IITA, ABUAD sign MoU to unlock potentials in Africa

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) in order to unlock Africa's potential in agriculture, natural resources and human.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the MoU is to serve as a linking bridge between the two institutions to boost cooperation so as to complement each other's research efforts.

Commenting on the MoU, Director General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga expressed the institute's excitement over the MoU that IITA is confident to work with ABUAD to tackle hunger and poverty challenges on the continent.

"The MoU will help in building the critical human capital that will address the present and future challenges of not only agriculture but also development," Dr. Sanginga said, adding that agriculture is faced with several constraints like climate change, pests and diseases.

He said the objective of the MoU is a meaningful avenue to engage the youths and give them the tools to be productive.

Specifically, IITA and ABUAD will collaborate in research and development topics of mutual interest, develop joint research and development project proposals, organize joint research activities, conferences, and workshops, establish linkages between IITA and ABUAD scientists, exchange students, and share research materials and publications of common interest.

Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Sidi Osho said the MoU would also help to boost food production and security. Prof. Osho also revealed that the MoU will confer great benefits on the university in terms of international linkages, exchange programs, strengthening research and offering qualitative strategies for administrative capacity.

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UN calls for urgent actions against food price hike

The United Nations (UN) agencies have called for swift and coordinated international actions in a bid to maintain stable prices for food stocks.

In a press statement jointly prepared by three UN agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) made available to NaijaAgroNet, revealed the need to maintain food price so that it does not turn to a catastrophe.

This, the agencies said, could hurt tens of millions over the coming months, and that the problems of some high food prices must be solved as well as the long-term issue of how we produce and consume.

Also, the agencies, disclosed that the food price hike does not affect every country in same way that the urban, rural poor and those in food import-dependent countries are most vulnerable to the international increase in prices as the listed categories spent a larger part of their incomes on food.

Findings by the bodies affirmed that although some smallholder farmers fall into the category of poor and food insecure that they can powered to take the food price hike advantages by becoming part of the solution and improve the overall food security.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that part of initiatives employed by the UN agencies comprise the UN High-Level Task Force on Global Food Security and Agricultural Markets Information System (AMIS), to improve transparency in the global food market.

Also part of the initiative, the Rapid Response Forum was set up to facilitate coordinated policy responses by the major world producers and traders of key cereals and soybeans.

WFP made an estimation of extra $200 million, about N31.6 billion per year for food assistance for every 10 per cent increase in food price; everyone is vulnerable as global grain production in a good year is not enough to meet the growing demand for food.

 

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Group wants protection for poor countries against climate change

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group, have advocated protection for poor countries from the menace of climate change as there is a big risk of loss of key issues if they are not protected.

The chairman of the group, Pa Ousman Jarju of the Gambia said there is a great need to massive increase in funds for adaption and for action in order to reduce emission. "We need to set up a proper international coordination process to deliver resources for adaptation to those in most need," he advised.

In a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet by the International Institute for Environment and Development, Pa Jarju listed global warming causing drought, water and food shortages as part of the major challenges facing the world at the moment which call for actions.

He also said there are no chances of survival if the necessary issues are being deferred till 2015 when a new agreement will be negotiated.

 According to Pa Jarju, drought in the USA only cost insurance companies money, while droughts in the LDCs are causing loss of life and livelihoods, malnutrition in our children and huge dislocation which is very serious for our survival.

“It is extremely important that governments agree to respect the commitments they have already made to provide finance, technology and capacity building to developing countries and to enhance cooperation to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change and not to use the focus on a new processes to avoid past promises. We cannot indefinitely delay action, especially with regard to climate change, which is already upon us,” he said.

aid.

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FG to transform agriculture sector to employ youths

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has promised to transform the agricultural sector so as to make the sector a wealth creator and able to accommodate youths.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan revealed that the present administration is keen on bringing its plans about transforming the agricultural sector to reality.

The president also affirmed the federal government's initiative to promote the subsistence farming to the establishment of agriculture as a very viable modern-day business.

“We have a very large youthful population and to create enough jobs for them we must develop agriculture, solid minerals and other sectors," President Jonathan said, adding that Nigeria has a lot of untapped potentials which would be beneficial to agricultural development.

He expressed delight over the $74 million about N11.7 billion virtually interest-free loan by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in a bid to support the federal government's agricultural programme.

He said Nigeria as well as himself is proud of the good work by IFAD with loans and grants summing up to $225 million for agricultural development in Nigeria since 1985.

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Nigerian Railway partners Agric Ministry for cassava exportation

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is partnering the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for haulage of cassava chips to the world.

NRC in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet revealed that the first train of 160 tonnes of cassava chips has been moved to Lagos Seaport from Ilorin, for later exportation to Asia.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between the corporation and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in a bid to actualize the transformation agenda of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture with respect to cassava export.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that part of the ministry's agenda is large scale exportation of cassava as well as other agrarian products of comparative advantage to the global market.

Commenting on the MoU, the NRC's managing director, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade affirmed that empty wagons would no longer return to Lagos as they would be hauling cassava chips from Ilorin to Lagos seaport.

"In our strategic effort to improve our revenue base through optimal mobilization of movable assets and other facilities," Engr. Sijuwade said, adding that trains that move Lafarge Cements to Ilorin will be the same set of trains that would be used in moving the chips to Lagos seaport.

Sijuwade also assured the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of the corporation's readiness to fulfill its own side of the deal while urging cassava farmers to make the best use of the opportunity for a competitive global trading.

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