“Green Alternative: The Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020.”

The Federal Government’s plan to diversify the economy received a boost on Monday with the launch of a four-year agricultural blueprint tagged “Green Alternative: The Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the public presentation of the scheme, said it would involve the employment of 100,000 agricultural extension workers by the Federal Government, to provide support services to farmers. The extension workers will be taken from the 500,000 teachers currently being recruited by the Federal Government.
The Vice President explained that the government will address the problem of finance, which is the major hindrance to the development of the agricultural sector, by recapitalising the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and mandating it to offer single digit loan to farmers. Current interest rates on loans available to farmers are double digit, which is not realistic for agricultural ventures.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, hinted that the Green Alternative is built on five major strategic thrusts. These include achievement of self-sufficiency in food production, reduction in import dependence, stimulation of agro export for foreign exchange earnings, enhancement of wealth and job creation, and achievement of economic diversification.
Ogbeh further explained that some of the government’s key targets within the planned period include:
Growing the agriculture sector between six and 12 per cent annually,
Doubling agricultural household income in six to 12 years,
Integrating agricultural commodity value chains into the broader supply chain,
Driving job and wealth growth, as well as
Enhancing capacity for foreign exchange earnings.
He said that government will work with state governments to put the over 200 dams across the country to use.
Interestingly, the minister made it clear that the new agric policy is not entirely new as it is built on the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
It is commendable that the government is shifting attention from oil and gas. This is quite understandable, considering the fall in the prices of these non-renewable products.
The beauty of the new policy is that it is a continuation of the previous regime’s agricultural policy, and will make low interest loans and agricultural extension workers available to farmers.
Like most previous agricultural policies in the country, this new policy looks good on paper. Nigeria has never been short of fanciful agricultural policies, our problem has always with their implementation.
We have had “Operation Feed the Nation (OFN)” and “Green Revolution”, but nothing much came out of them in terms of improved agriculture.
The high point of agriculture in the country was during the First Republic when there was massive production of groundnuts in the North, cocoa in the West and palm produce in the East and rubber in the Mid-West.
We, at that time, ranked among the world’s best in these agricultural products before the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the country. With the oil boom, we ignored agriculture and became a net importer of food and other consumer products, including those food items that we can easily produce in the country.
Now that we are trying to diversify the economy through agriculture, all stakeholders must be carried along. All farmers, including subsistence, medium-scale and large-scale operators should be encouraged to be part of the new agricultural revolution.
Fortunately, we have enough arable land to grow the food we need and for export. We have the capacity to grow food and cash crops, as well as engage in fish and animal husbandry, to make us self-sufficient in food production.
Agriculture holds the key to the growth of the economy in terms of wealth and job creation. But, the type of agriculture that can fast-track our economic growth must be large-scale and mechanized. We should migrate from subsistent farming to large-scale and mechanized all-season farming.
Government should walk its talk and ensure that the single-digit agric loans are available for those who qualify for it. The relevant authorities should also ensure the availability of farm input such as improved seedlings, fertilizers, graders and other modern farm implements. All stakeholders, including states and local governments, should key into this new agric policy and make it work.

Economy could be Revived Through Agriculture - Ajimobi.

Oyo State Government is sets to restore the lost glory of the state as leader in agricultural production in the old Western regional government by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 60s, according to the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.
Speaking at the first convocation of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora and presentation of fellowship award to former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the state governor and CEO, BOVAS Petroleum, Mrs. Victoria Agboola Samson and others, said the state government will provide more opportunity for re-engineering of agriculture in the state to restore its lost glory in the area of agriculture.
Represented by the commissioner for Education, Science and technology, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, the governor said: “you would recall that in the 60s, Oyo State under the old western region was known for its leading role in agriculture which was then the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
“And in the view of the economic challenges facing the country, occasioned by the fall in the oil prices of crude oil in the world market, and several years of neglect of agriculture, the current reality as of today is that the economy could be revived through agriculture and technological advancement.”
He congratulated the school management and the graduants for successful completion of their studies noting that, the kind of training that the institution provides exposes students to intensive practicals in various fields of agriculture.
He said as a result of this, the graduants had acquired the necessary skills in vocational training, skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development as prerequisite for self-reliance and job creation.
Ajimobi maintained that emphasis has shifted from white collar jobs which are no longer available to self employment, adding that, students must note that the quest for education is no longer geared towards white collar jobs but the current global reality that education should make its recipients to become self reliant, productive to be either gainfully employed or personal investment after graduation.
Also speaking at the event, the Provost of the college, Prof. Gbemiga Adewale said the graduands have been found worthy in learning and character saying that the products are not trained to be job seekers as they have received requisite knowledge to be self reliant to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
Speaking on the fellowship awards to the distinguished Nigerians, he said Former President Obasanjo was the major facilitator of the college and that the governor of the state had been a strong support to the institution whose in time the college was transformed from Monopoly to Polytechnics.

