Plateau agribusiness faces overhaul

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Plateau State agribusiness may face an overhaul due to the visit embarked by the state government officials on study tour of Songhai Farm Centre in Port Novo, Benin Republic through Hadur Travel and Tours.

The Commissioner for Science And Technology, Comfort Piwuna made this disclosure after the study tour to Port Novo and stressed that plans are on for Plateau state to train people on how to use their wastes to generate fuel to obtain fire for cooking and other purposes.

“There are many progressive things to learn. They practise zero emission in waste management and it is very environmentally friendly. Africa is currently suffering from the lack of knowledge in the handling of wastes and it is a big nuisance for us. Maximum usage of agricultural wastes is a big lesson to learn. We are here with local government chairmen and the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs because we want the local governments to understand how to provide massive employments for youths through agribusiness.

“The trained youths can embrace one aspect of agriculture or the other such as snail or mushroom production. This would further improve the economic profile of the state. The good thing is that in Plateau we have very clement weather, so we believe the quality of our mushrooms for example will be better. The governor is already encouraging the youths and people of Plateau in general to embrace agriculture. He has brought an Israeli firm and they are working to transform the agricultural landscape and make it very attractive for investors,” she said.

NaijaAgroNet recorded that what the Israelis are providing is very good but it is for large scale investors and it is very high tech, whereas what is available in Songhai is such that an ordinary farmer with little capital can practise it.

“The plan is that local government chairmen can get youths to receive training using the Songhai model. The trained youths can then be given start up capital. For instance, a person who chooses grass-cutter production can be given enough capital to buy three males and 12 females to start. The local government can then put machinery in place for supervision in collaboration with the ministry of science and technology to ensure it works,” she added.

Songhai is an integrated farm which was set up by a Nigerian reverend father in Benin Republic, Godfery Nzamujo to deploy farming techniques that are suitable for the African business environment as way of getting Africans to create wealth through agriculture using what they have.

Reflecting on the tour, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Paul S. Wai, said that “the techniques at the Songhai Farm are so simple yet effective. It is so down to earth that the local farmer can easily key into it and there is no waste. Even the leaves that fall from the tree is not wasted, the rains that fall from the roof is not wasted, the wastes from the kitchen, toilet are not wasted.”

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pix:Gov. David Jang of plateau state

GHI calls for efforts to boost food, nutrition security

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

 The 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI), released for the eighth year by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide, calls for greater resilience-building efforts to boost food and nutrition security.

NaijaAgroNet noted from the 2013 Index  that global hunger is decreasing as the 2013 world GHI score has fallen by 34 percent from the 1990 GHI score, yet world hunger still remains “serious,” with 19 countries suffering from levels of hunger that are either “alarming” or “extremely alarming.”

The Index identifies hunger levels and hotspots across 120 developing countries with South Asia having the highest regional GHI score, followed by Africa south of the Sahara, Burundi, Eritrea and Comoros have the highest levels of hunger while countries where situation is already “alarming” or “extremely alarming” are vulnerable to the negative effects of extreme weather events, climate change, population pressure, conflicts and economic crises.

 Welthungerhilfe’s Chairlady,  Bärbel Dieckmann said “2.6 billion people have to live on less than two dollars a day. For them a sick family member, a single drought or the job loss of someone working abroad is a major crisis. As a consequence, a child can no longer afford to go to school, the family diet is reduced to often one meal a day or livestock needs to be sold. These people have simply no coping mechanisms left to react to a crisis.” 

The IFPRI research fellow Derek Headey said that adopting a resilience lens is challenging because there was need to build consensus on what it means and on that basis adopt programs and policies that bridge the relief and development sectors.

Concern Worldwide ‘s Chief Executive Officer Dominic MacSorley explained “We must focus on those living in extreme poverty, learn the lessons of the past and be clear what measures are needed to enable the very poorest to become more resilient in the longer term. Concern’s work in Kenya, Ethiopia, Niger and Chad is demonstrating how a resilience approach can deliver significant and sustainable change at community level. Turning this evidence into policy change is the next important step.”

NaijaAgroNet recorded from the report that developing high-frequency surveillance systems for the most vulnerable regions, focusing on community as well as individual and household resilience should be incorporated into national and regional development strategies as something distinct from conventional growth, poverty, or development objectives as pursuing this will improve food and nutrition security for the world’s most vulnerable.

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Ezekwesili lauds development in agric sector

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

Former Vice-President of the World Bank, Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,   has commended the Federal Government’s strides in the development of the agricultural sector in the country, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Ezekwesili made this commendation while speaking the press in Lagos, stressing that the focus on agricultur

e has empowered the farmers and also redirected the attention of over 60 per cent of the population into agriculture and other allied businesses.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from her that government initiative towards agriculture and agribusiness is very good as such was enhancing productivity in the sector and helping to tackle poverty.

