Drones assist Philippine farmers prepare for climate disasters

NaijaAgroNet:

The government of the Philippines in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has started using unmanned aerial drones to assess where farmlands are most at risk from natural disasters and quickly assess damages after they strike, NaijaAgroNet reports.

This, NaijaAgroNet also reports is in a bid to stay ahead of the negative impacts of climate change, floods and typhoons on food security, especially in the Philippines.

In addition, under a pilot phase of the still-fledgling project funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Philippines and the FAO, two drones have already been sent soaring over the Philippines provinces that have been affected by the current El Niño.

NaijaAgroNet equally reports that some 25 FAO and government technical experts are ready to be deployed across the archipelago to support drone missions. They were recently trained over three weeks on how to fly the drones and learned a range of remote aerial assessment methods.

The drones, NaijaAgroNet reports, are equipped with navigation and photogrammetric equipment that could generate detailed and data rich maps from aerial photographs including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index or NDVI, a formula used for assessing vegetation and plant health.

Data gathered, NaijaAgroNet gathered, could be used to see where agricultural systems are at particular risk from natural disasters and identify ways through which such risks can be countered, for example, through ground contouring, building retaining walls, or planting protective vegetation.

Capable of covering up to 600 hectares a day, the drones should significantly accelerate the process of risk analysis, according to Christopher Morales, Director of Field Operations for the Philippines Department of Agriculture.

"It is efficient, it saves time and we will be using a reliable source of data so that we can plan and provide appropriate interventions and responses for our farmers in times of disasters and calamities," he said.

"Additionally, imagery generated from drone flights can reveal where agricultural infrastructure projects and service facilities like irrigation or storage facilities could be sited to best serve local farmers. The technology can also potentially support in the assessment of coastal and forest areas." said Jose Luiz Fernandez, FAO Representative in the Philippines.

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Grazing reserves: Yoruba youths ask southerners ‘Go and defend your lands’

NaijaAgroNet:

A socio-political organisation, Yoruba Youth Council, has rejected the agitation for grazing reserves for Fulani cattle rearers across the country, with a call on Southerners to go and defend their lands against external aggressors, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The group also condemned the recent atrocities of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the South West and Enugu State, warning that it was an ominous signal that Fulani want to declare war against Southern Nigeria.

The position of YYC was contained in a communique signed by its President, Eric Oluwole and Publicity Secretary, Oladeinde 'Dare, after its emergency meeting held in Lagos but distributed to political correspondents on Monday in Abuja.

The group specifically called on "all members of the National Assembly representing the Yoruba people to ensure that the bill on grassing reserve die on its arrival."

The communique reads:

"We considered the position of the Northern governors and their leaders on the criminal display of their Fulani Herdsmen as an attestation to the colonisation agenda of the Fulani people on the southerners.

"The violent activities of the Fulani herdsmen that had led to the kidnap of notable Yoruba leaders like chief Olu Falae and their previous attack of Yoruba communities in Oke Ogun, Oyo state and the Imeko/Ipokai in Ogun state, without a feasible solution from government is a pointer that the Hausa/Fulani are momentrically mongering for war against the southerners as it was manifested in the recent attack of innocent and armless citizens in Enugu state.

"The planned grassing reserves by the Federal Government is a poly to impose the Fulani oligarchy agenda on the entire nation which aims at taking over our land through back door to further empower the Fulanis. If not, why is it that their echo is loudest when President Muhammadu Buhari, their kinsman is enthroned in the country?

"We state that we shall resist any incursion or attempt by the Fulani herdsmen and their sponsors to forcefully rear their cattle in any part of Yoruba speaking states including the territorial boundaries, if adequate and workable measures are not given.

"We however calling on our fellow southern brothers to ignore the disintegrative statement made by the Northern Governors, but to be more vigilant and focussed to ensure their lands and territory are properly defended.

"While we are reiterating our support for the stance of Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi that there is no land for grassing reserve in Oyo state, we are calling on all members of the National Assembly representing the Yoruba people to ensure that the bill on grassing reserve die on its arrival."

