Mal-nutrient: Benue purchases 10m Enrich, partner Bio-Organics

NaijaAgroNet:

The purchase of 10 million sachets of micro-nutrient powder (MNP) known as Enrich, Benue State Government has paved the way for a strong partnership between the state and the manufacturers, Bio-Organics Nutrient Systems Limited, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that this effort would tackle the scourge of malnutrition by distributing the food fortifying MNP to 86,000 children in the state.

The distribution of the micro-nutrients food powder commenced last December and would last till May 2014, so as to fortify them against malnutrition and diseases associated with micro-nutrients deficiency.

The First Lady of the State, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam, said there was need to address the problem of malnutrition in Benue with the MNP because the lack of nutritious food, poor feeding practices and children not getting enough nutritious food lead to malnutrition, which is the underlying cause of about half of deaths recorded in children under age of five years and severe acute malnutrition affecting millions of Nigerian children.

Also, she expressed delight with the innovation strategy aimed at reducing infant mortality in the state.

“Benue State Government has procured 10 million sachet of MNP for distribution to 86,000 children between age of 6 months and 59 months during the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCHWs) of December 2013 and May 2014.

“A sachet of MNP contains 15 micronutrients that are supposed to be added to the food of a child at the point of consumption. The overall strategy is to adopt a state-driven approach that is built upon existing routine and outreach health services delivery system with increased mobilisation of communities during the specified months of MNCHWs,” she said.

For the Chief Executive Officer, Bio-Organics Nutrients Systems Limited, Dr. Kenny Acholonu, “most complementary and staple foods lack sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals required for optimal growth and development of children, especially in the first 1000 days of life. But, with the use of Enrich as part of their food, these essential micronutrients will be supplied in sufficient quantities.

“We, therefore, want to use this opportunity to urge mothers to adopt MNP as part of their children’s feeding routine and use them according to the instructions of the health workers. Doing this diligently, will enhance the health, growth and development of the children, which will favourably complement the efforts of the state and all the stakeholders involved,” he said.

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Pix: Gov. Suswam

USAID backs FG with N480bn agric fund

NaijaAgroNet: 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting the Federal Government’s agriculture programme with $3billion, about N480bn agric funding, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Lamido Sanusi, made this known in the company of  Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, whereas the USAID Administrator, Dr. Rajiv Shah, endorsed the dotted lines for the agency.

NaijaAgroNet reports that the agreement, which was signed at the CBN headquarters in Abuja, showed that it will enable the parties to use co-guaranties, joint technical assistance, combined training and workshops for local banks and agriculturally-linked enterprises to encourage the growth of the agriculture sector in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Shah said under the agreement, the US would immediately provide guarantee of up to $100m in commercial lending to Nigerian banks. Stressing that the move will help increase private financing to the sector as well as reduce banks’ apathy to agricultural lending.

“We are very proud of this partnership agreement because we know that in all of the promise and success that the future holds for Nigeria; agriculture nearly 70 per cent of small scale farmers lack access to financing. Because of this partnership, hundreds of millions of dollars will be made available so that farmers can access and improve their production system and their processing operations,” he said.

Equally commenting, Adesina said the grant would help to address some of the issues affecting lending to the sector by banks, noting that the high interest rates, persistently decline in the quantum of lending to the sector and risk of default.

 “What this facility is going to do, and I really commend the Central Bank governor, is to reduce the risk of lending by banks,” he said.

Pointing out that  they were thrilled at the $8bn investment commitment into this sector in one year and  were also excited by the fact that of the N3bn that was lent last year to seeds and fertilizer companies, the default rate was zero per cent.

“So, on this facility, the central bank will put out risk sharing instruments, which will leverage the excess liquidity from the commercial banks. The total amount that we are looking at is $3bn overtime,” he said.

Adesina said, the amount that would be facilitated under the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agriculture Lending had about four components.

The components are to reduce the risk faced by banks, provide technical assistance to banks, improve the agriculture value chain and provide insurance cover.