FG launches agriculture roadmap, ”The Green Alternative”

The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated a roadmap for the agriculture sector, tagged: “The Green Alternative: Agriculture Promotion Policy, 2016-2020.’’
Audu Ogbeh
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the vision was to revive agric sector to boost food production in the country.
According to Ogbeh, the policy will serve as the new fulcrum for economic diversification, inclusive growth and sustainable development in agric sector.
“The launch of the `Green Alternative’ is an attestation that the change that the overwhelming majority of Nigerians canvassed for and openly welcomed by giving Muhammadu Buhari a resounding victory in the last presidential election is here.
“In this policy, you will see us navigating through the agricultural terrain, trucking on virtually every aspect, we launched on the human element.
“We will reflect on years of neglect where agriculture was seen as a refuge for the wretched and unsophisticated,’’ Ogbeh said.
The minister explained further that the emphasis on ‘’Green” would capture the essence, spirit and orientation of the new policy/strategy document.
“The emphasis on green is deliberate; it is to underscore, not only the imperative of building a strong, vibrant and resilient economy, but also a green refreshing, generating, transformative-agriculture-led economy.
“It is to ensure mutual complementary between efficient, effective and productive agricultural production, system and processes on one hand and environmental sustainability,’’ Ogbeh said.
He stated that the policy had five major strategic driving forces namely, achievement of self-sufficiency and sustainable food security, reduction in import dependence and economic losses, particularly through value addition.
Other, he said, were stimulation of agro-exports for enhanced foreign exchange earnings, enhancement of wealth and job creation, especially provision of employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
The minister also said achievement of economic diversification to make the economy less oil-dependent was among the driving forces of the green policy.
Ogbeh said that through the policy, farmers would have access to land, soil fertility, information and knowledge, inputs, production management, storage, processing, marketing and trade, including access to finance.
Others are promoting agribusiness and ensuring investment development, institutional setting and roles, youth and women, infrastructure, research and innovation and nutrition security.
Also, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri explained that agricultural policy over the years had focused on conventional paradigm of harnessing the sector’s potential to provide sufficient food for the growing population.
Lokpobiri, who was represented by Dr Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry said effective implementation of the policy required a systematic collaboration among the stakeholders.
“One significant element of this desire is the relevance and suitability of support institutions as an integral process of facilitating the consultative, entrepreneurial, coordinating and regulatory roles in the nation’s development process.
“In this regard, government’s responsibility is to continuously put in place measures that will restructure, re-orientate and strengthen the relevant national institutions as well as utilise the opportunities offered by international cooperate bodies, “ he said
According to him, this is to embrace the challenges of intensifying the integration of the country’s development goals into the liberalisation principle of the world economy.
Mr kabir Ibrahim, President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), commended the ministry for the policy, saying it would go a long way in assisting farmers to boost productivity.
“The Nigerian farmers are seeking more availability of fertiliser, timely application of the research finding, adoption of good science and technology, provision of good seeds and small irrigation facility for all-year-round farming, “ he said.
Ibrahim urged both states and local governments to key into the policy to enable the nation achieve self-reliance in food production. (NAN)

World Bank Pledged $50M Support Towards Restoration of Agricultural Livelihood in North East Nigeria.

The World Bank has pledged to support Nigeria’s agricultural sector with 50 million dollars towards the restoration of agricultural livelihood of Fadama beneficiaries in the North East.
Dr Adetunji Oredipe, Task Team Leader of the Fadama III project, disclosed on Thursday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the programme would last up till December 2019.
He said the programme had begun in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe states.
Oredipe disclosed that Borno, Yobe and Taraba had released their N20 million counterpart fund, while the three other states had given approval for payment.
He said that the bank had launched a special programme of Fadama for the North East towards actualising the programme.
Oredipe said that actualising the programme had become imperative because the bank was determined to help to restore livelihood in the region.
``We want to reach out to 24,000 households and we have the package for them as you know most of them have lost everything.
He said that the programme would be done in stages and there is budget for every community where the bank is intervening.
``The third leg is that we are giving food assistance to farmers that we are going to work with because if you don’t provide food assistance the tendency that when you bring seedlings or fertilisers they will sell it.
Oredipe noted that it is inimical to health and food production when farmers cooked seeds instead of normal grains.
He said in this regard, Fadama would support every family with a small quantity worth 200 dollars, just to help them within the period while they were waiting for their harvest.
The coordinator revealed that damaged irrigation facilities, abandoned roads that might have lost shape would be upgraded by supporting them with water lifting devices.
Oredipe said that there was adequate budget for every household while the bank facilitators were on the field working with NGOs who are familiar with the terrain to map out farms and other facilities.
``We are not engaging in trial and error, we are working with experts who are familiar with environment so we can move quickly as the sense of urgency is there.
``Every community will prepare a community action plan for the team to work with, since we have a budget,’’ he said.
Oredipe disclosed further that 25,000 dollars had been set aside for each community as intervention fund.
``In that community they will have to sit together and put facilities that are relevant but are not functioning we have roads to fix, we have irrigation facilities.
``So, based on the consensus, they have all agreed on and identify 40 households with farmlands.
``It is a straightforward package that we have learnt from the earlier phase of the project to be able to make quick intervention that can yield very good result,’’ he said.
He said that the main objective of the project for the North East was to increase the incomes for users of rural lands and water resources within the Fadama areas in a sustainable manner throughout the recipient's territory.
Oredipe explained that the programme would also focus on improving farm productivity and performance of clusters of farmers engaged in priority food staples. (NAN)

