Agriculture with Jimoh

The Inequalities of Hunger: Global Hunger Index Spotlights Uneven Progress in Reducing Hunger · Report Rates Hunger “Serious”, “Alarming” or “Extremely Alarming” in 52 countries · 27 Percent Reduction in Global Hunger Index Scores Since 2000 October 12, 2017—Global hunger levels have fallen more than a quarter since 2000, but more recent rising hunger scores of several countries in the 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) underline how uneven this progress has been and how precarious it is to maintain. Famine has cast a shadow over four countries in the past year while conflict and climate change continue to hit the poorest the hardest. The Global Hunger Index this year indicates that beyond these acute crises, long term obstacles to reducing hunger in several countries may also be threatening efforts to reach zero hunger. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa south of the Sahara, where revised data place the Central African Republic in the “extremely alarming...

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has described as embarrassing the downgrade of Nigeria in the global cocoa business. To revive the industry, however, the Minister has disclosed that a re-launch will be done early this year as part of activities to bring cocoa back to public consciousness. Moreover, he has said that millions of cocoa trees will have to be planted, beginning this year.   “This year’s activity,” Chief Ogbeh noted, will start with “the relaunch of cocoa.” In his words: “It is an embarrassment that Nigeria fell to the seventh place. We are re-launching cocoa. We are targeting 15 to 20 million trees a year and we are rehabilitating the existing ones and improving upon agronomic practices, and processing and all the value chains that need to take us to number one.” Despite hurdles, agric fared well in 2016, kept faith on rice – Ogbeh -            As he inaugurates co...

An agriculturist, Prof. Godfrey Nzamujo, on Thursday urged the three tiers of government in the country to adopt the Songhai model of agriculture to boost food security and fight poverty. Nzamujo, speaking in Abuja, said that the Songhai model, which involved integrated farming, should be adopted because of its capacity to boost agricultural productivity considerably. He said that the government should change its approach in its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adding that it should adopt the Songhai model, which relied on the use of God-given resources, to accomplish this target. He said that the Songhai model had demonstrated that with deliberate investment in agriculture, Nigeria would be able to increase its revenue and reduce its dependence on petroleum as its sole foreign exchange earner. Nzamujo said that the Songhai model was an innovative approach that could be used to tackle challenges, such as food insecurity and poverty, enviro...

Ooni wants inclusive agriculture to reduce poverty, unemployment .... Storage facilities major problem-- Dangote  ......  brief case’ farmers   recognised ---AFN boss  ....... The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to aggressively engage in agriculture to end poverty and reduce unemployment in the country. Adeyeye made the call at the 2017 Mike Omotosho Annual Lecture with theme, `Increased Agricultural Productivity for Sustainable Economic Growth’, in Abuja on Saturday. He said that engaging in agriculture was a sure way to ensure nation building, especially in the currently recession facing the country. The Onni expressed concern that deforestation which he said had reached an alarming rate in the country had resulted in low productivity of farmers in food production. The Oba said: ‘’ We abandoned the bedrock of this country and that is why we are where we are today. “ We need proper mind re-orientation and change our focus to agr...

The Head, Corporate Affairs, Harmony Holdings Limited, Mr Kayode Aremu, has said that the Kwara State cashew processing factory, Ogbondoroko in Ilorin East Local Government Area would be completed in March. Aremu told newsmen on Thursday that after the completion of the factory’s renovation and expansion, it is expected to provide jobs for 600 youths in the state. ”Work is at advanced stage at the factory, and our team was recently on a tour of the site. ”In two months time, the renovation and expansion of the factory would have been completed and it is expected to provide jobs for at least 600 youths in the state,” Aremu said. Harmony Holdings Limited is the Kwara Government owned company in charge of the state government’s firms.

Bird flu claims 3.5 million birds in 26 states, FCT- FG ... Summons State agric commissioners ABUJA- THE Federal Government yesterday, disclosed that bird flu has claimed 3.5 million birds in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, so far. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made the disclosure in his address of welcome during a consultative meeting with commissioners of Agriculture/Livestock, state directors of veterinary services and major stakeholders in the poultry industry in Abuja. Ogbeh who described the situation as threat to the poultry industry and said losses in the industry unacceptable as he personally feels the pain of affected farmers. He said: “Our meeting today is necessary in order to restore the poultry industry to its past glory as a major source of livelihood of our people, diversify the economy and avert food security crisis and possible spill over to humans. “You may recall that the first outbreak of bir...

Cross River Government lost over N130 million revenue in 2016 due to allocation of cocoa farms to ghost farmers, Mr Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development, has said. Ofuka made the disclosure on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar. He said the governor had consequently directed a total review of allocations done by the Cocoa Allocation Committee to ensure that genuine farmers were given allocation. “The governor has directed me to review the allocations with a view to ensuring that the right farmers are given Cocoa farmlands. “But, the implication of this shoddy exercise is that the state has lost over N130 million from the projected revenue from cocoa allocation in 2016. “The projected revenue was N200 million, supposed to be generated from payments for allocation fees by farmers. “But, only N68 million was realised. This is a huge set back to the government’s revenue drive. “Al...

