Ogoni cleanup: Eze applauds Buhari, others for bringing lifesaving water - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The determination of the Buhari-led APC federal government in ensuring the success of the implementation of the UN Environment report on Ogoni has continued to attract resounding applauses and commendations from analysts and critical stakeholders in the fields of politics and the environment.

The $1billion (USD) implementation which is hinged on a 2011 detailed report from the environmental assessment of sites polluted by oil exploration activities in Ogoni land since the discovery of oil in the 1950s, conducted and released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was launched in June 2016 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on behalf of President Mohammadu Buhari, after several years of neglect by the previous administration steered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and allies.

IWD2021: CS-SUNN celebrates women - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet:

The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) on Monday join the world in celebration of 2021 International Women’s Day which is marked each year on 8 March, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The International Women’s Day gives the opportunity to celebrate women and their many achievements.

NLTP, ranching & how to resolve farmer-herder clashes says Osinbajo - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet:

Task of building a society desired by all Nigerians is exerting and requires the contribution of all Nigerians as the challenge for everyone is “to build, not to destroy, to add to, not to take away,” according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo made the call at the opening session of an International Conference on Patriotism, Security, Governance and National Development.

Sewage coverage: €109m grant for Egypt - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The African Development Bank Group has signed financing agreements of €109 million with the Government of Egypt to improve sanitation infrastructure and services for rural communities in Luxor Governorate in Egypt’s Upper Nile region.

The financing consists of a €108 million loan from the Bank, and a grant of €1 million from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) – an Africa-wide initiative hosted by the African Development Bank.

FG, CBN offer 200,000 tonnes of paddyrice for sale - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Federal Government (FG) has commenced the sale of about 200,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice to 18 Nigerian millers, reports NaijaAgroNet

The sale being coordinated through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) came to the fore in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday as the bank marked the fifth year of ABP.

Speaking at the occasion, the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed some gains of the programme over the last five years.

“Just as we have given the money to farmers for the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, we will be disbursing the paddy aggregation loans to those millers.

“This is in order to use the loan to pay the farmers so that the farmers can repay their loans,” Emefiele said.

He said that the CBN had financed 2,923,937 small holder farmers cultivating 3,647,643 hectares of land across 21 commodities through about 33 participating financial institutions in the country.

Emefiele said the experience of 2015 to date had led to significant improvement in the execution of the programme.

He said that the bank had added several layers of control to improve on transparency and accountability among stakeholders.

“Today is a demonstration of the growth that had been attained in the agricultural sphere.

“It is important to note that, we are still far from attaining perfection but the emerging result from the programme reaffirms our belief in the potentials inherent in our agricultural sector.

“Farming will become a profitable venture in Nigeria as all farmers, because of the guaranteed off-take of their produce, are smiling to the banks.

“Under the 2020 wet season CBN and Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) partnership, we financed 221,450 farmers for the cultivation of 221,450 hectares in 32 states of the country.

“Repayment of loan is crucial to the sustainability of the programme.

“In support of the growth recorded in this drive to attain self – sufficiency in food production and to moderate prices of agricultural commodities, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the resuscitation of Nigeria’s commodity exchange.

“And the CBN in partnership with other stakeholders, will be committing at least, N50 billion to this initiative,” Emefiele explained.

He expressed the bank’s commitment to finance one million hectares of rice farms in the present dry season farming with the plan of exploring two cycles of production with the season.

In his remarks, Gov. Atiku Bagudu expressed optimism that the farmers would take the country out of her tough economic challenges.

Bagudu commended President Buhari for his magnanimous support to all states in the country to ensure that economic activities were kept functional.

The President of Benin Republic, Mr Patrice Talon was represented by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aurelie Agbenonci at the occasion.

Talon said that a team of about four ministers was in the state to witness the celebration of successes by the state in particular and the country at large.

“We have seen it all and we are going to establish a partnership in milling and produce rice together to feed the whole West African sub- region,” he said.

Earlier, the National President of RIFAN Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, commended President Buhari for his commitment to food security and visionary ideas for the initiation of the programme five years ago.

Those in attendance at the event included the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

Pix: Emefiele and other dignitaries pose with bags of rice in Kebbi to mark the 5th anniversary of the ABP.

Gas production: Digitalization offers high RoI to Mozambique - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The benefits of digital investment in the oil and gas sector are multifold: increased productivity, cost savings and improved performance all tend to follow investments in big data, the ‘Internet of Things’, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. 

Pacific Island countries, territories unite for enhanced renewables ambition - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

In a year of critical action on climate mitigation and adaptation, Pacific Island governments have reinforced their commitment to energy transition action and strengthened sustainable energy goals within updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, the United Kingdom in November, reports NaijaAgroNet.

At a meeting of high-level policy and intergovernmental representatives jointly hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Regional Pacific NDC Hub and the UK COP26 Presidency, ministers and government representatives reiterated the need for transformative pledges that significantly reorient the world’s energy transition pathway. Pacific nations aim to be at the forefront of global efforts.

Friends of Earth: Nnimmo, Chima in contempt of court - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

Former Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Arc. Nnimmo Bassey and a former staff of ERA/FoEN Barr. Chima Williams have been dragged before the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos for contempt of court, reports NaijaAgroNet.

A Federal High Court, NaijaAgroNet recalls, had ordered on 7th October 2020 restraining the duo from parading themselves as the Board Chairman and acting Executive Director of ERA/FoEN respectively.

Dairy Industry: U.S. to train Nigerian stakeholders - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet:

A joint venture between Promasidor Nigeria Limited and Ekiti State Government, the Ikun Dairy Farm has advanced plans to produce 10,000 liters of milk daily and will take delivery of two additional shipments of dairy cows from the United States over the next couple of weeks.

These shipments will provide a better breed of cow for the rapidly growing Nigerian dairy industry, helping to diversify the Nigerian economy.

Gerald Smith, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Mission to Nigeria noted that introduction of U.S. dairy cows will boost local milk production and contribute significantly to ensuring sustainable food security in Nigeria.


Smith explained that the successful cattle shipment was as a result of the strong partnership between the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, the Ikun Dairy Farm, and senior officials of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The United States is the leader in producing dairy cows,” Counselor for Agricultural Affairs Smith said. “Promasidor Nigeria Limited in partnership with Ekiti State Government and with the strong support of the Central Bank of Nigeria have successfully started an integrated dairy industry in Nigeria with the acquisition of the first batch of pregnant Jersey breed dairy cows from the USA. A sustainable dairy industry requires modern genetic cows. This collaboration marks the start of increasing milk production and enhancing the dairy value chain in Nigeria,” he added.

To further support the Nigerian dairy industry, Smith noted that the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Mission is designing a two-week long training program in the United States for diverse Nigerian dairy stakeholders. The training program holding later this year will introduce participants to the unique characteristics and genetic potential of U.S. dairy cows. “We believe these efforts will maximize the local dairy sector’s potential and help Nigeria emerge as a major player in the dairy market in the region,” Smith added.

Based at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, the Foreign Agricultural Service is the overseas arm of the United States Department of Agriculture. It offers a variety of services to American and Nigerian agribusiness companies, government and non-government entities involved in agricultural trade and development. Through a variety of programs, the service helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing capacity building opportunities.

Nutrition: MeCAM Coordiantor urges CSOs to optimise ICT tools - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The National Coordinator of the Media Centre Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM Nigeria), Mr. Remmy Nweke, has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to optimize the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools in communicating nutrition in the country, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking at the first quarterly capacity building of the Lagos State chapter of the Civil Society on Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) hosted by the Communication Team, Mr. Nweke said that optimizing ICT tools in this era has become imperative.