Agricultural Promotion Policy will focus on closing demand Supply gaps – Ogbeh

Speaking ahead of the the official launch and public presentation of the Agricultural Sector Roadmap (the Green Alternative), Agricultural Promotion Policy (2016 – 2020), earlier scheduled for Monday in Abuja, The Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, revealed that inability to meet domestic food requirements and inability to export at quality levels required for market success are two major gaps in the country’s agriculture today.

Ogbeh said it has become imperative to “refresh our strategy” to tackle these two issues head on.

The minister explained that the policy of the past government , Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) focused on how to make Nigeria’s agriculture more productive, efficient and effective.
“It set a target of creating 3.5 million jobs by 2015; generating foreign exchange, and reducing spending on food imports. Among its key achievements was a restructuring of the federal fertilizer procurement system.
“ATA, however, also faced challenges and did not deliver on all the targets identified. For example, Nigeria still imports about $3 to $5 billion worth of food annually, especially wheat, rice, fish and sundry items, including fresh fruits.
“As a result, Nigeria is not food secure. Wastage levels remain high in production areas, reducing supply of feedstock to processing factories, requiring them to keep importing supplies. The net effect is limited job growth across the agricultural value chain from input production to market systems, and continued use of limited foreign currency earnings to import vast quantities of food.
The Minister said the policy and strategic focus is now on how to build on the initial progress made, and transition Nigeria to a new plane in terms of agribusiness performance.
“That will be the focus of the proposed new policy regime. That new policy’s primary focus will be on closing the demand – supply gaps between crop and livestock production. Gap closing will also include tackling related input, financing, storage, transport and market access issues present in key value chains.
“Nigeria is facing two key gaps in agriculture today: an inability to meet domestic food requirements, and an inability to export at quality levels required for market success. The former problem is a productivity challenge driven by an input system and farming model that is largely inefficient. As a result, an ageing population of farmers do not have enough seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, crop protection and related support to be successful.
“The latter challenge is driven by an equally inefficient system for setting and enforcing food quality standards, as well as poor knowledge of target markets. Insufficient food testing facilities, a weak inspectorate system in the ministry, and poor coordination among relevant federal agencies serve to compound early stage problems such as poor knowledge of permissible contaminant levels.”
Audu Ogbeh added that as productivity improves domestically and standards are raised for all Nigerian food production, he said export markets will also benefit impacting positively on Nigeria’s balance of payments.
He explained that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) in consultation with partners has identified an initial pool of crops and related activities that will be Nigeria’s path to tackling the identified gaps.
“First, the ministry will prioritize improving productivity into a number of domestically focused crops and activities. These are rice, wheat, maize, fish (aquaculture), dairy milk, soya beans, poultry, horticulture (fruits and vegetables), and sugar.
“Nigeria believes that the gap can be closed by partnering closely with private investors across farmer groups and companies to develop end to end value chain solutions. These chains will receive facilitated government support as they make deep commitments to engaging a new generation of farmers, improving supply of specialized fertilizers and protection chemicals, as well as wider scale use of high yielding seeds.
He said the country will work with investors to sharply improve the distribution system for fresh foods so as to reduce time to table, reduce post-harvest losses, and overall improve nutritional outcomes by lowering of diabetic risk and stunting risk among others.
As the minister looks forward to the launching of the policy document by the Vice President, Yomi Osinbajo, next week, the Minister of Agriculture , Audu Ogbeh, said the ministry will prioritize for export markets the production of the following crops and activities: cowpeas, cocoa, cashew, cassava (starch, chips and ethanol), ginger, sesame, oil palm, yams, horticulture (fruits and vegetables), beef and cotton.
“The ministry will also work with a network of investors, farmers, processors and other stakeholders to deepen the supporting infrastructure to ensure that quality standards are defined and maintained across the value chain.
“That will involve adding more testing laboratories, improving traceability of crops, disseminating intelligence on export markets and consumer preferences, etc. Our goal is to build a high quality brand for Nigerian foods based on rigorous data and processes that protect food safety for both domestic and export market consumers.”
While promising that the ministry will use its convening and related powers to ensure that the enabling system is in place to support agribusiness, Audu Ogbeh said will periodically publish metrics to track performance against the strategy like tonnage of rice paddy produced, or yields/milking cow.
“The systems will collect accurate data and integrate these into policy making, as well as investor planning will be refined over the next few months as part of this next wave of reform. We anticipate that if successful, key gaps such as Nigeria’s continued imports of rice will disappear, while Nigerian produce like beans and cocoa will once again become a quality benchmark across the globe.
“Reaching that point will require significant investments in people, processes and systems. Nigeria is committed to taking the necessary steps in order to move Nigerian agriculture from “a business” to a commercial ecosystem that can produce the capabilities necessary to create sustainable jobs and wealth.”

