.

The symposium,he said, is not about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pointing out that agricultural biotechnologies are much broader than GMOs.

About 500 scientists, representatives of government, civil society, the private sector, academia, farmers' associations and cooperatives are participated in the three day event.

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IFAD tasks leaders to break chains of desperation

NaijaAgroNet:

The President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, has tasked development leaders to break chains of desperation, which often lead to emergencies and humanitarian disasters, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Addressing the 39th Governing Council of IFAD in Rome at the weekend, Dr. Nwanze said this has become necessary given the backdrop of new reports that showed the number of refugees entering Europe has continued to skyrocket.

He told senior government officials attending the final day of the Council session to renew their commitments to invest in smallholder agriculture and reduce poverty in developing countries.

As said by him, rural development plays a fundamental role in stabilizing communities and reducing migration and conflict, and “by working together to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) starting with zero poverty and zero hunger; we can break the chain of desperation” that leads to emergencies and humanitarian disaster.”

He also made urgent calls for action in support of increased investment in smallholder agricultural to ensure food security, climate change adaptation, equitable prosperity and ultimately to remove the root causes that lead to conflict and migration, were shared throughout the two-day conference, held annually in Rome for senior government officials representing IFAD’s 176 member states.

Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic, pledged that Italy will continue to play a key role in the eradication of hunger and poverty, conditions he described as "insidious".

Equally, Mattarella brought attention to the increasing number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria and called on leaders of all nations to get involved.

"Saving human lives and reaching out to those fleeing war or misery is a moral duty, a duty for any society that defines itself as free, democratic and truly respectful of human rights," he said.

 
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$5,000 seed funding up for youth agripreneurs

NaijaAgroNet:

The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have launched a pilot project tagged Youth Agripreneurs Project (YAP) beginning with the seed funding of 5,000 USD, reports NaijaAgroNet.

GFAR Social Media Coordinator, Mr. Peter Casier, said that the project was in recognition of the crucial importance of young farmers, and the role of small entrepreneurship.

The Youth Agripreneurs Project, he said, is a pilot project providing seed funding (US$5,000) to young agriculture entrepreneurs.

According to him, there is more, we'll integrate them in an extensive one year mentoring, online media training via advocacy and online networking are essential for young agripreneurs, and follow-up programme to ensure their agripreneurs project becomes a success.

“We have a solid support infrastructure in combination of GFAR, CGIAR and YPARD resources; have the basic funding in place,” he said.

Casier also commended the first sponsors, namely the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Agropolis Fondation.

He disclosed they have a solid project outline which was participatory designed together with a large group of YPARD youth. Just as they plan an online media training package at the upcoming  #GCARD3 Global Consultation in South Africa and a well-oiled and tested YPARD mentoring programme.

 

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)  

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Lagos partners Dangote on grants for women

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in collaboration with Dangote Foundation, has inaugurated the Local Government Dangote Foundation Micro Grants’ Beneficiary selection committee for women in the State, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium on Tuesday, venue of the event, the State Commissioner for the Ministry, Hon. Lola Akande said the Committee is saddled with the responsibility of selecting, nominating and presenting eligible candidates as prospective beneficiaries from Ward Level to the State Government for final approval before they can access the Dangote Foundation Micro Grants.

While commending Dangote Foundation for its magnanimity in wanting to reduce poverty among women by empowering them, Akande disclosed that the programme was aimed at boosting the household income generation of disadvantaged women such as widows, divorcees and special people, adding that each beneficiary will be awarded the sum of N10, 000 and a Mobile Phone.

“In view of Government’s commitment to raising the standard of living of the people and its attempts to reduce the level of poverty among residents in the State, the present administration is appreciative of the collaborative gesture from corporate bodies such as Dangote Foundation and would welcome more of such” she said.

In his remark, Mr. Musa Bala, the Program Manager of Dangote Foundation stated that Lagos State is the sixth beneficiary of the N10 Billion nationwide programme by the company having done same in five other states before, adding that the N400 million Lagos project was meant for the economic empowerment of vulnerable widows and socially disadvantaged women in the State.

While enjoining members of the committee to be fair in selection of beneficiaries, Bala urged them to make equity and fairness their watch words in the selection process.

     

The Eight Member Committee include representative of Executive Secretaries of Local Government and Local Council Development Areas, representative of Traditional Institution in the benefitting Community, one representative each from the Islamic and Christian Organisations, Representative of Youth groups from community based organizations, two non- partisan, non- religious community members, and Community Development Officer/Welfare Secretary while the representative of the Executive Governor, Hon. Lola Akande will chair the Committee.

 

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