``So, you go to that informal sector of agriculture, you provide them with the kind of tools and the kinds of facilities, the extension services, the links to the market, the seeds and inputs, the access to credit. With the better business environment, all of these add together to improve their productivity, and   therefore, will improve their income. Because when you enhance the income of the farmers, what it means is that they have more money that they can spend even in offering education to their children. So that circle of activities is so important for taking the entire society out of poverty. You don’t lift people out of poverty; you give people what they need in order to lift themselves out of poverty,” she said

*with additional report from NAN

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pix: Dr Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili,

IABC targets N31.9 tn investment by 2020

   Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

Indian and African investments are targeting the sum of $200 billion, about N31,930 billion from bilateral trade by 2020, to consolidate on the relationship and also work out a plan for currency stabilisation.

These decisions were taken during the recent visit of Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma to Johannesburg to attend the third India-Africa Trade Ministers and India-Africa Business Council (IABC) meeting in which plans to chart out a course of action for food security for its population, trade and economic cooperation in various sectors including infrastructure and energy were made.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Sharma also took up with the African Trade Ministers the issue of food security and the urgent need to protect the livelihood of both urban and rural poor in the developing and least developed countries.

He explained that India-Africa trade has crossed $70 billion about N11,184,588,132,348.95 in 2012 and is expected to reach $100 billion about N15, 977,988,713,653.12 by 2015 and called for fast tracking the process on the proposed free trade pact with the 19-nation Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

“We are aiming at $200 billion about N 31,930,009,419,352.78 bilateral trade with the African nations by 2020 and strongly feel that this can be achieved without any difficulty,” Sharma said.

NaijaAgroNet  also got the hint that the WTO Bali round of negotiations, scheduled for December, formed part of the discussion, with India making it clear that it would not compromise on the livelihood of poor and marginalised sections covered under the Food Security Programme, even as members expect a successful outcome to ensure the continued credibility of WTO as an institution.

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FCTA boosts farmers with N500m agric loans

The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide said that the administration  has disbursed over N500 million to farmers under the agriculture loan scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of measures to boost agriculture development and food supply in the territory.

Akinjide made this known to NaijaAgroNet during a visit by the management team of Bank of Agriculture (BOA) led by the Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Santuraki, to her office in Abuja and stressed that Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has entered into a public private partnership (PPP) agreement with an Israeli Firm, SEC Equipment, to build an Agriculture Services and Training Centre in Abuja.

She informed the BOA boss, that in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the FCTA is committed to the development of viable agricultural entrepreneurship through provision of free technical expertise and farm subsidies and to also make the sector attractive to youths and women.

NaijaAgroNet noted that FCTA would partner with the Bank of Agriculture to grow the agriculture sector and ensured that the Agriculture Services and Training Centre, when completed and operational, would become a one-stop agriculture centre in Nigeria.

Santuraki, explained that the visit by the management team was to strengthen the partnership between the bank and the FCT Administration in the areas of agricultural financing for the benefit of farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs in the capital territory.

“We have noted the giant strides that the Administration is taking to build a virile economy in FCT using agriculture as the foundation. Your effort is most appropriate at this time in the history of Nigeria when agriculture is occupying an important place in the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda,” Santuraki said.

He explained that BOA had granted agriculture loans of over N50 billion to support the agribusiness in the last 10 years, created 6,000 enterprises, six million direct and indirect jobs and added that the bank  is in a better position to manage funds earmarked by FCTA for agricultural development and poverty alleviation in the FCT.

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Livestock union tasks Rivers govt on modern abattoir

The Chairman of Trans Amadi Goat Butchers Union, Trans Amadi abattoir, Rivers State, Chief Agudichi Orji has called on the Rivers State Government to redeem its promise of building a modern abattoir for livestock butchers and traders at the Trans Amadi slaughter market, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Orji said that the butchers are desirous of such a modern abattoir that would boost the activities at the market, being one of the viable abattoirs in the state.

The chairman of Trans Amadi Goat Butchers Union applauded the administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi for providing water within the abattoir which has strengthened the butchers in ensuring the cleanliness of the area.

He commended  the activities of the veterinary officers who ensures  that quality live stocks were sold in the market, and added that anybody  caught doing the contrary in the market would be suspended or made to pay fine.

Anthony Nwakaegho/GEE/NaijaAgroNet

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*Gov. Amechi

Jigawa Fadama distributes tube wells, water pump to farmers

The Fadama Desk Officer in charge of Fadama III programme in Jigawa, Malam Umar Babaji said that it has distributed tube wells and water pumps to selected dry season farmers in Guri Local Government Area of the state, NaijaAgroNet reports.

Babaji, said this  known while distributing the items to the farmers in Guri and stressed that  10 tube wells, 10 water pumps, fertilisers, seeds and work bulls were distributed to the farmers to enable them engage in irrigation activities.