Invest More in Agriculture to Reduce mMalnutrition - CISLAC

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has called on President Muhammed Buhari to invest more in agricultural production with a view to reducing the high rate of malnutrition among Nigerian children and women of reproductive age in the country.
The stakeholders also raised alarm that government has not significantly contributed to the reduction of undernutrition at the rate needed to meet the national development goals. Making these calls in Lagos at a one –day Media Capacity Building Workshop in Lagos, the group maintained that agriculture has remained at a small-scale at subsistence level and largely dependent on rainfall in Nigeria.
“The food distribution system in Nigeria remains largely inefficient due to crop seasonality, inadequate storage technology and facilities, transport and distribution systems and market information. All of these result in considerable spatial and seasonal variation in food production and availability, and are responsible for the considerable variations in food prices across the country. ”
In a 10 –point communiqué issued at the end of the workshop, participants noted that while adequate food and optimum nutrition status are the foundation for building healthy and secured society, Nigeria is confronted with high level of malnutrition burden arising from food insecurity, inadequate care, and outrageous socio-cultural practices.
They called for urgent attention to the increasing level of malnutrition in the country as malnutrition reduces economic advancement of a nation by at least 8 percent. “As malnutrition remains the major cause of under-five deaths, children from the poorest economic quartile are the most vulnerable to high level malnutrition burden at all levels.
They further called for implementation of the National Health Act, adding that “So far, various introduced national and international programmes and policies on health have witnessed poor implementation leading to inadequate access to healthcare across the country.
“Delay in the domestication and implementation of the 2014 National Health Act, inadequate budgetary allocation to health sector, over-concentration of healthcare facility in urban areas at the expense of rural counterparts, poor monitoring and lack of judicious utilisation of the existing funds has hampered accountability, and effective provision and distribution of health facilities across the country,” they added.

Made in Nigeria Rice Hits the Market.

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration under the banner of the All Progressives Congress has achieved a milestone in the local production of rice. 

 

According to a social media user who shared the photos, 'Made in Nigeria' rice has hit the Nigerian market and it is expectedly selling at lower prices compared to the imported ones.

 

 

The social media went ahead to provide price tags for the most popular staple food in the country produced in Kebbi, and Niger States.

"Made in Nigeria rice from Niger State at N7,000 only. And by the time the Enugu and Kebbi Rice hit the market next month, expect a price crash".

"Labana Rice from Kebbi state also in the market 50kg bag sells for N13, 000 This one is proudlyNigerian".

"This is a welcome development. Let us be self-reliant as a country."

Lagos Partners With Niger and Kebbi State on Agriculture.

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday 27th July, kick-started discussions on partnership for the development of agriculture with Niger State aimed at ensuring food security and job creation for the two States and the country.

Addressing journalists after paying a courtesy visit on Governor Ambode at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the discussion basically centered on how to explore the comparative advantage of the two States to the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria.

He said: "It was a private discussion. It was just to say hello to him (Governor Ambode) and we did not discuss much. Part of our conversation, we discussed agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large."

It was gathered that discussion on the partnership is still at the preliminary stage, while more would be revealed on modalities as to how things will pan out as regard the partnership going forward.

Governor Ambode had earlier entered into partnership with Kebbi State also on development of agriculture. The agreement, apart from being aimed at the production of 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rice requirements annually, also principally centres on boosting the production of wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, cows among others.

He said: “This relationship is visionary and it is also a pointer to the fact that the two states are openly supporting the vision of Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The change mantra which President Buhari has been preaching is what this whole relationship is all about that we must look inward. We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so," Governor Ambode had said.

New hybrid tomato ‘octopus tomato tree’ found.

A tomato hybrid known as the “octopus tomato tree” that is able to grow from a single tomato vine spreading on a large fencing and yielding thousands of tomatoes every season has been found. 
It looks like a tree full of tomatoes, but technically it is not a tree at all.

