NACCIMA calls for industries protection against ECOWAS’s CET

NaijaAgroNet

The Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Emmanuel Cobham, has advocated protection of local industries in the wake of the implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).

NaijaAgroNet reports that NACCIMA‘s position on the policy is that manufacturing companies need some level of protection against the influx of foreign products that the tariff favours. Cobham said since the CET regime has commenced, government may need to consider ways by which the hardship on importers and manufacturers alike could be alleviated.

He stated this in response to a World Bank report, ‘Connecting Food Staples and Inputs in West Africa: A Regional Trade Agenda for ECOWAS countries,’ calling on Nigeria and other governments in West Africa to move beyond nationally-focused food policies and address regional trade within ECOWAS to link farmers with consumers in the region’s booming urban areas, NaijaAgroNet gathered.

“Food staples belong at the heart of the ECOWAS agenda on agriculture,” said World Bank senior economist and lead author of the report, Jean-Christophe Maur. He said the importance of cross-border cooperation to secure food supply, as well as manage common natural resources, regional diseases and security challenges, has been made painfully clear in recent years, calling for a new  commitment to regional trade in the West African 

Sub-region to accelerate agricultural production, boost growth and ensure food security.
The report obtained by The Nation builds on the lessons of the World Bank report, “Africa can help feed Africa,” and examines the specific circumstances in West Africa, which is home to one-third of the continent’s population, and bringing new analysis to the food staples trade and policies in the region.

The report regretted that though Africa has tremendous agriculture potential with more than half of the world fertile yet unused land, countries on the continent are increasingly dependent on food imports from the rest of the world, NaijaAgroNet reports.

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SADC: Zambia, Tanzania announce surplus cereals

NaijaAgroNet

The Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations to the Zambian President, Edgar Lungu,  Amos Chanda, has said that only Zambia and Tanzania had a surplus reserve of cereals in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Chanda was addressing Journalists after the SADC Heads of State’s summit, Monday, where they discussed the danger of starvation due to cereal deficit, poor rainfall pattern during the 2014/2015 farming season and the required interventions in terms of relief in the form of maize and cereal supplies..

"When an analysis of food security was done in the SADC region, only Zambia and Tanzania were found to have positive food balance sheet, in terms of cereal surplus," he said.

He also said SADC chairperson and Botswana President Lieutenant General Ian Khama expressed concern over the power deficit in the region and called for non-hydro based sources of energy, even as the 35th SADC summit ended with a call from the chairperson to implement agreed priorities in strategic plans in order to improve the well-being of citizens,  
NaijaAgroNet gathered.

In his closing remarks, Gen Khama said the summit adopted important decisions that cut across sectors which were necessary to implement in good time saying that he recognized the continued support of the regional developmental cooperating partners (ICPs) for their immense contribution and urged them to continue with their support towards regional industrialization.

According to a communiqué released after the summit, member states signed legal protocols among them to continue implementing the regional agriculture policy and relevant protocols in order to improve agricultural production and food security.In area of climate change, summit underscored the need for the region to continue to work with all progressive partners and strive to build consensus on a continental basis.

The summit, NaijaAgroNet learnt, also noted the significant improvement in the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and also called upon the Government of Madagascar and all political key stakeholders to safeguard achievements made in the nation building and reconciliation by fully implementing the SADC roadmap.

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Pix: The Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, 

NCRRI, others plan genetically modified cassava for Africa

 NaijaAgroNet

The National Crops Resources Research Institute (NCRRI) in Uganda and Kenya and other research agencies are currently  developing cassava varieties under a collaborative project termed ‘virus resistant cassava for Africa,’ NaijaAgroNet reports.

The project which also involves Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, and the Donald Danforth Plant Centre, is aimed at developing cassava varieties that are not only resistant to viruses but also preferred by farmers. When supported and released, these cassava varieties have the potential of saving farmers preferred varieties which had been abandoned because they were susceptible to cassava brown streak disease.

An agriculturist, science writer and an advocate on science-based interventions in solving agricultural challenges in developing countries, Isaac Ongu, said farmers are not only looking for resistant cassava but cassava with the familiar taste that they and their children have always eaten and enjoyed.

Genetic engineering, he said, has a great potential to preserve farmers’ desirable traits with minimum variation compared to conventional breeding that always register marked differences in tastes and texture of cassava. This project, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is not only trying to deliver resistant cassava but could rescue farmers’ preferred varieties that have been abandoned because of the viruses.

Scientists are improving cassava because of its potential in guaranteeing household food security as well as its potential as an industrial raw materials in brewery, bakery, fuel and pharmaceuticals. Anti GMO activists too are resisting biotech cassava because of its potential to deflate the balloon of lies surrounding GM crops. They are frankly scared that the new GM cassava with its focus of preserving farmers preferred traits stands a high chance of being adopted by several households — if it’s not blocked.

Anti GMO activists have intentionally twisted the fact that intercropping would work well with most genetically modified crops and misinform and scare farmers, alleging that all GM crops cannot be intercropped. One of the crops they are targeting is genetically modified and nutritionally enhanced cassava, which has been tweaked to be virus resistant, protecting Africa’s most important staple against two of the most virulent cassava viruses in Africa, the cassava brown streak disease and cassava Mosaic disease.

