220 varsities, FAO join hands on food security in Latin America, Caribbean

Over 220 universities joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to expand learning opportunities and improve policies in the Latin America and the Carribbean, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This, NaijaAgroNet gathered is a sign of new educational partnership of putting knowledge into the hands of thousands of professionals working in food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the partnership offers individuals and institutions the opportunity to gain access to a broad suite of online courses to develop their capacity to improve policies and programmes.

The initiative, NaijaAgroNet learnt will offer a new Master’s programme in Food Security, in addition to e-learning courses currently offered by FAO. Even as the programme partnership will target current and potential policymakers through a vast network of over 220 universities in the region.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that with the support of the European Union (EU), FAO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL) to develop the education programme.

Hence, FAO and UDUAL will work with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to develop the curricula. Rollout of the new courses is slated for January 2015.

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Strengthen family farming, solve global agro puzzle - Sonnleitner

The United Nations (UN) Goodwill Ambassador of the International Year of Family Farming and World Farmers Organisation (WFO) Member, Mr Gerd Sonnleitner, has declared that strengthening family farming is the answer to global challenges in agriculture, reports NaijaAgroNet.

He made this known to NaijaAgroNet at the occasion of the 14^th Asian Farmers’ Group for Cooperation (AFGC), saying that as a family farmer himself, “It is a sustainable, flexible and resilient model, especially with regards to achieving food security.”

Sonnleitner said he could understand from his own experience the role family farmers play - not only for the development of domestic markets but also with regards to international trade.

“They need to be adequately supported, as the economic risk and the responsibility lie in their hands – especially through the development of policies which favour them,” he said.

The 2-day-event which ended at Saturday, March 1, 2014 was hosted by the Cooperative League of Thailand (CLT) in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that it is co-organised by the Japanese farmers’ organization JA Zenchu which provides the permanent secretariat of the AFGC, offering opportunity to exchange information and experiences and to promote cooperation amongst the participating member organizations.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that AFGC is a platform for farmers organizations was established in 1999 in Tokyo. Members are national farmer and cooperative organizations from nine countries in the Asian monsoon region (India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam). Small-scale family farming is the main model in agriculture in these countries.

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Food security: FAO highlights need for strategic cooperation *43.7m undernourished in NENA region

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has highlighted need for strategic regional cooperation in the wake of conflicts, rapid population growth and urbanization, and a heavy reliance on food imports which are posing serious challenges for food security, NaijaAgroNet reports.

A press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet by officials of FAO, indicates that three countries in the region Near East and North Africa (NENA), namely the Algeria, Jordan and Kuwait; have met the hunger component of the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG1) by halving the proportion of their population experiencing chronic hunger.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that region-wide, the number of undernourished people remains high at nearly 43.7 million, or 10 per cent of the population, while 24.5 per cent of children under five are stunted due to chronic under-nutrition, according to an assessment presented at the start of the organization's  regional conference at the weekend.

Experts also said that micronutrient deficiencies are common in both affluent and less affluent countries, having a number of serious consequences for school enrollment, productivity and public health.

FAO further decried that conflicts and civil strife remained the driving factor for food insecurity in the region in recent years, just as the hotspots include Iraq, Sudan, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip and Yemen.

In Syria alone, an estimated 6.3 million people are in need of sustained food and agricultural assistance.



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Dubai hosts World Food Security Summit

Expecting was high at the commencement of the World Food Security Summit in Dubaia with hundreds of international experts and government in attendance, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking on the summit, the Minister of Water and Environment Development, who will be speaking at the summit. Dr Rashid bin Fahad, confirmed to NaijaAgroNet that

 the region is entering a new period of economic growth, underpinned by a burgeoning population with a high dependence on imported food.

“Food security is an immediate priority,” Fahad said, stressing that execution of a core food security strategy is essential to provide a sustainable growth platform.

“More and more consistently over the last six to seven years, the GCC states are trying to develop a strategic intervention on food security,” said Zahra Babar, the associate director for research at the Centre for International and Regional Studies at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar.