The octopus tree currently on exhibit at Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot, Florida, United States of America has set a current Guinness World Record for the largest harvest from a single plant. The tomato tree produced enormous 32,000 tomatoes with a total weight of 522 kg with the square crown reaching 40-50 square metres in size.
During the first 7 – 8 months, the ‘tomato trees’ yield no fruit but once they reach maturity, you can expect a harvest of over 14,000 tomatoes on the average. The ‘tomato trees’ apparently take 1.2 – 1.5 years to reach their remarkable size.
Interestingly, ripe tomatoes from the octopus tomato trees at Epcot are regularly harvested and used in the several Walt Disney World restaurants.
Source: www.odditycentral.com 

Kogi Govt Partnering Farmers in the State.

Kogi Government on Saturday July 16, reiterated its commitment to partnering farmers across the state to achieve food sufficiency.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the state, Mr Tim Dichie, disclosed this in Lokoja.

He said that the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello was fully ready to give necessary support to all farmers in the 21 local government areas of the state to facilitate massive food production.

“I can assure you that the governor is very committed to what we are doing in our ministry and he is always ready to give us his total support.

“We are going to use every platform to support farmers in terms of funding, seedling, processing, harvesting, storage and marketing to boost food production in Kogi and the nation.

“As a commissioner, I have contacted all the stakeholders involved for their cooperation in making agriculture a business hallmark in the state.

“We will ensure that all the past challenges facing farmers in the state are adequately addressed to ease access to funds and farm inputs,” he restated.

The commissioner, therefore, urged all farmers in the state to come forward and register with the Ministry of Agriculture to have their names in the state’s database.

He explained that the database would give equal opportunity to every registered farmer to easily access other government’s programmes for farmers.

“Agriculture is the life wire for development of any state or nation. We must be able to feed ourselves conveniently and also feed other states.

“Kogi is going to be a pace setter in agriculture for massive food production, revenue generation, job creation and empowerment for all categories of people in the state,” Dichie said.

Abuja - Kaduna Rail Project to Commence Formal Operation on Tuesday July 26.

Flag off of the Abuja - Kaduna rail operations will be done on Tuesday 26 July 2016 by President Mohammed Buhari.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, carried out a final check on the Abuja-Kaduna railway project on Thursday July 21st.

Speaking at the Idu station of the rail line in Abuja, he said: “we are ready to go. From the things we have seen today (July 21, 2016), we are set to go. This test run exercise has been on for over a month. We said it was going to run for two weeks but we allowed it for six weeks so that everybody can use it.”

The Minister of Transportation, was on an inspection tour of the train from Idu station to Jere station and back to Idu in preparation for the flagging off.

Passengers at the rail line persuaded the minister to reduce the transport fare from N600 to N500 – The minister gave in to the pleas and reduced the fare.

Commercial services will start immediately after the official launch.

Rail transportation is very vital for agricultural produce distribution within the country. The sector is therefore waiting for the project to go round. This will greatly reduce cost of produce movement, bringing down drastically the prices of foodstuffs.

As we are in a hurry to bring about the necessary agricultural revolution, we should also be in a hurry to get rail transportation working with network running across major cities in the country.

Stop Using Chemicals to Force Fruits to Ripe.

The Katsina State Government warned fruit sellers to desist from using chemicals to hasten the ripening of their commodities.

“Anybody caught using chemicals to hasten the ripening of fruits will be severely dealt with.

“The Government will not condone or tolerate this harmful act that is capable of causing serious health problems to the people of the state, “ he said.

He said that the act of using chemicals on unripe mangoes, oranges and other fruits was dangerous to the health of the consumers.

“Some of the chemicals used to hasten the ripening of the products automatically enters into the fruits and later affects the health of the people, “ he said.

The warning was from The Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Hussaini Dangami, when inspecting the fruits sellers section at the Katsina Central Market.

The permanent secretary said that sanitary health officers had been directed to arrest anybody who indulged in this bad practice.

Dangani called on other traders in the market to report anybody caught using the chemicals on his or her fruits to health officials for prosecution.

Kogi to partner farmers for food sufficiency

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Kogi state, Mr Tim Dichie, disclosed the State Government's commitment to partnering farmers across the state to achieve food sufficiency. in Lokoja.

He said that the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello was fully ready to give necessary support to all farmers in the 21 local government areas of the state to facilitate massive food production.

“I can assure you that the governor is very committed to what we are doing in our ministry and he is always ready to give us his total support.

“We are going to use every platform to support farmers in terms of funding, seedling, processing, harvesting, storage and marketing to boost food production in Kogi and the nation.

“As a commissioner, I have contacted all the stakeholders involved for their cooperation in making agriculture a business hallmark in the state.