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Pix: Isaac Ongu

South Africa output decline to affect Swaziland, others

NaijaAgroNet

South Africa, a regional food-basket has recorded a 31 per cent decline in output this year, a situation that is likely to cause a ripple effect across importers: Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho.

The current maize harvest in South Africa, NaijaAgroNet reports, is "the lowest yield since 2007," the country’s agriculture department said, adding that the country will have to import around 600,000 tonnes of maize to cover the deficit and meet its contractual export obligations. The prolonged dry spells in parts of the region have also reduced grazing land and feed for livestock, and are likely to push up the prices of red meat, milk, chickens and egg.

This was the background as leaders of 15 southern African countries gather for an annual summit from Monday to Tuesday as the region grapples with serious food shortages that have left a record number of people hungry. A toxic mix of erratic rains, abnormally high temperatures and floods have wreaked havoc on farming, writing off the bulk of this year’s crop.

As the region hungrily awaits the outcome of the meeting, NaijaAgroNet gathered, an estimated 27.4-million people out of the region’s combined population of 292-million — or nearly one in 10 people — would be depending on food handouts by the end of the year. Yields of the staple corn have shrunk by up to 90 per cent in some countries of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), a June report by the group said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) spokesman, David Orr said Zimbabwe and Malawi were facing their "worst food security crisis" in a decade. Zimbabwe, with a shortfall of 49 per cent, will need to import 700,000 tonnes of the staple corn to feed 1.5-million people.
In Malawi, NaijaAgroNet learnt, floods earlier this year ravaged fields, killing 176 people. Traditionally the third largest producer of maize in the region, this year it is being forced to import from neighbour Zambia. According to official estimates, up to 2.8-million Malawians will need food relief from year end when the food shortages peak.

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Pix: David Orr

Execlusive: Bishop Tutu demands 100% renewable energy by 2050

Exclusive@NaijaAgroNet:

The Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and member, Faiths for Earth Campaign, Most Reverend Desmond Tutu has joined the climate change crusade, demanding from global leaders to set renewable energy target of 100 per cent by 2050, reports NaijaAgroNet.

He also expressed hope on the forthcoming United Nations global meeting on climate change and ability of the likes of President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon to positively respond to this call.

Tutu in a petition already co-signed by over 216,779 as at the time of filing this report, called on the global leaders to “Respond urgently to climate change by setting a renewable energy target of 100 per cent by 2050.”

For him, climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges in this era, because it threatens the health of the planet and people; especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Just as it also threatens children’s future and everything humanity holds dear. 

“It is time for all of us to wake up and take action together; in our local communities, nationally and globally, as well as in our daily lives,” he said.

Bishop Tutu noted as citizens motivated by faith and other moral traditions, to recognize that there is a grave obligation to act on climate change.

“We call on you as leaders to respond urgently to the threats of climate change and set a renewable energy target of 100% by 2050. We need bold action like this to keep global temperature rise below the unacceptably dangerous tipping point of two degrees, to phase out carbon pollution to zero, and to invest resources in sustainable development pathways to build a more flourishing, inclusive and balanced world,” the retired Bishop Tutu declared.

He enjoined the people of faith to embrace the moral responsibility to care for their world and for each other and by seeking to live better and more sustainable lives in greater joy and harmony.

“Let us act now, boldly and together, to build a better life for all,” Bishop Tutu urged.
 
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Study harps on Potential of livestock for food security, poverty reduction in SSA

NaijaAgroNET

A study published recently has revealed the potential of livestock production and its contribution to the continent’s employment and economy especially in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), NaijaAgroNet reports.

The study said that smallholders, with their mixed crop and livestock farming systems, will continue to be the main producers of ruminant (cattle, goat and sheep) products; monogastrics (such as poultry and pigs), and that most of the expansion will be through industrial production systems.

Policies that encourage healthy food consumption patterns, the sustainable intensification of all livestock production systems and selective promotion of monogastric livestock production, could result in increased environmental efficiency of livestock systems in sub-Saharan Africa. This can be done in ways that protect production in pastoral communities, and by smallholder farmers, NaijaAgroNet gathered.

Sustainable intensification of livestock production will yield significant benefits for food security, incomes, trade, smallholder competitiveness and ecosystems service.

The required investment, NaijaAgroNet learnt, include increased provision of veterinary services, inputs, institutional support, processing and market. These are all essential if current livestock production systems are to evolve into viable commercial operations.

NaijaAgroNet  monitored Landscapes.org reports that the study was prepared by a core research team from the Commonwealth and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) under the stewardship of the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Food Security and Nutrition and UN System Influenza Coordination (UNSIC).

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Echono hails NABG’s $1.8b agric investment

NaijaAgroNet

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, has commended the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) for their projected $1.8 billion, about N358.2billion investment to assist smallholder farmers in 22 states of Nigeria, NaijaAgroNet reports.

“Your recognition that smallholder farmers are the largest private sector group in Nigeria has helped to foster economic growth in rural Nigeria as you provide guaranteed take-off markets for millions of smallholder farmers across the country.

