Food security: Gambia secures $9m loan from AfDB

NaijaAgroNet:

The Gambian government has signed a USD 9 million loan agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, to finance an agriculture value chains project, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The acting Vice-President, Sector Operations, AfDB, Kapil Kapoor, who signed the agreement for the bank, said that project which involves the production, processing and storage of or rice and livestock, will improve food security and create jobs.

He also said that the project is aligned with the bank’s High-5 priorities, especially the Feed Africa component, stressing that the government would implement the project as quickly as possible in line with the bank's new accelerated projects and programmes delivery approach.

In response, the Gambian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Abdou Kolley, who signed the agreement for his country, thanked the bank for the support, and said the project will go a long way toward the realization of his county's food self-sufficiency goal and promised that the government would work hard to reduce bottlenecks which cause delays in the projects implementation.

The Agriculture Value Chains Development Project (AVCDP) which was approved in March 2016, seeks to increase, on a sustainable basis, the income of rural producers, entrepreneurs engaged in the production, processing, storage and marketing of rice and livestock. It will also create shared wealth and jobs.

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UN agencies provide seeds, tools and food to drought stricken areas

NaijaAgroNet:

Two United Nations (UN) agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have commenced provision of seeds, hand tools and food to nearly 50,000 hungry farming families in the most food-insecure areas of the Central African Republic (CAR), NaijaAgroNet reports.

This, NaijaAgroNet gathered is being done under the ‘seed protection’ initiative of the UN in which FAO uses to provide crop and vegetable seeds, while WFP provides groundnuts, maize, rice, sorghum, and beans to the same families.

The FAO country representative Jean-Alexandre Scaglia, said that “critical we make sure families don't cope with the current scarcity by eating their seeds meant for planting”, while the WFP Central African Republic Country Director, BienvenuDjossa, said that the food provided by WFP ensures that the seeds get planted and families don't go hungry at the same time, saying, "Our support now can help people escape the vicious cycle of hunger."

It was gathered by NaijaAgroNet that the exercise is being funded by governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the African Development Bank, the European Union and ECHO, the FondsBêkou, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, the Common Humanitarian Fund for the Central African Republic, UN Women, and the World Bank.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that another 50,000 families will be supported during the second planting season in August/September, meaning 100,000 families in total (500,000 people) will be supported under the initiative this year, which is not enough as the WFP requires US$83 million to respond to the urgent needs of 1.4 million people until the end of September in CAR and in neighbouring countries hosting Central African Republic refugees, while the FAO is appealing for US$86 million to support 1.55 million people with inputs to produce crops and keep their livestock healthy, and strengthen the government's efforts to boost food security. However, there is a serious funding gap, to date only 8 percent of these requirements have been met.

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Ban on cattle grazing reserves courageous, says Afenifere, backs Fayose

NaijaAgroNet:

A socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, otherwise known as Afenifere has described the ban on cattle grazing reserves in Ekiti State as courageous and endorsed the Ayodele Fayose-government in the state over this matter, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Afenifere, NaijaAgroNet recalls was formed with Pa Abraham Adesanya as its pioneer leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, their attention has been drawn to the courageous move by the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose to ban cattle grazing in the state.

As said by him, the action of the governor is a timely move to strengthen the civilization that places higher premium on human lives above cows.

“We have sacrificed enough blood in the unending cycle of bloodletting by Fulani herdsmen, the latest being those killed in Ekiti a few days ago,” he said.

Afenifere also said that the responsible action of the governor should jolt the Federal Government that has appeared largely indifferent to the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen to act responsibly over this matter.

“We fully endorse this action which is in conformity with the resolution of the 2014 National Conference that cattle breeders must embrace ranching as against grazing reserves being canvassed in certain quarters,” Afenifere insisted.

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240m worldwide face food stress - Report

NaijaAgroNet:

Some 240 million people across 70 countries globally are in a food stress situation, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Revelation of this came as part of the Phase 2 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), NaijaAgroNet reports that with the current classification covers 70 countries affected by a food crisis in 2015, including chronically vulnerable countries at or above Phase 2 of the study.

In addition, the report indicated that some 80 million people are in food crisis as at January 2016.

