Some Things You Just Can't Explain

A farmer was sitting in the neighborhood bar getting drunk. A man came in and asked the farmer, "Hey, why are you sitting here on this beautiful day, getting drunk?" The farmer shook his head and replied, "Some things you just can't explain."
"So what happened that's so horrible?" the man asked as he sat down next to the farmer.
"Well," the farmer said, "today I was sitting by my cow, milking her. Just as I got the bucket full, she lifted her left leg and kicked over the bucket."
"Okay," said the man, "but that's not so bad." "Some things you just can't explain," the farmer replied. "So what happened then?" the man asked. The farmer said, "I took her left leg and tied it to the post on the left."
"And then?"
"Well, I sat back down and continued to milk her. Just as I got the bucket full, she took her right leg and kicked over the bucket."
The man laughed and said, "Again?" The farmer replied, "Some things you just can't explain." "So, what did you do then?" the man asked.
"I took her right leg this time and tied it to the post on the right."
"And then?"
"Well, I sat back down and began milking her again. Just as I got the bucket full, the stupid cow knocked over the bucket with her tail."
"Hmmm," the man said and nodded his head. "Some things you just can't explain," the farmer said.
"So, what did you do?" the man asked.
"Well," the farmer said, "I didn't have anymore rope, so I took off my belt and tied her tail to the rafter. In that moment, my pants fell down and my wife walked in ... Some things you just can't explain."

12 MAJOR PROBLEMS OF FOOD & AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA
By SADIQ CHUKS Orji
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Nigeria is One of the Most Highly Blessed Nations in Africa. That She has not been able to Solve, even Her Own Problems of Food and Agriculture is a Matter of Very Great Concerns.
Anyhow, if you would like to be on the Full know of the Major Problems Of Food Production In Nigeria, then you have come to the Right Source. Here, in this Post are 12 of Nigeria's Major Problems Of Food and Agriculture, and they include:

1. Poverty

In today's Nigeria, one of the Major Problems of Food Production is Poverty. On the other hand, one of the Simplest and a Doubtless Truth that you can easily Know about Nigeria is the fact that over 75% of Her Rural Dwellers are Full-time Farmers.
Another Doubtless Truth that you can also Discover there is that Nigeria's present inability to, even Solve Her Own Problems of Food and Agriculture, is not as a Result of Her Peoples' Laziness; or say a Matter of the Nation being Naturally Unblessed. Nigerian Farmers and Nigerians in general are really Hard-working and Industrious.
A very Great Variety of Delicious Species of Organic Foods, Fruits, Vegetables and Cash-crops abound in the Country. In fact, the Nation is so Highly Blessed, and there are very large Acres of Fertile Agricultural Lands all around the Country.
But to me, Nigerians honestly are not really lacking Food. What they really lack there is the money to buy the Food; the money to Produce the Food; and, or even the money to procure small Piece of Land to Grow the Food.

2. Ignorance

Nigeria of today is a Country where Agriculture is
still greatly and relatively Undermined; and or even
Over-looked as a mere " Back-yard Business ".
Some Nigerian Youths even regard Farming as:
" An Odd Job that is meant only for the Illiterate
Rural People ".
In the eyes of some of Nigeria's Wealthy Class,
Farming is, Ignorantly Underrated or Abhorred as:
" Poor Peoples' Job ".
The very worst is that the Governments in Nigeria
Are, pretentiously doing very little or nothing in
Terms of Solving the Nation's Food and Agricultural
Problems.

3. Illiteracy

The greatest number of Dedicated Full-time
Farmers in Nigeria can neither Read nor
Write. The Local Farmers there are even as
Uninformed as they lack Modern Agricultural
Education.
The climax of illiteracy there, is Nigeria's
Total Negligence and, or Her Non-usage of Native
Languages in the Nation's Pursuits for Modern
Education. For in this Modern World, People that
still Studies in Foreign Languages have not really
started Learning. And this Level of Illiteracy and
Unawareness do often Constitute some serious Set-
backs, even in Nigeria's Food Production Efforts.