“Sixteen of you have committed to invest in agriculture and agribusiness across 22 states of Nigeria a total $1.8 billion. Turning these commitments into real investments will undoubtedly help to create jobs for our teeming youth population and women and help to lift millions of farmers out of poverty”.

According to Worldstageonline, Echono stated this while addressing the first annual general meeting of the NABG in Lagos. He added that the group had helped to foster economic growth in Nigeria through the provision of take-off grants for smallholder farmers, NaijaAgroNet gathered.

“We are better positioned for inclusive growth where small, medium and large farmer groups will co-exist to generate wealth for millions of Nigeria and the unemployed youths and women. We have ended the dominance of government and I am optimistic that the private sector will lead Nigeria in restoring its past glory in agriculture,” He said.

 “I am confident that the group will continue to attract viable local and foreign direct investments into agriculture and agribusiness together with our Development Partners and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).” 

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Pix:Sonny Echono,

Global production to drop by10 per cent

NaijaAgroNet:

Latest evidence has revealed that from 2070 onward, severe shocks, which could see global production drop by 10 per cent, may be happening in seven out of every ten years, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

An author from the UK's Met Office,  Kirsty Lewis, said, "It is very difficult to characterize these extreme events and their frequency, but what we do see quite clearly is that events that are very rare in the present day are becoming more frequent in the future.

“The most extreme events of the future are likely to become more intense, so potentially larger shocks and more frequent shocks."

Researchers, NaijaAgroNet reports, say an over reliance on global trade may make these production shocks worse especially in Africa and the Middle East.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization says that increasing population will drive demand for food up by 60 per cent by 2050 in any case, so there is going to be significant pressure on food production.

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Pix: Kirsty Lewis

Agriculture, food security, prudent management vital in SADC region

NaijaAgroNet

The Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Southern African Development Community ( SADC), Ms Margaret Nyirenda, said agriculture, food security and prudent management of natural resources are vital in SADC region, NaijaAgroNet reports.

She said that food production in most parts of the region was hampered by unfavourable climatic conditions, increase in population, poor health and sanitation, adding that SADC is facing a cereal deficit of over six million tonnes emanating from the poor rainfall and floods that befell the region in the 2014/2015 season.

Nyirenda was addressing the 35th Ordinary Summit of Heads of States and Government in Gaborone. She said the 2014/2015 rainfall season was poor in most parts of the region with prolonged dry spells in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, southern Angola and Zimbabwe,  gathered NaijaAgroNet.

She added that Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique experienced both floods and prolonged dry spells and that the poor rainfall led to an unsatisfactory regional food security situation for the 2015/2016 year.

Ms Nyirenda, NaijaAgroNet learnt,  said the deficit of 6.33 million tonnes of cereal include the five most consumed cereals in the region such as maize, wheat, rice, millet and sorghum compared to a surplus of 1.21 million tonnes in the 2014/15 year .

She said the regional cereal availability for the 2015/16 was estimated at 40.23 million tonnes representing a drop of 22 per cent from 45.62 million tonnes last year. Ms Nyirenda added that the requirement for the region this year was estimated at 32.93 million tonnes, reflecting an overall maize deficit of 1.20 million tonnes.

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Pix: Ms Margaret Nyirenda,

Africa’s 200m youth population predicted to double by 2045

ITRealms
 
 Africa’s youth population, those between the age of 15 and 24 which is currently put at about 200 million, has been predicted to double by the year 2045.

NaijaAgroNet reports that the African Development Bank (ADB) is therefore working on providing the youth with the skills, education and jobs they need to secure their future.

This was coming as part of effort to mark this year’s International Youth Day, August 12, even as the AfDB celebrates and recognizes the importance of African youth.

The former President, ADB, Dr. Donald Kaberuka recently said, "Population growth in regions such as the Sahel remains very high, as high as 3.9 per cent, while internal migration has accelerated with up to 40 per cent of people now living in unplanned, poorly equipped cities and towns, amidst squalor and unemployment. As a result, young people - around 15 million of who enter the labour market each year - cannot find jobs, either because few are available, or because their skills do not match the needs."

"And in some regions, as they cannot find jobs or see hope for the future, they become easy victims to terrorist groups, or human traffickers promising them imaginary El Dorados, only for them to perish in the Mediterranean," Kaberuka added.

A proposed project, ENABLE Youth (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment for Youth in African Agriculture), is another initiative through which the AfDB seeks to reach out to close to 800,000 youth in 20 countries in southern, eastern and western Africa regions. The programme will be designed to appeal to disenfranchised young African adults through a comprehensive outreach approach that will see them receive life-skills education (effective and functional job training) and information on proven technologies and opportunities.

The programme will also come with 20,000 internships, 10,000 agribusiness startups, and 30,000 new jobs in rural and urban areas, leading to incomes of at least US $450 about N96, 750 per month.

In addition to supporting agriculture, the Bank is offering assistance to initiatives aimed at improving the education sector to provide skills required in the labour market. The AfDB and its development partners also recognize the role of the informal sector in providing jobs and livelihoods for the most vulnerable populations, including youth.

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 Pix: Dr. Donald Kaberuka