Tomato, PineApple: We’re largest producers in Africa –Odusote

NaijaAgroNet/Remmy Nweke:

THE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, has disclosed that Nigeria is the largest producer of Tomatoes and PineApples out of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

She made this disclosure to NaijaAgroNet, during the 2013 international conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in Iloko, Osun State, citing the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) an arm of the United Nations as making this pronouncement.

FOA Statistics confirmed to NaijaAgroNet that Nigeria is the biggest tomato producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the 14th largest tomato producer globally, while on PineApple, Nigeria was also ranked largest producer on the continent and the 8th globally.

Nigeria, she said, has these fruits, especially PineApples in several varieties which are grown in locally.

“The sweet cayenne variety is common in Nigeria and well suited,” she declared.

Dwelling on “Opportunities for Investments in Nigeria’s Agriculture” in her presentation, Mrs. Odusote said that there are new and attractive investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially in the juice processing industry.

“Nigeria has a comparative advantage in fruit production relative to other African nations” she asserted, pointing out that Nigeria is the largest producer of pineapples in Africa and the 8th largest producer in the world with different varieties.

Using the 2011 favourable production comparison, she said that Nigeria produces 920,000 tonnes in PineApple, 795,000 Mangoes and 139,223 Watermelon within the period under review. This was against Kenya and South Africa which ranked second and third with Kenya recording 371,310 in PineApple production, 636,585 mangoes and 66,196 watermelon, whereas South Africa recorded 108,636 of PineApple, 52,318 of Mangoes and 77,993 of Watermelon.

For Tomatoes, she revealed that Nigeria produced 1,500 tonnes within the period under review with Cameroon coming close with 880, South Africa 507, Kenya 407, Ghana 340, Tanzania 250 and Benin 180.

However, she underscored the fact that tomatoes are not processed locally, leading to increasing import dependency of tomato paste in Nigeria despite the ranking in production.

“In the tomato value chain, processing is where an investor can capture the greatest economic value,” she said, adding that economics of the Tomato value chain in Nigeria which cuts across production, aggregation and logistics, processing of both paste and concentrate and finally retail, noting that concentrate could be an intermediate product of tomato paste with less water content, concentrate is generally produced for industrial use while paste is for domestic use.

She cited Dansa Foods for instance, disclosing that the firm invested $30 million in Tomato farming and processing in Kano State.

Also, she highlighted Beef processing as another investable option within the domestic market, saying opportunity for beef is large and growing and has today, about 310 metric tonnes of overall demands for consumption per capita and is expected to grow to 650 tonnes by 2020.

Some of the existing resource endowment, currently, she said, involves 19 million heads of cattle, adding that there are 15 states with about 500,000 heads of cattle each.

About 85 million hectares of uncultivated arable land with grassland resources was placed at 54 per cent of total land area under pasture, yet, there is supplementary feed available in forest areas

He emphasised that existing cattle production knowledge and capabilities are inherent Nigeria with the traditional Fulani livelihood, informal industry players from cattle rearers, traders to transporters and butchers.

In particular, she noted that the market for premium segments is rapidly developing including the growing quality conscious segment for the middle class segment which demands more high quality beef in hygienic conditions.

She highlighted type of beef demanded moving from unsophisticated raw cuts; types in open-air markets to prime cuts and mince to name a few. While the market has estimated size of $300million, increasing in the number of formal retail outlets and rapid expansion of outlets by supermarkets serving the middleclass over past 5 years with plans underway to at least double number of outlets by 2020.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government (FG) has added a total of 1,070,364 metric tonnes of food in 2013, says the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Odusote disclosed to NaijaAgroNet, noting that this figure is one-third of the total paddy needed to be self-sufficient by 2015.

She attributed this to the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA)-based Dry Season Rice Transformation supported 268,000 farmers on 264,000 hectares in 10 northern states.

Also, she said the Dry Season farming added a total of 1 million metric tonnes (MT) to the domestic production.

She explained that this year alone, and for first time ever, Nigeria launched Dry Season farming of rice to take advantage of irrigation capacity in the North of Nigeria, stressing that Federal Government provided massive support for dry season rice cultivation in 10 states.

A total of 267,491 farmers, she said, received 50 kilogrammes (kg) of seeds, two bags of 15-15 NPK and one bag Urea.

“This has added an additional 1,070,364 MT of food in 2013. This is one-third of total paddy needed to be self-sufficient by 2015,” she declared.