“We will ensure that all the past challenges facing farmers in the state are adequately addressed to ease access to funds and farm inputs,” he restated.

The commissioner, therefore, urged all farmers in the state to come forward and register with the Ministry of Agriculture to have their names in the state’s database.

He explained that the database would give equal opportunity to every registered farmer to easily access other government’s programmes for farmers.

“Agriculture is the life wire for development of any state or nation. We must be able to feed ourselves conveniently and also feed other states.

“Kogi is going to be a pace setter in agriculture for massive food production, revenue generation, job creation and empowerment for all categories of people in the state,” Dichie said.

Buhari in hurry to develop Agriculture.

President Buhari on Thursday July 14th at State House Abuja when spacial envoy of King Mohammed VI of Morocco met him said
Nigeria is in a hurry to see projects take off in the agricultural sector to enhance food security and create jobs for teeming unemployed youths.

“For us in Nigeria, it is like starting all over again. There was a time we had so much money and took things for granted. But with the fall in the international price of oil, we are now managing,” the President said.

The President welcomed the plan by Morocco to establish a fertilizer plant in Nigeria, which will serve the country, and the entire West African sub-region.

The envoy led by Ambassador Nasser Bourita, who is also Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, said his country had developed strategy to deal with religious extremism, and had largely been successful in fighting terrorism.

N75billion agricultural loan approved by CBN.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has under the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing in Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). approved the disbursement of about N75billion as loan to farmers across the federation.

According to Premium Times: The loan guarantee scheme is a public-private sector initiative set up to transform the country’s agricultural sector. It was initiated by the apex bank, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to guarantee 75 per cent loans provided by Deposit Money Banks (DPB) to farmers as part of efforts to transform the country’s agricultural sector.

The Head of NIRSAL Project Implementation Office under the Development Finance Department of the CBN, Jude Uzonwanne, who spoke on the role of NIRSAL in Abuja, told the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Akinjide, that the guarantee would be issued to farmers through commercial banks and other financial institutions.

“NIRSAL would mobilize financing for Nigerian agribusiness by using credit guarantees to address the risk of default,” Mr. Uzonwanne said.

“NIRSAL is a flexible financing tool designed to change the behaviour of financial institutions.

“It covers all crops and livestock activities in Nigeria, while driving improved investment outcomes and job creation. It is also building on a legacy of previous CBN interventions in agriculture that has helped create thousands of jobs.”

Mr. Uzonwanne said the programme was designed to create access to finance to farmers by integrating end-to-end agriculture value chains, such as input producers, farmers, agro dealers, agro processors and industrial manufacturers with agricultural financing value chains – loan product development, credit distribution, loan origination, managing and pricing for risk, and loan disbursement.

“The integration is driven by NIRSAL’s 5 pillars, particularly the Risk Sharing Pillar and the Technical Assistance pillars, such as Risk sharing Facility, allocated ?45 billion, Insurance Facility (?4.5 billion), Technical assistance facility (?9 billion), Agricultural bank rating scheme (?1.5 billion), and Bank incentive mechanism (?15 billion).

“NIRSAL will share risks with banks ranging from 30% to 75% of loss depending on the segment. We are prepared to offer following terms to farmers in the States and FCT Abuja: 75% guarantees on all input, working capital and limited living cost loans to plant the crop, and loan duration should be about 24 – 28 months,” he said.

The Minister of State for FCT, who was represented by the Director of Treasury in the FCT Administration, Ibrahim Bomai, said that NIRSAL is cardinal to the success of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformational Agenda (ATA) as it was established to address the grey areas inhibiting agricultural growth in the country.

“NIRSAL seeks to address all the technical, administrative and financial needs of the farmers along the selected agricultural value chain commodities in which the country has comparative advantage,” said the minister said Akinjide.

He said the six Area Councils of the FCT have already been directed to identify and key into the value chain commodities to be promoted in their respective area of jurisdiction, adding that the Authority has commenced the implementation of the Growth Enhancement Scheme of Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development in order to empower the farmers in the territory.

Nigeria to launch N59.7 billion Youth-In-Agriculture Scheme

The Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Nteranya Sanginga, on Sunday said the Federal Government would launch N59.7 billion Youth-In-Agriculture Scheme in September.

Mr. Sanginga, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, said the scheme would be sponsored by the federal government and the African Development Bank, AFDB.

The director-general said IITA would train those enrolled in the scheme, adding that beneficiaries would be trained on how to make agriculture a business with good networking.

“The programme tagged “Enable Youth Empowerment Agribusiness programme, will engage youths in agribusiness for 18 months to enable them learn how to make agric business plan.

“Each will be given between 25,000 US Dollars and 300,000 US Dollars as loan to start a business.

“The programme started by IITA in 2012, was taken over by the federal government and AFDB to create employment in agric sector.