Benue Government has advised farmers in the state to form cooperative societies in order to benefit from the N3 billion loan accessed by the state. Mr Adzer Abya, Special Adviser to Gov. Samuel Ortom on Rural Development and Cooperative, gave this advice while interacting with newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday. According to him, they can only benefit from the loan when they form and register their cooperative societies. “Form yourselves into group to form a cooperative society, then register with the Bureau for Rural Development and Cooperatives; that registration was one of the steps that could aid them to access loans easily. “After the registration, I advise you to open accounts with Bank of Agriculture (BoA) because, it was the only medium that could issue out loans to farmers on behalf of government.” The governor’s aide said that Gov. Samuel Ortom in his usual manner of magnanimity had decided to wave five per cent interest. Abya stressed that inste...

The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) says the agency is poised to achieve greater heights in biotechnology research this year in spite of the challenges of 2016. Prof. Lucy Ogbadu, the Director-General of the agency Ogbadu, who  made this resolve in an interview on Thursday in Abuja, specifically mentioned the turbulence of anti-GMO crusaders in 2016, saying that the agency was able to weather the storm. “ 2016 was a year when the agency faced its fiercest opposition on the account of people and organisations opposed to genetically modified foods but the agency has come out stronger. “In view of the extreme care and caution with which the GMO technique is conducted, there are no risks or hazards resulting from products that emanate from GMOs. “Genetically modifies products are not new to mankind as it includes the yogurt that is consumed without fear and vaccines that is administered for healthcare. “I reiterate that these products though ...

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) office in Gombe State has trained 150 agricultural extension workers, Malam Muhammad Umar, the Permanent Secretary, SDGs Gombe, said. Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday that the trainees were graduates with diploma in Agriculture. He said they were deployed to rural communities across the state to assist farmers. The permanent secretary added that the training was part of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) project of 2015 which was not executed. According to him, the office still has some 2016 MDGs projects not executed but is trying to do them and round up before the commencement of SDG projects. He explained that the office initially wanted to train the agriculture graduates in fish farming “but because of shortage of extension workers in the state, we changed the plan. “We were made to understand that Gombe was in dire need of agricultural extension workers, hence the need to t...

The Kaduna State Government says it has commenced the cultivation of 10,000 hectares of land for wheat production in the state. Alhaji Sabi’u Sani-Isma’ila, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Industrialisation and Micro-Credit Management Board, told journalists at the farm that the project would create 10,000 jobs for youths. The Executive Secretary spoke on Thursday shortly after inspecting the project at Gagara Kutare in Kubau Local Government Area of the state. Sani-Isma’ila told NAN that the project would strengthen national food security, facilitate import substitution, enhance job creation and wealth creation for self-reliance in rural communities. “The thinking of the new administration is to reduce rural poverty, curb unemployment by creating job opportunities for the youths and at the same time support national food security. “This can be achieved through the use of our God-given resources of fertile land, water resources and youthful population. “That is why w...

The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) said that it expected early harvest of cashew in this year as most of the trees were already flowering and ready for fruiting. The association’s Spokesperson, Mr Sotonye Anga, who disclosed this in  in Lagos, said  that this was observed after a nationwide tour of some cashew producing states including Kwara and Abia. Anga said  that most cashew trees were doing “very well’’, saying it was a sign of a bumper harvest for farmers in 2017. “We are very pleased at the moment with what we have seen of cashew trees in most states where we have cashew plantations because they are doing very well. “Most of the trees are already flowering and getting ready for fruiting, which is a good sign for 2017 harvest. “From our observation during a nationwide tour of cashew trees as far as we can see, 2017 cashew harvest for Nigeria will be early,“ Anga said. The spokesperson added  that farmers were a...

A former Sole Administrator of Akun Development Area of Nasarawa State, Mr Monday Nanza, has said that the panacea to exit from the current economic recession is that Nigerians must return to farming. Nanza told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area on Tuesday that for the country to achieve food sufficiency, youths and other Nigerians, must return to farming. He said that government at all levels and Nigerians must give premium to agriculture if the country must live beyond oil. “One of the way for the nation to exit from recession is for the people to go back to farm in order to ensure food security, boost its revenue and socioeconomic development.” Nanza said government was doing its best in providing job opportunities to the youths, noting that government alone could not provide employment and others basic needs for its citizens. According to him, that is why there is the need for all of us to help ourselves by embracin...