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Nigeria poverty rate growing @unacceptable high - ActionAid

NaijaAgroNet: 

The poverty rate in Nigeria has grown to unacceptable high, according to the ActionAid Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This position was part of a press statement available to NaijaAgroNet by ActionAid board to mark the 2016 Workers Day in Nigeria by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ojobo Ode Atuluku.

As said by her, the period of grace for the federal government under Muhammadu Buhari to set things right with the economy is enough.

“It is time that the Federal Government make public its plan to fix the economy,” she declared.

Also ActionAid said that the poverty rate in the country has added to the rate of inequality in the country.

“The poverty rate is not only high but also a triggering factor for the state of conflict and insecurity being experienced in different parts of the country,” she said.

In addition, ActionAid urged the FG to “prioritise tackling of inequality and discrimination within the polity.”

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Herdsmen rampage on Nimbo: Ugwuanyi blames securit...

Herdsmen rampage on Nimbo: Ugwuanyi blames securit...: ITRealms : The Enugu State governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has blamed the security agencies for their failure to avert the suspected Fu...

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ASFRAD seeks to empower 500 fishery millionaires

NaijaAgroNet:

The Anambra State Fisheries Revolution and Development (ASFRAD) programme is expanding partnership to empower 500 fishery millionaires, reports NaijaAgroNet.

ASFRAD, NaijaAgroNet gathered had recently embarked on a lot of research, trainings and youth empowerment programmes to achieve this goal.

Sources to close to the government of Anambra State confirmed to NaijaAgroNet that a youth empowerment and entrepreneurial initiative being managed by the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Fisheries, Mr. Emeka Iloghalu, was held with the objective of making Anambra State Nigeria's number one in fish-farming.

NaijaAgroNet, equally gathered that recently, two major investors in the Fisheries sector, Chief Akai Egwuonwu of Stine Industries, Amichi and Chief Ben Egonu of Osummanu Fish Estate and Tourism Ltd, Ossomala, joined the Governor's programme of creating a minimum of 500 young millionaires from the fisheries sector in the next 1 year by sponsoring the training and empowerment of young fish farmers.

The first batch of 500 persons, NaijaAgroNet reports, are currently at the world-class Osummanu Fish Estate and Tourism Resort at Ossomala, Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State undergoing necessary training in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export.

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Pix by Emeka Iloghalu and Arinze Awogu

'Ghost fishing’ technologies to reduce environmental damage

NaijaAgroNet:

New technologies to facilitate easier recovery of lost fishing gear are giving a boost to efforts to reduce so-called "ghost fishing" and its harmful impacts on fish stocks and endangered species, reports NaijaAgroNet.

These technologies include, coded wire tags (CWTs), Satellite buoys with solar power, Active pingers, passive sonar reflectors and LED.

NaijaAgroNet reports that advances in marking technology are offering new possibilities for efficient tracking and recovery of lost gear and are changing the way the problem is being tackled, citing for instance, the Coded Wire Tags (CWTs) are being tested as a potential tool for reducing entanglements of marine mammals, turtles and other large marine animals. The nano-sized, laser-etched CTWs are implanted in fishing ropes with no effect on fishing performance but making them detectable to special sensors.

Also, NaijaAgroNet learnt that satellite buoys with solar power are now commonly used in industrial purse seine operations, providing unlimited range and extra-long operating time. While other sensors, like Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, could be attached to a radio buoy and used to transmit data.

Acoustic technology is equally another add-on, which takes advantage of the sound transmission properties of seawater, also has applications in locating lost gear. Whereas the Active pingers emit sounds at certain frequencies once in the water, the passive sonar reflectors capture and reflect sound energy back to its source.

Just as the lights have long been an integral part of fishing gear markers for the night but today energy-efficient Light-Emitting Diode (LEDs) are being fitted with solar panels, amplifying their effectiveness.

This follows growing concern over this problem, coupled with the increasing availability of these technologies, NaijaAgroNet reports, led FAO to begin developing international guidelines on the effective tagging of fishing gear as a way to cut down levels of troublesome sea trash.