“To support this objective, the programme will be extended to 36 states and Abuja in September.

“After the programme, we expect the youth to become chief executive officers of factories, companies and creators of jobs rather than job seekers,” he said.

Mr. Sanginga urged the youth to develop positive mindset in agriculture and take good advantage of the programme.

“They should be serious with the training because at the end of it only those who did well will be rewarded,” he said.

(NAN)
Source: Premium Times.

Britain's exit will be terrible for Africa’s largest economies

Nigeria: bad timing

Britain’s exit from the EU couldn’t have come at a worst time for Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy. At a time when the government is trying to fix an economy on the brink of a recession by removing strict currency controls and also liberalizing oil prices, the immediate effect of Brexit will test the nerves of Nigeria’s economic managers as global markets plummet.

Bilateral trade between Nigeria and the UK,currently valued at £6 billion (about $8.3 billion) and projected to reach £20 billion by 2020, will be disrupted as trade agreements made under the auspices of the EU have to be renegotiated.

“For Nigeria, global risk aversion as well as a softer oil price is likely to mean that new portfolio inflows are slow to materialize,” says Khan. “This may delay the normal functioning of the newly liberalized FX market.”

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the UK was Nigeria’s largest source of foreign investment in 2015. A slowing British economy and its reverberating effects could signal a drop in investment, trade, and also remittances from the Nigerian diaspora who sent home $21 billion in 2015.

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Reduced trade and investment from Britain will not necessarily be plugged by the rest of the EU, say Lagos-based economist Tunji Andrews. “The EU will be looking to strengthen it’s internal ties, plus there’s cheaper oil from Iran, cheaper labor from China and the eastern block. There’s really nothing we have as a competitive advantage to them right now.”

Brexit is already fueling other independence campaigns. Within hours of the vote, leaders inFrance and Holland, Italy and Denmark called for their own referendums on leaving the EU. This sentiment is shared in southeast Nigeria as well, where government forces have spent much of the past year quelling violent protests by activists advocating for the secession and establishment of an independent country called Biafra. Havingalready called for a referendum earlier in the year, pro-Biafra activists may now be further emboldened.

UN agency urges heightened vigilance after H5N1 outbreaks in West and Central Africa

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) altered Western and Central African governments to be vigilant, and to continue their raised surveillance and prevention efforts after H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks were recently confirmed in chicken farms in Cameroon.

“We're looking at a quickly spreading disease that has devastating effects on livelihoods in communities,” said Abebe Haile Gabriel, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Africa, in a news release today.

“H5N1 causes major losses of nutritious food and threatens farmers' livelihoods, particularly in resource-poor environments where governments have difficulty providing financial compensation for losses,” he added.

The agency added that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has caused the death of tens of millions of poultry and losses of tens of billions of dollars worldwide since the virus first spread internationally in 2013. In Cameroon alone, losses have added up to an estimated $20 million, according to local media reports.

The recent outbreak in Cameroon has brought the number of countries that have battled bird flu in West and Central Africa to six, also including Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Niger and Nigeria.

FAO has also called on the governments to include common messaging to the public and data sharing between the public health and agriculture sectors as part of their prevention efforts.

The statement further noted that a major concern is that the disease may become endemic in the entire region, particularly in Nigeria where avian influenza has become so entrenched in poultry production and marketing systems that it will be difficult to eliminate.

For that reason, FAO said, producers and traders need to be made aware about the clinical signs of the disease symptoms, how and to whom to report it, and implement good hygiene practices to halt its spread.

In its response to the outbreak, the agency is working closely with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health to offer assistance such as risk assessments, contingency planning, technical advice and laboratory material. They also help with investigating potential avian influenza cases in animals and humans and locating the source of infection.

In Cameroon, FAO is boosting the local veterinary services' capacity to respond rapidly to new outbreaks and is working with the government to finalize an action plan similar to effective plans applied in other countries stricken by the virus.

The agency further said that it will continue to assist governments in mobilizing funds to combat H5N1, in addition to the agency's own efforts to help boost local veterinary systems, strengthen laboratories, and deploying FAO specialists to affected and at-risk countries. It added that it is seeking $20 million to support its regional response to H5N1.

3 in 1 Agric Business - Poultry, Fishery, Vegetable Farming.

Using a Yoruba terminology "Killing two birds with a single stone". But, with this, you will be killing three birds with a single stone.

Setting up a poultry business, fishery business and vegetable farming business all in one location with as small as an acre of land surely makes good economic sense.

But greater sense is in feeding one with the waste of other. This will surely maximize the profit of the business.

The poultry house is built on top of the fish pond. The waste of the birds is used to feed the fish in the pond, which the fish enjoys a lot.

The pond water is in turn used to water the vegetable farm, which provides good mature to the soil. The turn out of the farm will surprise you.