NaijaAgroNet noted that the beneficiaries were selected from the Lafiya Fadama Community Association (FCA), while the gesture is to enhance agricultural activity of the farmers in the state.

However Babaji, did not disclose the details of the cost of the items, he explained that the inputs were given to the farmers under a soft loan revolving scheme in order to enhance their access to fertilisers and other inputs.

He called on the beneficiaries to ensure prompt repayment of the loan to enhance participation in the programme, while one of the beneficiaries Malam Ibrahim Hausawa pledged that they will put the items to effective use.

* Anthony Nwakaegho/GEE/NaijaAgroNet with additional reports from Nigerian Observer

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Lagos reiterates commitment to agricultural development

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to continue to implement projects and programmes that are aimed towards ensuring the provision of enabling environment for agricultural development in the State.

Speaking at the 2013 Annual Farmers Forum organized in commemoration of this year’s World Food Day, Commisioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, represented by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Government on Agriculture, Dr Nureni Funsho,  said that government is collaborating with other development partners particularly the World Bank in the FADAMA and Commercial Agriculture Development Projects through which many farmers are supported with high subsidizied inputs and infrastructure.

The Farmers Forum, NaijaAgroNet learnt is organized as an interactive forum between government and all stakeholders such as crop farmers, livestock farmers, aquaculturists, agroprocessors and the general public to dialogue and get feedbacks on government programmes and interventions.

The Commissioner said food security is one of the cardinal programmes of the present administration and assured farmers in the state that the Ministry is committed to injecting maximum impact into their lives.

 He commended the Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area, Hon. Mursiq Durosinmi  for hosting the event and for his  council  been the most steadfast in terms of support to agriculture among the Local Government and Local Government Council Development Area in theState.

NaijaAgroNet was informed by SSA to Agriculture that Wednesday 23^rd October 2013, is the date set aside for this Year’s World Food Day/Agric show celebration at De-Blue Roof, LTV 8 Ikeja, noting that the change in the date of this year’s celebration is as a result of the Eid-El-kabir (Ileya Festival) which falls on the 15^th and 16^th of October, the usual date for the annual celebration.

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pix: Lagos State Gov. Raji Fashola

UNCTAD warns of rural poverty

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD's) has warned that continuous rural poverty, persistent hunger and growing populations, must be treated as a collective crisis, or the world will face economic imbalance, NaijaAgroNet report.

UNCTAD made this known in its trade and environment report 2013 sub titled, "Wake up before it is too late: Make agriculture truly sustainable now for food security in a changing climate" and said that urgent and far-reaching action is needed before climate change begins to cause major disruptions to agriculture, especially in developing countries.

The report pinpointed that vulnerability to increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods in East Africa with a population of approximately 130 million people has continued to suffocate the region's economic growth due to the imbalance between climate change, food security and trade.

The Minister of State for Water and Environment, Flavia Munaaba, said that food availability is already being affected through reduced production, poor storage and inefficient processing and stressed that there was need to adapt policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change to prevent the disastrous effect of food security and livelihoods of rural people.

"It is not good for you to put a policy in place and don't implement it. A good policy is verified through implementation. We want policies that we can see on the ground. The EAC is not operating in utopia. We need a climate resilient EAC that will address climate change in the context of green economy, job creations, sustainability and inclusiveness," said Prof Godwell Nhamo, a Climate Change and Green Economy specialist from the University of South Africa.

NaijaAgroNet noted that the forum was organised under the Promoting Agriculture, Climate and Trade linkages in the East African Community (PACT EAC) project, a regional initiative led by CUTS International in collaboration with other partners and found that despite commitments to implement trade policy measures to ensure regional food security, government interventions often disrupt competitive market conditions and encourage corrupt practices.

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Guanah charges FG to establish rice mills

Anthony Nwakagho/NaijaAgroNet

The Chairman, Raymos Guanah Farms (RGF) Mr Raymos Guanah has called on the Federal Government to establish rice mills in the rice-producing states in the country.

Guanah made the call in Asaba, Delta State, stressing that establishing rice mills would alleviate the burden of rice farmers looking for where to process their products and add value to their products.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that Guanah, who was the former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Delta, that it’s also necessary for government to establish post-harvest storage facilities across the country to enable farmers preserve their products.

He charged government to ban importation of rice, subsidise agro-chemicals and farm implements to aid small scale farmers as only the provision of subsidy on fertilisers is not enough to boost rice farming.

He lamented that even though the country is blessed with arable land the greatest challenge faced by small scale farmers in the country was lack of government’s assistance and advised against politicising agriculture.

NaijaAgroNet noted from this technocrat turned farmer that it would be laudable for government to find ways of engaging members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in farming instead of allowing them to cluster in government offices doing nothing.

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