As said, Adesina noted that the grant is an endorsement of the fact that the Central Bank and the banking community recognise there is a revolution on the way in Nigeria in agriculture.

“They are ready to put significant financing behind it,” he said.

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FADAMA boosts 40,000 farmers in Anambra

NaijaAgroNet:

Over 40,000 farmers have benefited from the FADAMA III intervention in Anambra, just as they have increased saves by 70 per cent, according to the Project Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Muofunanya, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report made available to correspondent, indicates that Mr. Muofunanya in Awka said that the programme also disbursed in excess of N600 million to 870 groups between 2009 and 2013.

The farmers, he said, witnessed an increase in their average income from N45,000 in 2009 to N80,000 in 2013, stressing that a survey conduct by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in the state revealed that the beneficiaries had improved their savings and income by 70 per cent.

“The farmers have done well in Fadama Users Equity Fund, where farmers are encouraged to save 10 per cent of their income to sustain their projects as well as in technology adoption.

Emphasising that the project development objective has been to increase the income and livelihood of beneficiaries and in that regard, the project has done well, insisting that irrigation had remained a serious challenge to achieve more successes in the state.

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BATN commends Lagos State House over passage of smoking law

NaijaAgroNet:

The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has commended the Lagos State House of Assembly over the recent passage of what the company described as balanced Law against smoking in the public, reports NaijaAgroNet:

Head of Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco, Mr. Sola Dosunmu, made this known, commending the new Law for accommodating the views of all stakeholders whilst also maintaining its responsibility to protect the citizens of Lagos State from the effects of second hand smoking.

The Public Place Smoking Law which was passed by the Lagos State House Assembly on Monday the 20^th of January 2014, has been sent to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola for assent.

Addressing the new Law, the Head of Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco, Mr. Sola Dosunmu, welcomed the passage of this Law which he says expressly seeks to protect the non-smoking public from tobacco smoke and also guarantees the adult cigarette smokers’ right to continue to enjoy the smoking of a legal product in private places, open places and in other designated smoking areas in Hotels, Bars, Nightclubs and tertiary institutions.

He further said, they have studied the Law and particularly it is not excessive or discriminatory. It is balanced and respects choices. He also praised the Lagos State House of Assembly for taking on board the views of the owners of Hotels, Bar, Lounges and Café owners who advocated for the inclusion of designated smoking areas in the Law. Also commendable was the introduction of 6 months grace period for these owners to implement any changes envisaged under the new Law as to do otherwise would have crippled their businesses even though he was of the view that a 12 months grace period was more realistic and in tune Head of Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco, Mr. Sola Dosunmu with international standards.

Speaking further, Dosunmu debunked the insinuation that the Tobacco industry was opposed to the passage of the Law, rather he reiterated that the Tobacco industry has always advocated for the passage of balanced, evidenced led and workable Laws.  This he opined, the Lagos State House of Assembly has to a large extent achieved by the passage of this Law.

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Pix: Gov. Fashola of Lagos State.

Adopted School: Airtel lifts Abi School with borehole in Cross River

NaijaAgroNet:

 

Telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria, has lifted the Presbyterian Primary School 2, Ediba in Abi Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State, as part of its adopted school programme by donation of a borehole, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, who was represented by the company’s Zonal Business Manager, South East Region, Onyekwucha Ikezu, told NaijaAgroNet that the donation comes barely six months after the telecom operator donated ultra-modern block of classrooms to the adopted school as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged ‘Adopt-a-School.’

He also told NaijaAgroNet that in addition to the borehole which will provide safe and clean drinking water for teachers and pupils of the school, Airtel Nigeria also provided educational materials includingexercise books, note books, school bags and uniforms to pupils of the Presbyterian Primary School 2.

The borehole and educational materials were presented to the staff and pupils of the school in the presence of the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Anna Odey who represented the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Effiong E. Effiong,senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the traditional ruler of Ediba, HRH Ovai George Egbe, OvaiOsai 1 of Ediba.