While nearly half of those people are located in countries affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

Speaking at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, the World Food Progamme (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, said the initiative will provide the best food security data to stakeholders. 

The summit, NaijaAgroNet reports, came to life as a network to achieve joint global food-security assessments and joint responses to food crises.

These include the phenomena such as El Niño, was launched in Istanbul Monday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Global Network for Food Insecurity, Risk Reduction and Food Crises Response, NaijaAgroNet gathered, would pave the way for enhancing the impact of future responses to food crises at the global level by regularly producing, in real time, joint reports based on key analyses and containing timely response options.

According to FAO, this will prompt coordination among stakeholders and promote joint planning and joint responses to food crises, in addition, to improving learning from past crises and increase the level of transparency and availability of crucial analysis of global needs. 

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Gov. Ayo Fayose bans cattle rearing in Ekiti state

NaijaAgroNet:

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has banned grazing and rearing of cattle in the state, saying those interested in cattle farming should get their own private cattle ranch, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The governor, disclosed this after visiting some victims of herdsmen attack in Oke-Ako in Ikole Local Government Area (LGA) of Ekiti State, said, a bill to make the movement of cattle from one location to another criminal in the state would soon be sent to the State House of Assembly.

Governor Fayose, lamented the invasion of the community last Friday by Fulani herdsmen which resulted in the two deaths in the community and injured others, warned that government would henceforth confiscate any cattle seen anywhere in the State apart from ranch created for them by their owners.

He described the Fulani herdsmen that attacked Oke-Ako and other communities in the country as “agents of the devil that must be fished out and punished accordingly.”

For him, Ekiti citizens will not leave their lands for Fulani herdsmen and in a system “where the leadership of the country looks the other way while our people are being killed, we will have no option than to defend ourselves by whatever means.

“I have come here to commiserate with the people of Oke-Ako over the murder of two of our people by these evil Fulani herdsmen.  I am also here to assure that this will be the last time your community will be invaded by Fulani herdsmen under whatever guise.

“I have directed that cattle rearing and grazing should stop in Ekiti State and those interested in cattle farming should henceforth do so in their own cattle ranch.

“No more movement of cattle from one location to another in the State and any cattle seen anywhere in Ekiti State apart from the ranch created for them by their owners will be confiscated by the government and their owners will be prosecuted.

“A bill to this effect will be sent to House of Assembly for passage into law to criminalise cattle owners whose cattle are found moving from one location to the other in the State.

"We in Ekiti will no longer harbor herdsmen who go about killing our people, destroying our farmlands and raping our women. It is our duty to protect our people and we are going to do that without fear or favor.

The governor said the activities of Fulani herdsmen was inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country saying, “one wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.”

Governor Fayose, in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, promised to complement the efforts of the local hunters provided a Pick Up Van, raised the sum of N2.5m for them and advice the hunters to work hand-in-hand with the security personnel for the safety of the community. He also raised the sum of N2.5m for the affected families.

“I want to say it very clearly, everything you want me to do towards a safe environment, I will do. Because the moment you are not secured then I had better resigned as a governor.

“If I cannot provide adequate security for you, it is better for me to leave this office. The only reason you voted for me is because you know I am competent to do the needful in circumstances like this. Nobody will take Ekiti away from us.

The governor visited the hospital where some of the injured were receiving treatment and in the course of interacting with the Doctor realize the importance of relocating them to Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti where adequate treatment can be delivered on them and also promised to refer them to OAU Teaching hospital if need be.

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Pix: Gov Fayose with local hunters in Oke-Ako during his visit.

NCF conducts annual water bird census

NaijaAgroNet:

The Nigerian Conservation Foundationhas conducted an annual water bird census at Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in Yobe and Jigawa States, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This,NaijaAgroNet gathered was done as part of its commitment and dedication to the conservation and management of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) within and outside protected areas reports.

Disclosing this at a capacity building workshop on effective monitoring of IBAs in Cross Rivers State, facilitated by NCF’s Ruth Akagu and Professor Augustine Ezealor, they said the purpose of the Water Bird Census which took place in six communities; Baturia, Nguru Lake, Dagona, Gsahua (new site), Katagum and Marma Chanel, was to ascertain the population of water birds.