Known as the abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), NaijaAgroNet reports that abandoned fishing gear makes up a significant portion of all marine debris, a growing problem in marine ecosystems.

Levels of ALDFG, NaijaAgroNet reports, have gone up significantly in recent decades as a result of increases in the scale of fishing operations and the extensive use of long-lasting synthetic materials. At present, it accounts for about one-tenth of all marine litter, translating into hundreds of thousands of tonnes annually.

This abandoned gear is one of the most problematic types of marine debris, since it can remain in the oceans for years, often continuing to carry out the capture process it was designed for, entangling fish and other marine animals in its nets and killing them - a phenomenon known as ghost fishing.

"The effective marking of fishing gear in busy multi-user sea areas is key to preventing its loss and protecting marine ecosystems," according to FAO Fishery Industry Officer Petri Suuronen. "Fishers can also benefit from the use of new gear tagging technologies which will allow them to minimise loss of potential catch and expensive equipment, and save time searching for lost gear," he said.

Abandoned and lost gears are also a hazard to safe navigation due to fouling of ship propulsion systems and propellers, and marking can help prevent accidents and fatalities.

It can also be a tool in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, allowing control authorities to monitor how fishing gear is being used in their waters and who is using it.

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Hackers invade FAO headquarters

NaijaAgroNet:

Last Friday, a group of Italian and international hackers literally invaded headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome for a United States (US)- government-sponsored ‘Fishackathon’ reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Fishackathon, NaijaAgroNet reports, was aimed at cooking up high-tech solutions to problems that have long plagued fishing communities around the globe.

The Assistant Director-General of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Árni M. Mathiesen, said that working in teams in a marathon hacking session, the group of around 30 coders, technology students, developers and designers will be asked to harness FAO data to develop creative mobile applications, systems, and tools to help tackle key challenges facing sustainable fisheries.

Mathiesen also said that these range from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to overfishing and degradation of fishing grounds, to post harvest losses of catches.

Teams of 2-8 people joined forces to brainstorm solutions that responses to one of nine fisheries-related problem statements to be provided.

On Sunday, FAO experts would judge the submissions and one team will be chosen as the winner.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the exercise now in its third year, the Fishackathon was first launched in 2014 by US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Our Oceans conference is an event taking place in 40 cities around the globe.

The winners of each, including this weekend's Italian edition, will move forward into a global contest whose final outcome will be announced by the US government on June 8 at World Oceans Day 2016.

Last year's Fishackathon winners included a game to teach children about sustainable fishing, an app to help consumers find and eat sustainable seafood, and a reporting tool for marine mammal protection.

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Earth Day Special on eWaste: 75% of ‘Tokunbo’ electronics in Nigeria unusable

NaijaAgroNet:

As the world celebrates the 2016 Earth Day, NaijaAgroNet reports exclusively that 75 per cent of used electronics devices also known in local parlance as ‘second hand’ or ‘Tokunbo’ electronics imported into Nigeria are unserviceable and unusable.

Confirming this, the assistant Secretary General of the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), Mr. John Oboro said that 75 per cent of these Tokunbo items are not usually functional and cannot even be fixed.

“I will tell you that we have greater percentage of those (second hand electronics) that cannot be used, than can be used. Honestly speaking, I can tell you that about 75% of these items are not usable,” Oboro declared.

Also speaking, the Director, Basel Convention, Regional Centre, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo decried that the burning of used electronic devices generally are very hazardous, and those working on this could be prone to cancer, especially in Nigeria.

This, he said, is because those set of workers could take-in components that are dangerous, so it cannot be distanced from the incidence of high cancer rate which is on the rise now in Nigeria.

Prof. Osibanjo insisted that most of these electronic items are not usable and warned on the impact of continuous exportation of used electronics to developing countries, which he said negates the global village theory of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

“We claim one global village, its important to ensure that countries from where these used electronics are being shipped from are cleaned up and the same goes to those importing nations, to ensure that eventually all sides are safe at the end of the day,” he advised.