To make it a merry go round situation, you can plant maize, which when harvested will be used in the mill to feed the birds.

So, with this, one arm benefits the other.

Profits are recorded from the three arms of the farm.

Picture shows a design of poultry pen on fish pond by Olu-Samdel Ventures Ltd. You can contact the company on the following contacts:
(+234) 803 473 0895. Call and WhatsApp.
(+234)8096061802. olusamdel@yahoo.com for provision of necessary services.

Agriculture, the Solution to Nigeria’s Economic Downturn

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take seriously the diversification efforts of his government from oil to agriculture, in the process of bailing the country out of its current economic downturn.

According to This Day Newspaper, Obasanjo also charged all Nigerians to embrace agribusiness, saying as a former President he was proud to be seen and identified as a farmer because of the gains accruable from such ventures; and also described agriculture as the solution to the present economic situation in the country. The former president made the remarks while delivering the maiden Eminent Persons Business Lecture, titled ‘Agribusiness: Time to Act is Now’ organised by the University of Ibadan School of Business in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

He said the fall in prices of oil at the world market which may be a blessing in disguise has contributed to economic hardship, and collapse in businesses. He added that to overcome these challenges, all hands must be on deck to practically embrace agriculture and not just on papers.

While highlighting the importance of agriculture in the areas of economic growth, development and wealth creation, the former President maintained that agri-business has potentials to stimulate industrialisation; generate employment and engender economic growth.

Speaking on how to practically make agriculture a major source of revenue in view of the need to diversify the economy, Obasanjo said if the present government is truly determined to diversify the economy through agriculture, attention must be given to the sector at the high level of government, to incorporate all departments, ministries and agencies of government in the agricultural sector and not just the ministry of agriculture alone, in order to make Nigeria a truly economically viable nation.

He canvassed for adequate infrastructure for storage and transportation of agricultural produce. On the involvement of youths and the unemployed in the agriculture business, the former President noted that “Agri-business must be attractive to youths and students should be encouraged.
He said “We have to glamorise agri-business and that is why I say wherever I go I call myself a farmer. If a former President can call himself a farmer why can’t we call ourselves farmers?”

Adequate support must be given to agriculture to search for innovation, we must give incentives to farmers, he noted, adding that “there must be consistency in government policy formulation and we must also ensure its sustainability”.
The former President who concluded that the individuals and private sector cannot succeed in agriculture without government support therefore solicited full support of government at all levels for Nigerians to practically embrace and encourage going into full scale agriculture.

“Your Excellencies and Ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude that while agri-business cannot be practiced without government support, a good policy must be put in place to support and encourage agriculture.”

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, represented by the state commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi maintained that the lecture was timely in view of the state government’s efforts to diversify its economy through agriculture.

U.S / Nigeria partnership in Agriculture

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today
launched a two-million dollars ($2,000,000) agricultural partnership with Nigera.

As Nigeria is set to divert a worthwhile attention to the agricultural sector of the economy, this move by The U.S.  Government will no doubt promote the development of the nation's agriculture sector.

Speaking at the launch held at the Embassy in Abuja, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission,  Maria E. Brewer, said that the two years partnership was with two local companies including Babban Gona and Hello Tractor.

The partnership, will increasing access to smart tractors, improved seeds, and profitable markets for over 45,000 smallholder farmers across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Brewer explained that under the first partnership, Babban Gona helps to address economy of scale problems for smallholder farmers by forming cooperatives called ‘trust groups’.

“Over the next two years, Babban Gona will help more than 20,000 small holder farmers in five states increase yield and potentially increase their income up to 30 per cent.

“The success of this partnership will support Hello Tractors sales, while providing 115 young people with an opportunity to build businesses in providing tractor hiring services.

“Improved access to tractor services will allow 24,500 small holder farmers across three states to boost their productivity and gain higher revenues for their households,” she said.

According to her with these partnerships, the U.S. government’s Feed the Future Partnering for Innovation programme will provide training, financing, and mentoring opportunities to experienced entrepreneurs and young agricultural entrepreneurs alike.

The Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe at the launch commended USAID for its support for Nigeria at its critical moment.

“There is future in agriculture, if you invest in it you are securing your future, if we don’t invest in agriculture there may not be a place to call our nation in future.

“If we don’t deal with the food challenge, we will never be able to cope with the food challenge,” he said.

The USAID Mission Director in Nigeria, Mr Michael Harvey said that under the Feed the Future initiative USAID partners with private sector to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

According to him through these partnerships USAID addresses development and business challenges by increasing access to improved agricultural inputs and mechanisation, better quality technical advisory services, and expanding market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

These partnerships capitalises on the untapped potential of youth in agriculture and helped build capacity of young entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth in Nigeria,” he said.