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2015: FG eyes north for wheat bumper harvests

Despite the insecurity insurgency in northern Nigeria, the Federal Government has reiterated its resolve to have a wheat bumper harvest by 2015, thereby halving imports through local production.

This follows the discovery of two improved varieties of wheat expected to position Nigeria well in local wheat production, sufficient to reduce national wheat import by half in 2015.

Special Assistant on Media & Strategy to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye disclosed this to NaijaAgroNet, quoting the executive director, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Dr. Oluwasina Gbenga Olabanji, as saying in Abuja, while presenting 100 per cent Nigerian wheat bread to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina in his office.

Dr. Olabanji said these varieties, due to be released in 2014 are capable of producing an "average yield of 5 to 6 tons per hectare” stressing that the varieties, named Norman Borlaug and Reyne 28, are expected to position Nigeria to produce what it requires as it expands its land holdings allocated to wheat production, and would boost the economy of the north.

The reality of the improved varieties, Dr. Olabanji noted, “was achieved through collaboration with CIMMYT in Mexico and ICARDA in Tunisia.” 

The director referred to the earlier work done on wheat in Nigeria, saying that, “for wheat research in LRCI, we have done a lot of work on the genetic improvement of wheat in Nigeria. As at 1976, the average yield was 1.2 tons per hectare. But, with the launching of the wheat transformation agenda by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the federal government of Nigeria, we have been able to develop some improved varieties that can give us an average yield of 5 to 6 tons per hectare.”

The efforts will ensure that, by 2015, the quantity of wheat imported into Nigeria is reduced by half. This is to be achieved through aggressive production in 10 states of the north as disclosed this week during the official presentation of Abuja. Dr. Olabanji also projected that, “between now and 2015, we should be able to produce half of our demand in this country.”

He observed that “our demand for wheat is 3.7 metric tons, expressing optimism that, “by 2015, we should be able to achieve 50 per cent of this national demand. And that will reduce the cost of importation by 50 per cent. Presently, Nigeria is spending N635 billion every year for wheat importation.”

 As part of the effort toward achieving the laudable goal, the executive director talked about strategies to harness the comparative advantage for wheat production in the north. “We have the potentials to produce our own wheat. We have 600,000 hectares of land in this country that is suitable for wheat production, out of which only 10 per cent of land this area is utilised for wheat production. But, within this agricultural transformation agenda, we have proposed, for 2013 to 2014, to cultivate 150,000 hectares of land in the wheat-growing areas. These are 10 states in the northern parts of the country.”

On the varieties that would do well in Nigeria, he said, “we have rain-fed wheat in Nigeria. And this rain-fed wheat is cultivated in Nigerian highlands. These Nigerian highlands are in Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, Jos in Plateau State, and Obudu in Cross River State. These are potential areas for rain-fed wheat production. We have about 80,000 hectares area of land in these areas that are suitable for rain-fed wheat production.”

Dr. Olabanji explained that the work on wheat goes beyond mere field cultivation. “With ATA, we emphasise value chain, not just producing the wheat. We have gone into processing our Nigerian wheat into flour. We also have recipes that are made from this wheat flour, like the bread. We have 100 per cent Nigerian made bread. Our wheat flour is comparable, if not superior, to imported flour that we are clamouring for in Nigeria.”

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development commended the efforts of Dr. Olabanji and his institute, LCRI, pointing out that LCRI is the first among other agricultural research institutes to bring up products of research to his office. “What Dr. Olabanji has just shown was that Nigeria’s comparative advantage is not to be in consumption but that we can produce even the things we are importing,” the minister stated. To Dr. Olabanji, he said: “We will hold you up as an example for all the others, about how our agencies should work and help Mr. President.”

Expressing the hope that, Nigeria will soon be self-sufficient in wheat production, Dr. Adesina said, “all the way in the north; Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto states: in all those areas, we can produce wheat.” He lamented, however, that “we have not been doing that well.” Rather, he noted, “we spend N635million annually in importing wheat.”

Excited, the minister expressed the belief that, “with all the wheat value chain that we have, we will be able, over a four-year period. …Just imagine what the northern states will look like. We did dry season rice in 10 states in the north. You saw what happened. You can imagine if wheat expansion of those varieties under those mechanised conditions happened all over the place.”

Dr. Adesina promised to support, the research institute and wheat transformation agenda. 

