Humans, wildlife can mutually co-existence - FOA

NaijaAgroNet:

Experts have said that humans and wildlife can mutually co-existence, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Several wildlife species, NaijaAgroNet gathered may cause significant damage to crops and livestock systems, threatening peoples' food security, safety and well-being, which experts see as in extreme cases, attacks by wildlife species such as elephants and crocodiles can cause human injuries and death.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation latest publication with focus on wildlife, noted that human-wildlife conflicts have become more frequent and severe particularly in Africa, due to increasing competition for land in previously wild and uninhabited areas.

“This is often the result of human population growth, increasing demand for natural resources, and growing pressure for access to land, such as expansion of transport routes, agriculture and industries,” part of the report read.

NaijaAgroNet reports that more specifically, the publication stressed that in central and southern Africa, wildlife and people will continue to share landscapes and resources with conflicts likely to worsen unless actions are taken.  

In this regard, FAO said that the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and other partners developed the first Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) toolbox, which has helped a local community in Gabon's Cristal Mount National Park.

The report further noted that local farmers in this area were particularly frustrated by the fact that animals such as cane rats, roan antelopes, bush pigs and elephants, were destroying their entire crops, and thus threatening their livelihoods. At the same time, laws prohibited these farmers from taking action by hunting the protected animals either for meat or to protect their crops.

However, the solutions offered by the toolkit included fencing the plantations to block animals from reaching the crops, lighting fires or making noises to scare the animals away, and posting guards to keep watch on plantations at night - measures that were relatively easy and inexpensive to implement.

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‘Indigenous peoples key to wildlife protection, rural livelihoods’

NaijaAgroNet:

The Director, Forestry Policy and Resources Division at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Eva Muller, has said that indigenous people as key to wildlife protection and rural livelihoods, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Muller was quoted in FAO's quarterly forestry publication Unasylva, made available to NaijaAgroNet in commemoration of World Wildlife Day, as saying that actively involving indigenous peoples and local communities in wildlife conservation is key to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring sustainable rural livelihoods.

The director also said that the urgent challenges that the world faces in maintaining biodiversity worldwide requires that indigenous peoples are empowered to act at the national level with assistance from the international community.

Stressing that the cultures of indigenous peoples and local communities involve the stewardship of wildlife, just as they simply cannot imagine their life divorced from nature and their interest in the sustainable use of resources is strong.

"Empowerment of these groups combined with their knowledge and long-term planning skills is essential to ensure the survival of future generations - of both humans and wildlife" Muller said.

The relationship between humans and wildlife, Muller highlighted in the publication, citing several case studies from various countries to illustrate how indigenous peoples can optimize the benefits for their livelihoods while also safeguarding wildlife, provided they are given the rights to make their own decisions in the territories they inhabit.

In the northern part of Mount Kenya, for instance, the Il Lakipiak Maasai ("People of Wildlife") own and operate the only community-owned rhino sanctuary in the country. These indigenous peoples have managed to alleviate the human - wildlife conflicts that arise in the area due to the intrusion of wild animals searching for water, prey and pasture during drought. They achieved this by reducing bush-cutting to ensure more fodder for wildlife on their lands. Through this conservation strategy, indigenous peoples have demonstrated that they can coexist harmoniously with wildlife while supporting their own pastoral lives and cultures.

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Bibeau supports sexual reproductive health, rights

NaijaAgroNet:

The Canadian Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau, has announced funding of up to $20 million to organizations supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Minister revealed this while participating in the She Decides high-level international conference in Brussels, Belgium, saying that Canada’s investment will support five organizations that have a proven track record of delivering results in the area of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.

According to her, these organizations must provide critical sexual and reproductive health services and information that advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the developing world.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the funding is part of Canada’s comprehensive approach to closing existing gaps in reproductive rights and health care services for women.

Canada, NaijaAgroNet reports, remain committed to supporting access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health services and information.