The workshop focused on IBAs in unprotected areas and participants acquired skills in basic field techniques on bird sampling and identification, effective utilisation of the IBA form and METT framework and learned about the processes involved in establishing SSGs.

The training was funded by the RSPB (Birdlife in the UK) and facilitated by NCF with support from A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute and National Park Service.

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AATF to boost agro-productivity in Africa via Innovation

  NaijaAgroNet:

The Executive Director, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dennis Kyetere has said that the use of technology will play a key role in addressing farmer’s constraints and enhancing agricultural development on the continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In line with this, the AATF has signed a memorandum of Understanding with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) during which the Secretary General COMESA, Mr. Sindiso  Ngwenya, said that there is need for African countries to use innovation to boost agricultural productivity and trade in the region.

Also, Mr. Ngwenya said, technological interventions will help in securing Africa’s future through increased agricultural productivity, and as Dr. Kyetere said, the foundation promotes various kinds of technologies to strengthen the capacity of farmers in Africa.

Mr. Ngwenya further said that the partnerships should help address the entire commodity value chains from production through to the markets.

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Food security: UN, EU launch global network for joint assessments, coordinated action

NaijaAgroNet:

A new network to achieve joint global food-security assessments and joint responses to food crises, including those related to phenomena such as El Niño, was launched in Istanbul Monday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Global Network for Food Insecurity, Risk Reduction and Food Crises Response, NaijaAgroNet gathered, would pave the way for enhancing the impact of future responses to food crises at the global level by regularly producing, in real time, joint reports based on key analyses and containing timely response options.

According to FAO, this will prompt coordination among stakeholders and promote joint planning and joint responses to food crises, in addition, to improving learning from past crises and increase the level of transparency and availability of crucial analysis of global needs.

The "Global Network" and its outputs are public goods, available for everybody. Participation in the network will be broadened to all key stakeholders that can contribute to the analysis and/or to the response. The network’s pilot publication “Global analysis of food and nutrition security situation in food crisis hotspots 2016” is the example that a joint analysis is possible. It covers 70 countries affected by a food crisis in 2015, including chronically vulnerable countries at or above Phase 2 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). 

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FAO heads to World Humanitarian Summit 2016

NaijaAgroNet:

The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit slated for Istanbul, Turkey has attracted the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), reports NaijaAgroNet.

The summit which commences Monday, May 23 through Tuesday, 24, 2016, NaijaAgroNet gathered comes at a time when the world is witnessing the highest level of humanitarian needs since the Second World War.

NaijaAgroNet reports that rural communities are often the hardest hit by crises and disasters, hence, FAO believes that much more must be done to ensure they have unimpeded access to food and nutrition and that their livelihoods, which are mostly based on agriculture, are protected.

Globally disasters and conflicts, FAO said, are increasing in frequency and magnitude, stressing that these are as diverse as Typhoon Haiyan, the recent Ebola outbreak, and civil war in Syria, to name just a few.

FAO said, supporting agricultural livelihoods could help reduce risks, promote stability, and drive post-crisis recovery, just as investing in agriculture is a good investment in building a future in which no one is left behind.

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Nigeria, ready for nuclear energy –FG

NaijaAgroNet:

The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said Nigeria was ready to commence the production of nuclear energy, as she had secured the necessary certification from the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Stating that Nigeria had started a nuclear program 17 years ago, he also said Nigeria has also “produced 25 graduates of master’s level under certification by the International Atomic Energy Agency. He also said that we (Nigeria) are at the stage of developing a design for financing, after which we would move to the design for construction.

“If all things go well, by quarter four of next year – that is the schedule that I met – we should have started construction, so that is what I meet“ he said.

Fashola said it was important for Nigeria to focus on the gains and safety of nuclear energy as obtained in other developed countries and since the whole world was moving toward a cleaner fuel and the use of more sustainable form of energy, Nigeria could be an exception.

The minister further said that diversifying the nation’s energy mix would lead to the utilisation of the various forms of renewable energy sources in the country but the developed countries could only share the technology with countries ready keep to the standards in the utilisation of the technology. This, according to him, will ultimately make electricity cheap in the country.

“What we are thinking about is long-term solution. We need a solution that will endure for generations to come.“When you design a power solution, design it so that the next coming generations can use it,” Fashola said.

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