He said “Nigeria will not be a consumption centre. Nigeria must be self-sufficient in producing what we actually eat, so that we can reduce our dependency on others,” adding that “any nation that does not free itself from food import is a danger to its own very self.”

The minister observed that “the quality of our wheat in terms of consumer acceptance is excellent,” but sympathized that “our local research institutes are not well funded.” He said, “with the little amount that they have, (you can) imagine what they have done.” 

He enthused that “these are the moments that make me enormously very happy and more confident that our future as a country in agriculture is very bright.”

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Gender issues: NEPAD v. GIZ mark women day with football match

Two women’s soccer teams from the African Union’s NEPAD Agency and the German Development Agency (GIZ), would clash this afternoon in a special soccer tournmanment aimed at raising awareness of Gender issues.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that former Banyana Banyana star, Keneilwe Mathibela would be at hand to give the women support, in the amateur game which kicks off at 14:00 at the CSIR sports field in Pretoria.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that this is the second time the two teams will meet in a match that was first played last August 9, to mark National Women’s month.

NEPAD says the aim of the tournament in addition to enhancing the partnership between GIZ and NEPAD is to highlight the important work the two organisations are doing to promote women’s empowerment.

Among the several interventions and programmes NEPAD’s involved in, is support through the Gender Spanish Fund which promotes women’s empowerment via partner-led projects in west and southern African regional economic groups, ECOWAS and COMESA regional groups.

On behalf of the German Government, GIZ has been supporting the NEPAD in implementing its agricultural programme CAADP, since 2007. The emphasis of GIZ’s support is on policy advice, agricultural training and on adapting agriculture to the consequences of climate change. Other support to NEPAD is for infrastructure, both development aspects that have a bearing on women’s uplifting

The two teams will compete for a trophy in a match that will be attended by staff from organisations, friends and family as well as the media.

Staff Correspondent/NaijaAgroNet

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Expert says lab grown meat is good

Assorted pieces of meat

A bioethicist, Dr Iain Brassington of the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, University of Manchester has declared that lab grown meat is a good.

Dr Brassington, told NaijaAgroNet that while the sight of someone eating a very expensive burger is clearly something of a publicity stunt, the underlying idea behind laboratory-grown meat is sound. The research is highly laudable, because what it promises is so desirable.
 
“Meat-eating is morally problematic, and many people are or think they should be vegetarian as a result,” he said, stressing that for one thing, the welfare of the animals we eat is seen by many as a concern. Noting that not only might it be problematic for some that an animal is killed for our benefit at all – but it’s undeniable that the quality of life of many of those animals is abysmal. Carnivores often have blood on their hands in more than the literal sense.

For another, he pointed out that conventional meat-rearing is phenomenally environmentally destructive, because it takes many kilos of grain and many litres of water to produce one kilo of beef.

This, he said, pits hungry humans and cattle in direct competition, meaning that the cost of survival for the poorest is higher than it would be in a vegetarian world. But, in addition, all that livestock has to live somewhere, and this contributes to massive deforestation. And it’s hard to forget the sheer amount of methane that ruminants produce.

“Lab-grown meat offers to solve both these problems. Welfare concerns can be eliminated simply by virtue of there being no real animal to suffer and die. At the same time, the signs are that lab-grown meat would be much less resource-intensive. It would still probably not be as efficient a means of getting protein as vegetarianism, but it would represent a great improvement,” he explained.

Hence there is good reason to welcome the advent of lab-grown meat, and to hope for the day when it’s in the supermarkets.

Correspondent/NaijaAgroNet
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Anambra: Distribution of pro-vitamin 'A' yellow cassava commences

The Anambra State has commenced distribution of high pro-vitamin “A” yellow cassava cuttings to farmers. 

Governor Peter Obi made this disclosure to NaijaAgroNet at the flagging off the exercise at the compound of Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Awka, the state capital last weekend.

He also presented new utility vehicle and 21 computers to boost implementation of the programme in Anambra.

According to him, the vehicles should be solely used for the execution of the project while the computers were for monitoring and evaluation of the outcome of the new cassava variety Statewide. 

He assured that the State government would provide all logistics to ensure success of the programme as cassava had multi values including being raw material for beer.

He also said that agriculture has fundamental role in turning around the State and national economies with huge employment potentials. Stressing that Anambra State was now on course for sustainable development, reiterating that no future administration could take the people for granted again.

Responding, a representative of the development partner, Dr. Paul Ilona said Governor Obi has demonstrated more commitment to development of agriculture than any other government in the country, including logistics.