“Globally, when institutions talk about food security, largely, they’re identifying countries where access to food is something that is difficult. The most insecure part of the world tends to be in sub-Saharan Africa so, traditionally, you don’t think of Gulf states as insecure as they have some of the highest GDPs in the world and they can easily meet their food needs.”

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Africa needs multi-sectoral approaches to address climate change impact - Eriyo

 The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Jesca Eriyo has suggested a multi-sectoral approaches to address climate change impact, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Eriyo, according to NaijaAgroNet reports made this known at a regional workshop on African Agriculture in a changing climate: enhancing the up-take of climate smart agriculture.

The forum, organized by the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), and East African Community (EAC) brought together climate change and agriculture experts from about 20 African countries.

“As EAC, we’re pleased to collaborate with other African regional economic organizations, research programmes and centers and development partners in finding lasting practical and policy solutions to address agricultural production and food security within the confines of a changing climate,” Eriyo said.

Agriculture, she noted in recent years has overwhelmed the impacts of climate change, which pose a serious concern on food security in the region with more than 130 million people.

Eriyo also said that the trading bloc has the potential and capacity to produce enough food to meet the region’s food demand and produce surplus for export to the world market.

The regional body, as said by her, is one of the implementing partners in the Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa, just as its focus is on up- scaling climate smart agriculture in the region and promoting Africa’s solution within the ongoing climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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BATN donates motorocycles to Oyo State agric

NaijaAgroNet:

The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) Foundation, has donated some two motorcycles to the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture in Ibadan, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Also, it was gathered by NaijaAgroNet that the presentation was made by the foundation led by the General Manager, BATN Abimbola Okoya, to enhance forest protection and deforestation in the state.

The event held at the Ministry of Agriculture in Ibadan, was witnessed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Mr. Kunle Adeduntan, Head, Leaf Operations, British American Tobacco Iseyin Agronomy, Mr. Thomas Omofoye and General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, Abimbola Okoya.

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Aquaculture to produce 2/3 global food fish supply – Report

NaijaAgroNet:

A joint research by the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPI) have shown that fish farms sub-sector is to produce two-third of the global food fish supply by 2030, reports NaijaAgroNet.

With this, NaijaAgroNet also reports that there are prospects for fisheries and aquaculture globally.

Fish farming, the tripod report equally showed has potential to provide close to two thirds of global food fish consumption by 2030 as catches from wild capture fisheries level off and demand from an emerging global middle class, especially in China, substantially increases. 

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the collaboration between the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), highlighted the extent of global trade in seafood which tends to flow heavily from developing to developed countries. 

According to FAO, at present 38 per cent of all fish produced in the world is exported and in value terms, over two thirds of fishery exports by developing countries are directed to developed countries.

The "Fish to 2030" report finds that a major and growing market for fish is coming from China which is projected to account for 38 percent of global consumption of food fish by 2030. 

China and many other nations are increasing their investments in aquaculture to help meet this growing demand. 

The Asia including South Asia, South-East Asia, China and Japan is projected to make up 70 per cent of global fish consumption by 2030.

Sub-Saharan Africa, on the other hand, is expected to see a per capita fish consumption decline of 1 per cent per year from 2010 to 2030 but, due to rapid population growth of 2.3 per cent in the same period, the region's total fish consumption will grow by 30 percent overall.   

The report further predicted that 62 per cent of food fish will come from aquaculture by 2030 with the fastest supply growth likely to come from tilapia, carp, and catfish. global tilapia production is expected to almost double from 4.3 million tonnes to 7.3 million tons a year between 2010 and 2030. 

One of the report's authors Siwa Msangi of IFPRI, revealed to NaijaAgroNet that the fast-moving nature of aquaculture made this a particularly challenging sector to model and at the same time, embodies the most exciting aspect of it in terms of future prospects for transformation and technological change.

"Comparing this study to a similar study we did in 2003, we can see that growth in aquaculture production has been stronger than what we thought," Msangi said. 

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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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