NaijaAgroNet reports that exporters of these electronics, argued that Tokunbo devices extends the life span of these electronics and help in bridging the digital divide in the developing economies.

Further investigations by NaijaAgroNet revealed that large number of computers and electronics devices imported into Nigeria via Lagos, every month, are largely non-functional and non-repairable, hence they end up being stacked in private warehouses across the country, especially in the South-Western Nigeria.

Equally, NaijaAgroNet reports that very often these items are dumped in the residential areas at uncompleted buildings and invariably burnt, thereby realizing highly content pollutant into the atmosphere, air and water.

Meanwhile, NaijaAgroNet reports that over one billion people in 192 countries will take action to 

protect our shared environment; all across the globe, in big cities to small villages and everything in-between, people are organizing, demanding climate action, cleaning up their local communities, meeting with their elected officials, planting trees, and teaching their children to protect their planet.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that Earth Day’s legacy makes it the largest and most active citizen engagement campaign on Earth. This year's theme is "Trees for the Earth."

+Remmy Nweke +Naija AgroNet
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Hilary Clinton petitions Congress over Zika virus funding

NaijaAgroNet:

The United States presidential hopeful, Senator Hillary Clinton has petition the Congress over lack of adequate funding to check the spread of Zika virus across the world, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Clinton in a petition seeking some 500 signatories expressed worries about Zika virus, but lamented that despite the concerns expressed by global leaders including President Barrack Obama, the United Nations (UN), and every major health organization in the world. 

“But Congress has taken no action to provide funding that could help us stave off this virus and ultimately find a cure,” she said.

According to her, over 2 billion people are at risk for Zika, which could cause serious health problems for pregnant women and babies, stressing that in the United States, estimated 800 cases have been documented so far, and in Puerto Rico, it’s possible that 1 in 5 people will be affected by the end of this year.

“… That’s why I’m sending members of my staff there this weekend to discuss what more we can do to mitigate this crisis,” Mrs. Clinton said.
NaijaAgroNet recalls that the World Health Organization has declared Zika a public health emergency, hence, Mrs. Clinton noted that the United States needs to step up and do more about it.

Also NaijaAgroNet reports that President Obama had requested emergency funding from Congress two months ago, but Congress has yet to give him the money. 

“That’s just unacceptable and together, we can do something about it,” Clinton assured, stressing that there’s a lot the world is yet to know about Zika.

“How exactly it’s transmitted, how far mosquitoes carrying the disease can travel, and the full extent of the health risks involved. We need to move quickly on life-saving research to develop a diagnostic test, a vaccine, and a treatment,” she said.

Pointing out that nothing really could be done until Congress approves the needed funding, insisting that with Americans’ health at risk, she said, Congress must take action.

“I know petitions have been a powerful tool to influence Congress - Change.org petitions have helped prompt Congress to provide health care for firefighters who fight wildfires and families affected by contaminated water at a military base,” she submitted.

Clinton, therefore, urged people of good conscious to help by signing the petition so as to convince Congress to do the right thing to confront this dangerous virus.

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Pix: Hillary Clinton

UNWTO saddened by tragic earthquake in Ecuador’s central coast

NaijaAgroNet:

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has expressed its sympathy to the people of Ecuador, reports NaijaAgroNet.

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gómez Sobrino, said they are deeply saddened by the tragic earthquake that struck Ecuador’s central coast on 16 April.

“On behalf of the international tourism community, UNWTO conveys its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims, to the people and the government of Ecuador in this moment of distress,” Sobrino said.

The Secretary-General, UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, was quoted as conveying “I would like to convey to the families and friends of the victims, to the people and the government of Ecuador, our heartfelt condolences and solidarity in this tragic moment.”

Ecuador, Rifai said, is a tourism success story; a country where tourism supports many livelihoods. UNWTO stands ready to work alongside Ecuador in all the necessary measures to support the recovery of the sector in the affected areas in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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