Ilona elucidated that the new cassava variety was not only for food security but also for promotion of health by supplementing nutritional intake of the people and assured that the State would receive more supply.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Ndubisi Menakaya, during his speech, said the intervention became necessary to solve the increased rate of micro-nutrients deficiency among children under five years and pregnant women which he noted had risen to about thirty percent. 

Menakaya also urged Anambra farmers to take advantage of the programme to reap its huge benefits.

The programme manager of Anamrba State Agricultural Development Programme, Comrade Leo Imoka said the programme became a reality in the State because of regular and timely payment of counter-part contributions by Governor Obi administration.

The Comrade further revealed that cassava production in the State has increased remarkably which placed the State as the highest producer of cassava in the country.

Correspondent/NaijaAgroNet 
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DHL identifies Africa as the next frontier for healthcare sector

CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, July 29, 2013 - Over the past decade the global life sciences sector has experienced healthy growth. The world market for pharmaceuticals, for example, has doubled within a decade, reaching a value of about USD 1 trillion, and is expected to grow by another 3 to 6 per cent per annum until 2016.

This huge demand, has been particularly strong in the mature markets of Europe and North America, which has now infiltrated the more dynamic emerging markets including China, Russia and India, but is particularly relevant in Africa, which is positioned as the next frontier for the healthcare sector. 

This is according to Sumesh Rahavendra, Head of Marketing for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (http://www.dhl.com), who says that Africa has seen tremendous growth in the life sciences and healthcare sector over the past years, as well as investment into the development of healthcare, especially in the logistics sector, as a result of this shift.

“Companies are increasingly turning to Africa due to the opportunities that the continent offers as it is one of the few locations that can still obtain double digit economic growth. The life sciences logistics model in Africa is therefore changing drastically as, in the last two and a half years, we have seen major growth in hubs like Kenya, servicing East Africa, and South Africa, which plays a key role for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries; in addition to direct shipments into specific countries, as the capabilities grow within the region.”

Referencing DHL’s recent report on key logistics developments in the healthcare sector for 2020 and beyond, entitled Key Logistics Trends in Life Sciences 2020+, Rahavendra says that this growth in Africa can be attributed to Sub Saharan Africa’s increased life expectancy, rate of urbanisation and rise of the middle class. “While Sub-Saharan Africa comprises of 12% of the global population, the region comprises of 24% of the global healthcare burden.”

Rahavendra says that another contributor to this shift is ecommerce growth in the pharmaceutical industry. 

“The healthcare sector will ultimately follow the technology sector as where there is communication, there is ability. Therefore, as technology capabilities roll out in the country, so will healthcare capabilities.

“With technology continuingly evolving, there is talk that consumers will likely soon be able to self-medicate and order over the counter drugs via their cellphones or the internet. These sorts of developments have the potential to drastically change both the healthcare, and logistics, sector.”

However with the current shift in the sector, Rahavendra explains that there are key challenges that need to be met based on the current developments. “Increasing differentiation of supply chains and the need for companies to keep their supply chain flexible to adapt to requirements of innovative products is a key challenge.

“As innovation in the pharmaceutical industry shifts towards specialties and biotech products, so does the need for temperature controlled, and monitored, cold chain transport and storage, historically only required for shipments of vaccines and blood fractions.”

He says that due to the combination of increasing regulatory demands, the focus on emerging markets, and new product requirements, notably around temperature management, and cost pressures, the life sciences and healthcare sector is accelerating its emphasis on driving supply chain transformation and differentiation.

“Despite these hurdles, we are confident that the life sciences and healthcare sector will continue to flourish in upcoming years due to the on-going investment and development on the African continent,” concludes Rahavendra. “The future is bright for Africa, and the healthcare sector will be one of its star performers.”

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10% public investments in agriculture still low – CAADP official

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) has said that the current public investments of 10 per cent in agriculture, across Africa’s national budgets remain small.

This is coming as agriculture is reportedly back on the political-policy agenda across the continent, although the 10 per cent budget allocation to agriculture remains inadequate.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that CAADP's goal is to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty through agriculture and as a way of achieving this goal, African governments agreed to increase public investment in agriculture by a minimum of 10 per cent of their national budgets and to raise agricultural productivity by at least 6 per cent by the year 2015.

Speaking, however, in Addis Ababa recently, the Head, NEPAD Mr. Martin Bwalya, told a high-level session of African leaders and International partners, that the 10 per cent national budget allocation to agriculture is still very low, despite “Agriculture is back to the political-policy agenda.”