It would be recalled that Airtel Nigeria in July last year donated an ultra-modern block of classrooms to the adopted school.  The transformation of the school by Airtel Nigeria was a development that brought joy to the pupils and teachers of Presbyterian Primary School.

Responding, Mrs Odey on behalf of the Cross Rivers’ State Government expressed great appreciation for the support the state has been receiving from Airtel Nigeria and urged other corporate organisations to take a cue from the company and join in the development of their operating environment.

The Head Teacher of the school, whose address was read by Master Flavour Johnson-a primary four pupil, stated with nostalgia how Airtel has made the school the first of its kind in Abi local Government with modern facilities creating a serene environment which has stimulated effective learning.

She further informed the audience that one of the pupils came second position in the 2012 read and write competition across the state.

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Pix: Mrs Odey cutting the tape.

FG N14bn dry season farming to boost agriculture

NaijaAgroNet:

A total sum of N14 billion has been approved by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in support of dry season farming for the year, 2014, is expected to boost agriculture produce in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet on Monday.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that in 2013, an estimated sum of N9m was approved for the dry season farming and in continuation, this has been jacked up to N14bn, even as it’s anticipated that more farmers would embrace the model.

In his address at the formal launch of the Dry Season Farm Support Programme (DSFSP), President Jonathan noted that his administration would ensure that the programme in Nigeria is sustained so as become a national food policy.

"Our resolve to expand this dry season programme is strong and subsequently it has to come up in October so that the farmers will get what they need before the commencement of the dry season,” he declared, stressing that in order to demonstrate this, “I am today announcing N14 billion to support dry seasoning farming for 2014 season. Last year it was N9 billion, this year is 14 billion and as more states come on board we will continue to increase the amount of money.”

President Jonathan reiterated the commitment of his administration on agriculture, saying "We I'll continue to work with farmers and that is why I am announcing today that the support will become a national policy. Our nation shall be green, our barns shall be filled and our farmers shall prosper," he prayed.

Pointing out that the launch in January is late, hence he advised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to ensure the rescheduling of this launch to last quarter of the year such as in the month of October or November.

He recalls that the programme was launched in 2011 with the goal of creating additional 20 million metric tonnes of food into the country's domestic food supply to change the approach to agriculture.

As a nation, he said, Nigeria, must be able to feed the citizenry, noting that “A giant that cannot feed herself of course the weight of the giant will crush the weak legs if there is no food."

He emphasised that Nigeria did not suffer from food crisis in the last few years, because contrary to critics, he Growth Enhancement Programme (GES) had already reached about 1 million genuine farmers, who already harvested their crops before the 2012 floods.

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Pix: President Jonathan

FAO raises alarm over influenza virus in China

NaijaAgroNet:

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has once again raised an alarm over the increasing human cases of influenze A (H7N9) in Southern and Eastern China, reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to FAO official statement made available to NaijaAgroNet and endorsed by FAO Chief Veterinary Officer, Juan Lubroth, human infections with the influenza A (H7N9) virus are on the rise again in China and the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities provide opportunity for further spread and human exposure.

“Millions of people and poultry are expected to be on the move and many households will slaughter poultry at home to celebrate the New Year. FAO called upon neighboring countries to remain vigilant in the face of A (H7N9) and other avian influenza viruses, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1,” part of the statement read.

Also, FAO said that the number of human infections with H7N9 has considerably increased since late December in East and Southeast China, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Equally, they said that the increase in cases was expected, as influenza viruses traditionally show increased activity during the winter months. So far, no other country has reported influenza A (H7N9) in humans, animals or in the market place.

“There is strong evidence that people become infected following close contact with infected live poultry, mostly in live bird markets or when slaughtering birds at home. According to WHO, no sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred so far. Genetic analysis by FAO reference centers has revealed that the virus has not changed significantly since its emergence last year,” FAO officials said.

Lubroth further said that Chinese authorities are enforcing important measures to reduce the risk of human exposure to the A (H7N9) virus.

"This includes temporary closures of live bird markets, regular market rest days, improved hygiene in markets, heightened and ongoing surveillance in poultry and live bird market environment, and control of poultry movements," Lubroth advised.

