Xmas: Britain gives 9,000 tonnes of food to East African

In a bid to assist in the ongoing drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, Britain is set to give 9,000 tonnes of food and medical suppliers for Christmas, reports BBC.

The Secretary of State for International Development, Mr. Andrew Mitchell said its not only meant to save lives of people affected by the worst famine in decades but to also assist in preventing terrorism and disorder in Somalia which is a direct threat to the United Kingdom.

Mitchell who is also a member of the parliament said there are probably more British passport holders engaged in terrorist training in Somalia than in any other country of the world.

"This is not only about saving the lives of huge numbers of vulnerable babies and children, it is also about doing the right thing to promote British security," he said. Read more

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Nigeria’s Presidential foodstuffs to cost N477m

The presidency is reported to have budgeted the sum of N477 million on food stuffs and catering services for the year 2012.

This is coming as Nigeria spends N78.98bn on agriculture, just as Senate commended the federal government for increased budgetary allocation.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Aso Villa residents, that is both Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is to spend N477m on foodstuff and catering materials, the vice president, Alhaji Sambo is to spend N104 million for the aforementioned purpose; foodstuff and catering, whereas the cooking gas, and cooking fuel have been planned to take N6.2 million.

Equally, NaijaAgroNet learnt that refreshment and meals at the office of the president is expected to consume N93m, while canteen and kitchen equipment at the state house gulps N45.4m, reports channelstv.

It was further gathered that these were breakdown of the President’s budget with regards to Presidential food stuffs.

This is coming as Nigeria is to spend N78.98bn on agriculture, just as Senate commended the federal government for increased budgetary allocation.

However, at a conference in Lagos on Wednesday, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina declared that Nigeria is the second largest rice importer with a N1bn worth of rice consumed every day.

This, Adesina pointed out is killing investment in and agriculture, especially on rice production in the country and rural area development generally.

He described it as Nigeria eating beyond her means instead of creating jobs for the farmers.

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Agriculture, a priority for Nigeria

Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) has listed agriculture among his priority area of investment to create more jobs.

Addressing members of the joint National Assembly in Abuja, recently, he said, that there are plans to invest in some priority sectors including agriculture.

His administration, GEJ said, will in 2012 give priority attention to Information and Communications Technology (ICT), solid minerals development, manufacturing, aviation and creative industries in order to further develop these sectors that are known to be sources of growth and job creation.

Against the background of the above reforms, President Jonathan noted that his administration would promote job creation and inclusive growth by investing in critical infrastructure, human capital development and security including more support for the police, defence and counter-terrorism operations.

The agricultural sector, he said, is being totally transformed to enable Nigerians to move from traditional farming to modern agriculture as a business both for our small and large-scale farmers.

“Our objective is to ensure food security whilst also promoting exports in agriculture value chains where we have a comparative advantage,” he said, stressing that his administration intends to process and add value to different crops such as rice, cassava, sorghum, oil palm, cocoa, and cotton among others.

According to him, this approach is central to the transformation strategy, even as his administration has adopted enabling measures to support the development of private sector-driven marketing institutions, and push for policies that would promote agriculture to create jobs.

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Finland, IFAD boost Zambian small-holders with N5.249billion

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Finland have boosted the Republic of Zambia with the sum of US$31.8 million, about N5.249billion to improve the growth in small-holder agriculture.

While IFAD loaned Zambia the sum of $24.8m, Finland gave a grant of $7m.

This follows the signing of the financial agreement for the Smallholder Productivity Promotion Programme, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Zambia to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies, Mr. Samuel Mapala and IFAD President, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that agriculture, as an important sector for Zambian economic development contributes almost 22 per cent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 60 per cent of Zambians depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

IFAD in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet shows that loan is a necessity considering the need to promote businesses in the agricultural sector and raise productivity, which are of high priority to the government.

Focusing on increasing the production of cassava, mixed beans, groundnuts and rice, the new programme, NaijaAgroNet further learnt will enhance the on-farm productivity of smallholder farmers that will enable them to respond to emerging market opportunities. Even as it has the potential of improving income levels, food and nutrition security for poor agricultural households in the areas being covered.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Finland co-financed the programme with a grant of US$7 million. While the programme will start in eight districts and gradually extended to some 24 districts, even as over 60,000 smallholder farming households will benefit from the programme.

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WFP to feed people of South Sudan in 2012

Following the drought threatening the continent of Africa, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has made a commitment to feed the people of South Sudan, newest nation in 2012, reports Mongabay.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that with the year's drought in Somalia killing about 300, 000 children, and the ongoing drought and conflict in South Sudan that threatens food supplies of 2.7million people, the WFP promised to feed the nation in 2012.

Chris Nikoi, the WFP director in South Sudan confirmed that prices of food has already doubled or tripled in some areas of the country with hundreds of thousands children prone to malnutrition at a key developmental stage of their young lives.

The United Nations WFP also noted that the newest nation will require emergency funds of about $100million, about N16.22billion for food services for the first four months of 2012.

Despite the WFP's efforts to feed the people of South Sudan, Lack of infrastructure and land mines are part of the travelling challenges being faced by the WFP team. Read more
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Africa vulnerable to global warming - UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has warned that African continent is vulnerable to global warming, reports ThisDay.

Director General of UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkell, gave this warning at the 10th anniversary of the Bank of Industry (BoI) held recently, saying that Africa is more vulnerable to the side effects of global warming.

"Climate change is one of the biggest long-term risks to global development," he said, even as he identified climate change as the biggest environmental and humanitarian crisis of all time.

Dr. Yumkella said there is need to act as soon as possible in order to encourage the adoption of cleaner energy sources at home and abroad.

He also affirmed that solving global warming will go a long way in improving the lives by cleaning up air pollution while investing in clean energy, green jobs and smart energy solutions.

“The increase in population is alarming and we need to as a matter of urgency develop ways to boost food security in the continent to meet the demand for food,” he said. Read more

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