This includes strengthening national health systems, investing in contraceptives, family planning and comprehensive sexuality education, supporting women’s right to choose safe and legal abortions, and access to post-abortion care.

 “Sexual and reproductive health and rights are human rights. All women have the right to choose whether and when they want to have children, and how many. The empowerment of women and girls everywhere in the world begins with their right to be in control of their bodies,” Bibeau said.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that an estimated about 225 million of the world’s women and girls have an unmet need for modern contraception.

Whereas, NaijaAgroNet reports that maternal mortality is unacceptably high with the global record showed that about 830 women die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth every day. Just as every year, an estimated 22 million women and girls worldwide put their lives at risk by undergoing unsafe, clandestine abortions.

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Pix: Claude Bibeau - Canadan minister

Nigeria joins African countries with Skills Initiative programme

NaijaAgroNet:

Nigeria is now the fifth African country to launch Skill Initiative programme in partnership with NEPAD Agency, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Skill Initiative, NaijaAgroNet gathered, has the goal to strengthen the occupational prospects of young people, especially for women and youth from poor areas.

Other initial implementing countries include Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia.

Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, the Permanent Secretary of Cabinet Affairs, Mr. Roy Ugo, commended the programmatic interventions of the NEPAD Agency on the continent, particularly in Nigeria.

Ugo also said that the Skills Initiative for Africa programme is timely and aligns with the current administration’s Change Agenda, to create economic opportunities in the country, especially amongst the youth.

He pledged Nigeria’s support to the programme to ensure that it produces the desired positive effect on the employment sector.

Mrs Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD Agency’s Director of Programme Coordination and Implementation, informed attendees at the launch that the programme is informed by the need to address skills gap on the continent. In her opening remarks, she pointed out that there is a disconnection between education, training systems and the labour market.

“Therefore, it is incumbent upon the continent to think differently and come up with skill sets that could fill the employment opportunities, create entrepreneurs, as well as provide mentorship to trainees, so that the can effectively succeed in businesses after vocational training,” Mrs Fotabong said.

The launch of the Skills Initiative for Africa programme was co-hosted by NEPAD Nigeria under the leadership of Hon (Princess) Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator/ CEO of NEPAD Nigeria.

Speaking, Princess Akobundu explained that the Skills Initiative for Africa presents an opportunity for the missing middle of society to actively engage in the economic activity of the country, through gainful employment and entrepreneurship. She called on Nigerian youths to make good use of the opportunity provided by the initiative.

The launch, which was followed by a consultative workshop to identify the country’s priority for the programme, was attended by various stakeholders from both private and public sectors, including: Nigerian high level dignitaries, senators, members of the National Assembly, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and civil society organisations.

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ICT incubation provides sexy part to agriculture

NaijaAgroNet:

The co-founder and executive partner at LoftyInc Allied Partners, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi, has identified Information and Communication Technology (ICT) start-up incubation and acceleration in agriculture, as the sexy part needed by the youths in farming, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Oluwagbemi made this known in a recent edition of ICTUpdate Newsletter, saying that ICT start-up incubation and acceleration in agriculture provides a unique opportunity to re-engage African youths across the agriculture value chain.

This, he also said affords the youth to be empowered with technology.

“So, Africa can develop its own technologies fit for purpose and feed her citizens freed from the external dependency,” he said.

Oluwagbemi equally said, this part provides the sexy back in agriculture for the youths which makes the farms potentially the office of the future.

As said by him, the surest path for revenue generation or profitability for any start-up in Africa is to create value.

“Start-ups that add real value to their customers; the farmers and the consumers, become the winners in the market,” he declared.

To do so, he prescribed having a required degree of collaboration with existing players, and leveraging the market channels that traditional players had built but have exploited sub-optimally.