Also, he said, that as ways of aadvancing CAADP implementation strategies in the last 10 years there are some key results that have impacted on the initiative, namely that 43 out of 54 countries are actively engaged in the process.

Additionally, he said that 28 investment plans have been developed so far with 27 business meetings held while 31 countries seemed compacted to the scheme.

Proffering further sustainable modules, he said that spotlights on the social protection integral to a growth and development agenda are no longer negotiable, just as cconsistent and coherent African vision, agenda and positions could serve as a boost to democratic governments and improved public finances-revenue, thereby seeing to improved planning for CAADP.

Urbanization across Africa is expected to grow to 50 per cent by 2013, while youthful population, that is 40 per cent for ages under 23 years, even as globalisation based on food and energy prices as well as climate change must be tackled to make a difference.

Further, he pointed out that growing political commitment to increased budgetary allocations was another boost for CAADP initiative, emphasising that regional integration and coordination based on evidence-based and peer-reviewed agricultural plans and programmes would go a long way in checkmating the food insecurity in Africa.

“Poverty, hunger and malnutrition are one of the most critical factors pulling down Africa socio-economic growth and development,” he observed.

Remmy Nweke

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CNN Travel outlines top 10 African golf courses

Africa is fast becoming an attractive option for fans of this privileged sport of golf as the continent prides of over 800 golf courses.

However, CNN Travel this week,  goes beyond the green in a special online feature that uncovers the very best golf courses the continent has to offer a peek of top 10 African golf courses by country:

Ø      The Cascades course at Soma Bay, Hurghada, Egypt

Ø      The Heritage Golf Club, Bel Ombre, Mauritius

Ø      Le Touessrok golf course, Ile Aux Cerfs, Mauritius

Ø      Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, El Jadida, Morocco

Ø      Windhoek Golf & Country Club, Namibia

Ø      Lemuria Resort golf course, Praslin Island, the Seychelles

Ø      Fancourt Links golf course, George, Western Cape, South Africa

Ø      The Gary Player Country Club course, Sun City, South Africa

Ø      Flamingo golf course, Monastir, Tunisia

   Ø      Leopard Rock Golf Resort, Mutare, Zimbabwe

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Nigeria to explore Chinese rice varieties

Dr. Adesina in a handshake with Prof. Long Pin

The Federal Government may have concluded plans to explore Chinese rice varieties, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

He disclosed this during a meeting with Chinese rice scientist, Professor Yuan Long Pin on Thursday in the city of Beijing as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s delegation to the Asian nation.

NaijaAgroNet notes that Prof. Long Pin is reputed for successfully breeding rice that has improved production to 7.5 metric tons per hectare.

This achievement, NaijaAgroNet also gathered helped China on the path of food security through his expertise.

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CTA hosts hackathon on agriculture

The Centre for Technical Agriculture (CTA) is offering East African computer programmers a fantastic opportunity to display their skills in a four-day hackathon, says Ken Lohento, the Programme Coordinator on Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) at CTA.

He also told NaijaAgroNet that the hackathon will take place from 4-8 November in Kigali, Rwanda as a parallel event to the ICT4Ag conference, adding that the competitors would be expected to develop ICT applications that offer solutions to key agriculture information challenges.

Lohento disclosed to NaijaAgroNet that CTA is organising this hackathon in partnership with East African ICT hubs and labs (iHubs), stressing that the iHubs will each propose teams of two or three people, including developers and designers, to compete in the hackathon.

According to him, the top three applications develop and the iHubs supporting them will receive a substantial prize including cash awards, capacity building and incubation opportunities. In addition, the winning applications will be showcased at the ICT4Ag awards dinner.

He explained that this hackathon, is the first for CTA, as a pilot exercise with the aim to highlight the potential of ICT applications in agriculture and to support the development of ICT innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture especially by young people.

In order to ensure that the applications developed meet the needs of those in agriculture in East Africa and that the developers have the opportunity to further refine and launch the applications after the event, CTA are involving, from the start, key East African stakeholders.

International organisations supporting agricultural development, business development or ICT services will also be consulted, while they will contribute to the identification of the agricultural challenges to be used in the hackathon.

“They will also assist in the design of strategies enabling the adoption of the winning application,” he said, emphasizing that a planning meeting will take place from 16-17 July in Rwanda to prepare for the hackathon.

Remmy Nweke
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