Mr Raymos Guana,  the Chief Executive Officer of Raymos Guana Farms,  says the decision of the Federal Government to ban rice importation is too hasty. Guana, a former Commissioner for Lands in Delta, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Thursday. According to him, the quantity of rice being produced in the country today will not be able to meet the demands of Nigerians. He said that government should have given farmers at least three to five years notice to work toward boosting rice production that could adequately feed the nation. “With such target, each state of the federation would be given specified quantity of rice to be produced within the stipulated time. “For example, Delta will produce one million tonnes of rice, Anambra two million, while Ebonyi will produce five million tonnes of rice. “With this target, I am very sure that each state would work toward achieving its goals and expectation,’’ he sai...

By Alex Abutu In the last ten years or there about, a group of activists have held the country to ransom instilling unnecessary fears in the minds of people as well as spreading unscientific facts about genetically modified organisms. This group have been singing the same song of fear, not safe, dangerous, negative impact on environment, development of super weed, super insect, monopoly of Monsanto, farmers will become dependent on seed companies among others that have made it difficult for Nigerians to make up their minds on the technology. These groups which now write letters and petitions to Mr President and who-so-ever they think is important hinged their campaigns on the fact the Europe detest genetically modification so why should Nigeria accept such alien invasion of our natural habitat that will contaminate the environment and endanger our lives. Globally, anti GM groups have stalled the commercialization of GM crops based on misconceptions, ignorance and fear...

An Agriculture and Biotechnology expert has described as false the claim that the proliferation of genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) will wipe out natural crops. Mr Yarama Ndirpaya, acting Director, Partnership and Linkages, Agricultural Research Institute of Nigeria, stated this an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. “The issue of GMO wiping out natural seeds is not correct, Genetically Modified seeds are supposed to exist side by side with the traditional seeds. “We don’t even necessarily go for genetically modified crops except for some scientific reasons. “And most of the reasons why we use genetically modified seeds in agriculture are either to combat one terrible disease or to combat one terrible insect resistance, weed resistance or herbicide resistance. “What do we do in genetic modification is not necessarily to create a crop that will kind of compete with our natural crops. “But to create crops based on advantage where we kno...

By Jimoh Babatunde  The Federal Government has launched N10 Billion Women in Agriculture Environment Impact Fund (WAEIF) in Abuja as a means of using women to unlock the country’s food potentials. Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development Senator, Heineken Lokpobiri , said that the challenges of environmental impact have contributed largely to food scarcity in Nigeria. He noted that insurgency, gas flaring, oil spillage, desert encroachment, flood and other environmental hazards have prevented effective participation of women in Agriculture. Lokpobiri said that the fund will boost sustainable funding mechanism for women in Agriculture which will in turn generate employment and exchange of ideas in environmental agriculture. Lokpobiri commended the Women Association for National Agriculture and Environment Protection ( WANAEP ) for the effort of fund raising which will positively impact on the on-going process of economic diver...

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) says 350,000 families in Kebbi State have benefitted from Anchor Borrower Agricultural Loan disbursed to farmers in the last one year. Alhaji Muhammad Adamu, the Executive Director of the bank`s Corporate Services made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday. He said that 78,000 farmers directly benefitted from the loan, while 350,000 families were affected through job creation and income generation. He said that under the programme, the state had produced 700, 000 tonnes of rice, adding that the initial production target was one million tonnes. Adamu said that the loan was meant for every eligible farmer without special consideration such as religion, tribe or creed. He said that the Anchor Borrower Programme was aimed at promoting food security, economic sustainability and self reliance for the populace. He said that the bank would soon sign a memorandum of unders...

The Zamfara Government says it has set aside N1billion for the procurement of grains to ensure availability of foodstuff for the people in the state. The state’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Lawal Jangebe, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in Dutse, after he defended the 2017 budget of the ministry at the state House of Assembly. He noted that the plan was to complement the Federal Government`s policy of ensuring food supply and food preservation for citizens. The commissioner said that the state government would soon reintroduce the state`s Comprehensive Agricultural Revolution Programme (ZACAREP). He stated that the state government would also buy thousands of tonnes of fertiliser to for sale to farmers at subsidised rates. “We are also making arrangements to procure tractors, machines and other agricultural inputs for the programme, “ he said. 

The Federal Government has launched the African Water Facility/African Development Bank (AWF/AfDB) supported project for effective water resources management of the Hadejia Jama’are Komadugu Yobe Basin. The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, made this known on Monday in Abuja. Adamu said that the partnership was to encourage efforts in delivering services for 15 million people who derive their livelihood from the basin. “ The ministry has encouraged and supported the Trust Fund to seek for a grant from the African Water Facility under African Development Bank for the implementation of the project to restore livelihoods in the basin,” he said. Adamu said that the fund would enable several interventions to reduce conflicts, douse tensions and restore lost livelihoods in the area. The minister appealed to the benefiting states and other agencies to make best use of the grant by supporting the implementation of the basin’s water resources projec...