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Pix: Michael Oluwagbemi

Obiano’s wife lifts Awba-Ofemili widow, Jacinta Ofonyelu with bungalow

NaijaAgroNet:

 

It was a mini carnival in the sleepy Umuosite village in Awba-Ofemili, Awka-North Local Government Area Anambra State as the traditional ruler, the Nze-na-Ozos and prominent stake holders turned up Thursday 23rd February 2017 to witness the handover of a house built by the Wife of the Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano for an indigent widow in the community, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The 2-Bedroom bungalow, according to Odogwublog.com, is the tenth house donated by the governor's wife under CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows, a programme of her NGO, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE) which targets helpless widows who are in need of a roof over their heads in communities across the state.

Addressing the excited crowd, Mrs. Obiano stated that her motivation for embarking on such selfless work is in fulfillment of her promise to God that she would provide succor to such helpless widows to ameliorate their plight. Said she: “I came to Awba Ofemili today to fulfill my duty to my God by handing the keys to this house to yet another indigent widow. I have never met the beneficiary before now, she was chosen based on the report and photos of her dilapidated house provided by a staff of CAFE and confirmed by the elders of the community."

Mrs. Obiano further stated: "As I hand over the keys to Mrs Jacinta Ofonyelu, I wish to say that the house belongs to her and her children only. It is at her discretion to choose relations to allow into her house and should be allowed to live in peace without harassment."

The governor’s wife urged the community to shun any practices that may tend to undermine the dignity of women but instead channel their energies towards helping the poor. She announced that the water borehole component of the project to be managed by a Community Woman Leader, Mrs. Jane Nweke would serve the beneficiary and the rest of the community.

Welcoming the wife of the Governor, Head of Local Government Service, Awka North Local Government Area, Mr. Charles Chukwuma said with excitement that "we have not seen such before.  For such a building to be built free for somebody. I can assure you that the beneficiary cannot forget Mrs. Obiano. You can see she is grateful as well as the members of the community."

Mr. Chukwuma told the people to pray for the governor's wife and also pledged that the people of the area will continue to support the governor.

Other Community leaders who spoke at the event including the traditional ruler of thecommunity, Igwe Ezekwesili Mmaduagwuna and the Chairman of Anambra State Housing Board Cooperation, Chief Godson Ezenagu represented by Chief Bertram Nweke pledged their total support for governor Obiano and the APGA government in Anambra State.

In her Vote of thanks, the excited beneficiary, Mrs Jacinta Ofonyelu sang and danced in appreciation and thanked Mrs. Obiano for rescuing a helpless widow like her even without meeting her. She also prayed to God to protect Mrs. Obiano and her husband the Governor.

*courtesy Odogwo Emeka Odogwo; adopted from www.odogwublog.com

Pix: 1a&1b: Awba Ofemili House Before & the New 2-Bedroom Bungalow

Pix 2(L-R): Cutting the Tape :Beneficiary, Mrs. Jacinta Ofonyelu, Wife of Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke, Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ezekwesili Mmaduagwuna and Chief Bertram Nweke at the house commissioning in Awba Ofemili.

Pix 3(L-R): Let there be water: Mother of Mrs. Obiano, Evang. Fidelia Nwanuka (JP), Commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Chikwelu, Wife of Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke, Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ezekwesili Mmaduagwuna and Chief Bertram Nweke at the commissioning of the water borehole in Awba Ofemili.

Pix4a&4b (L-R): Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano,(centre) handing-over keys of the new house to the beneficiary, Mrs. Jacinta Ofonyelu with the Traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ezekwesili Maduagwuna at Awba Ofemili.

Pix5: Excited and appreciative crowd welcome the Wife of the Governor to Awba Ofemili

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515,000 children suffer SAM out of 7.1m severely food insecure in Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria

NaijaAgroNet:

An estimated 7.1 million people are now severely food insecure across Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, with 515 000 children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) made this revelation at the just concluded  Oslo Humanitarian Conference today, organized to mobilize international funding for the crisis-struck region, mostly where 80 to 90 percent of people rely on farming, fishing and herding for their livelihoods.