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Pix: FAO DG, Da Silvia

South Sudan: $61m required to protect, rebuild food security

NaijaAgroNet:

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that the continuous political crisis in South Sudan would require the sum of $61 million, about N9.7 trillion, to protect, rebuild food security and livelihood in the new country, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The recent violence in South Sudan, NaijaAgroNet reports is threatening to increase hunger and human suffering considerably, unraveling modest gains made in food security in the past two years, according to Sue Lautze, FAO Representative in South Sudan, the agency's newest member country.

Also, NaijaAgroNet gathered that under the United Nations' Crisis Response Plan, FAO and its partners in the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster are seeking $61 million for crucial food assistance and livelihoods activities.

FAO's efforts are focused on getting seeds, livestock vaccines, fishing gear and other agricultural inputs, technologies and services to vulnerable rural and urban families whose food production and income activities are being disrupted by conflict and the displacement of people.

This, NaijaAgroNet reports would afford FAO to mitigate the environmental impact of displacement.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the humanitarian situation in South Sudan deteriorated rapidly since fighting broke out in mid-December, causing not only the loss of life and displacement, but also disrupting agricultural development and humanitarian activities crucial to the survival and future livelihoods of millions.

“The impacts on diversified livelihoods in four of South Sudan's ten states are generating an alarming risk of food insecurity and malnutrition,” Lautze noted.

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Berlin Green Week’14: WFO says resilience, the keyword

NaijaAgroNet

The Executive Director, World Food Organisation (WFO-OMA) Mr. Marco Marzano, has said that resilience is the keyword the Berlin Green Week 2014 gets underway within the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the International Green Week in Berlin, which began at the weekend, would last till January 26, 2014 is reputed as the world's biggest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture.

Marzano also disclosed that the commencement of Global Forum for Food and Agriculture that it represents a unique opportunity for different stakeholders of the agricultural sector, including government representatives, United Nations (UN) agencies, governmental development agencies,  to meet and discuss about the latest challenges affecting the sector.

“This year title, Empowering Agriculture: Fostering Resilience – Securing Food and Nutrition, already contains the seed of a possible solution for overcoming some of the threats,” Marzano said, stressing that resilience is the keyword, adaptation the way out.

“We all work for having food and nutrition security as the final result” the Executive Director said.

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Tsetse fly: Senegal advances battle, improves livestock sector

NaijaAgroNet:

The West African country of Senegal may have advanced battle over Tsetse fly in the country, just as a foundation plan has been put in place to improve livestock sector, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet gathers that a campaign against the tsetse fly, a pest that transmits a disease that devastates livestock in the Niayes area near the capital Dakar has radically reduced the fly population and is paving the way for complete eradication. 

Project manager and Head, Animal Health Section in the Senegalese Ministry of Livestock, Baba Sall, confirmed this development to NaijaAgroNet, saying that since the project started, there is already less disease.

“It has not only reduced the tsetse but also ticks, which cause lots of other diseases in the area. We have noticed over all better health of the herds," he said

NaijaAgroNet pointed out that a multi-year programme of the Government of Senegal, with financial help from the United States and technical support from the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), France, is slowly eradicating the tsetse fly using a method called the Sterile Insect Technique.

The programme, he said, is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) through its joint division with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

The Niayes area has a coastal micro-climate suitable for exotic breeds of cattle, the kind that produces more milk and meat than domestic stock.

Unfortunately, the area is also home to the tsetse fly, which transmits trypanosomosis. Often lethal, the disease reduces fertility, weight gain, meat and milk production and makes the cattle too weak to be used for ploughing or transport.

A government study estimates that when the tsetse fly is completely eradicated in the Niayes farmers will earn €1.2 million ($1.6 million) more per year because they will spend less on treating animals and earning more profit from selling milk and meat.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that the government has an ambitious plan to introduce exotic livestock breeds and create a modern meat and dairy sector in the area, which is near the capital Dakar.

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