Confirming the revelation, the Director, FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, Dominique Burgeon, noted that  among these countries are 515 000 children who are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM); a condition which, if untreated, could lead to permanent damage to a child's development and even death. 

FAO pointed out that with the next planting season starting in May, and with scarcity of animal fodder and water points during the lean season, it has become crucial that crop seeds, tools and livestock support reach families urgently to limit the scope of the deepening crisis that now involves four countries,

According to FAO, the food crisis has split across borders as a result of violence related to the armed group Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria , while some parts of neighboring countries in the Lake Chad Basin, precisely Cameroon's Far North, western Chad and southeastern Niger; with what it described as devastating effects on food security and livelihoods. 

FAO, therefore, urgently calls for $30 million in immediate emergency support to assist farming families in these four countries to get ready to plant in the upcoming May planting season and prevent them from slipping into long-term dependency on food aid. 

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UN cautions on why hunger may not end by 2030

NaijaAgroNet:

The latest study by the United Nations (UN) agency, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has cautioned on why hunger may not end by 2030 after all, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The study entitled “The Future of Food and Agriculture: Trends and Challenges” the UN agency noted that mankind's future ability to feed itself is in jeopardy due to intensifying pressures on natural resources, mounting inequality, and the fallout from a changing climate.

Pointed out though that very real and significant progress in reducing global hunger has been achieved over the past 30 years, "expanding food production and economic growth have often come at a heavy cost to the natural environment."

Emphasising that "Almost one half of the forests that once covered the Earth are now gone. Groundwater sources are being depleted rapidly. Biodiversity has been deeply eroded," it notes.

Sounding the cautions, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in his introduction to the report, noted that as a result, "planetary boundaries may well be surpassed, if current trends continue."

By 2050, NaijaAgroNet gathered, humanity ranking is expected to likely have grown to nearly 10 billion people.

FAO further said that in a scenario with moderate economic growth, this population increase will push up global demand for agricultural products by 50 per cent over present levels projects, noting that  ‘The Future of Food and Agriculture,’ intensifying pressures on already-strained natural resources.

At the same time, greater numbers of people will be eating fewer cereals and larger amounts of meat, fruits, vegetables and processed food — a result of an ongoing global dietary transition that will further add to those pressures, driving more deforestation, land degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Alongside these trends, the planet's changing climate will throw up additional hurdles. "Climate change will affect every aspect of food production," the report says. These include greater variability of precipitation and increases in the frequency of droughts and floods.

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Hunger crisis deepens in Nigeria’s northeast, rolls over into Lake Chad Basin

NaijaAgroNet:

As conflict and instability continue in the Nigeria’s North-eaast, the food security situation in the country and the Lake Chad Basin has drastically deteriorated, says the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to FAO in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, the agency also called for swift and decisive action from the international community to protect the livelihoods of millions of families dependent on farming, livestock and fishing for their food and livelihoods. 

With the next planting season starting in May, FAO noted that with scarcity of animal fodder and water points during the lean season, it is crucial that crop seeds, tools and livestock support reach families urgently to limit the scope of the deepening crisis that now involves four countries; Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.  

FAO is among the UN agencies and governments attending the Oslo Humanitarian Conference today, organized to mobilize international funding for the crisis-struck region, where 80 to 90 percent of people rely on farming, fishing and herding for their livelihoods.

The Director, FAO's Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, Dominique Burgeon, said that in the worst-affected areas, famine continues to loom and millions will remain trapped in cycles of severe hunger if the world don't enable farmers to start cropping now.

"Our collective efforts cannot be limited to merely avoiding massive famine - they need to allow people to return to a dignified life. And supporting agriculture is the key to both," he said.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that besides reducing hunger and boosting nutrition, FAO’s Burgeon said, investing in farmers also provides much needed job opportunities that would reduce migration and limit the potential for radicalization of unemployed youth.

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