4. Use Of Manual Farm Tools / Methods

Do you know that the Average Nigerian Farmer is
still making use of only the same Out-dated Manual
Farm Tools - like Cutlass and Hoe - as their Fore-
fathers used since many Centuries ago?.
Do you also know that instead of using some
Affordable Modern Agricultural Techniques or
Simple Machines; the Farmers in that part of the
World have Changelessly, Adhered to various
Archaic Agricultural Methods and Practices that
were Copied from their Ancestors?.
In short, their use of these kinds of Archaic and
Out-dated Tools and Techniques, constitutes a very
great set-back in the Country's Food and
Agricultural Out-puts.

5. Lack Of Road; Water; & Electricity

The Rural Farming Communities in Nigeria have
neither Road nor Water nor Electricity. Some do
not even have Hospitals or Schools around them.
Can you then imagine the Pains and the Labors, and
to what extents the Farmers from such-like
Areas can Contribute in Food Production?.

1. Lack Of Food Storage or Processing Facilities

Many Delicious and Juicy Fruits, Vegetables, and
Cash-Crops are largely Produced from Nigeria's
Local Farming Communities. But, Do you know
that a very great Percentage of these Delicious
Organic Farm Produce often get Damaged and, or
Wasted before they reach their Final Consumers?.
In this kind of a Situation, One of the Major
Problems that is facing the Helpless Local Farmers
there, is Lack of Adequate Food Storage or
Processing Facilities.

7. Lack Of Modern Farm Machines / Techniques

Another Major Problem of Nigeria's Food and
Agriculture is lack of Modern Farm Machines or
Techniques. As I stated earlier, the Farmers in
Nigeria are still making use of Ancient Agricultural
Tools / Techniques; whilst there are Low-cost
Modern Farm Machines / Techniques out there for
Use as better Substitutes.

8. Lack Of Scientific & Technological Know-how

In Nigeria, Scientific and Technological Know-how is
relatively very low. Many Schools there in Nigeria
do not even have Science Laboratories. Hence, a
great Majority of Students there rather Theorize
Sciences than Practicalize them.
In fact, this Problem of Nigeria's Under-
Development in Science and Technology often
leave the Country to Depend largely on
Importation. And this equally, is part of the Major
Problems and Challenges of the Country's Food and
Agricultural Developments.

9. Disorganization & Unaccountability

Organization and Accountability is one of the Basics
of Better and Successful Management. But, till this
Age of Modernization and Civilization, Nigeria is still
Internally Disorganized. She lacks, even a Valid and
a Well-Organized Documentations of Her Citizens
or Properties or Marriages or Births or Deaths.

In the same vein, a majority of Farms there in
Nigeria lacks Organization or Records and
Accountability. Some Farmers there are merely
planting without any sort or kind of a Farm Records
or Organization; or Measurements or, at least; an
Account for an easier Identification of the possible
Reasons behind their Agricultural Gains or Loses.

10. Lack Of Leadership & Neo-Colonialism

One of the Most Serious of all the Major Problems
of Food and Agriculture in Nigeria is Lack of
Leadership. Mismanagements; Corruptions and
Embezzlements of Public Funds are very common
within Nigeria's Government Officials. And as you
know, Patriotism; Trust, Honesty; Organization
and Careful Management has often Led the
Success and Prosperity of Modern Man.

But there in Nigeria, all you can easily see or notice
is the Plain Fact the Nation has “ No Leaders ".
Another serious Problem there in Nigeria's Food
and Agriculture is the Fact that the Nation, has
never ever been Her Real Self.

Her Colonial Masters simply granted Her
Independence. But indirectly, Nigeria's
Resources, Economy, Politics, Language,
Culture and many more; are still suffering new
Methods of Mental Colonization or say, Neo-
Colonialism.

In this same vein, even Her Major Problems of Food
and Agriculture have no Real Solutions until Nigeria
is Fully and Unreservedly, in Control of Her Own
Self and Destiny.

11. Industrialization & Privatization

Modern Conversions and Privatizations of Food
and Agriculture into a very Big and Expensive
Industry or Conglomerate, is also of the Major
Contributors to Nigeria's Food and Agricultural
Set-backs.
In one hand, the Modern Global Waves of
Industrialization and Privatization of Food and
Agriculture really Produces Surplus Food that is
more than enough to Feed, even the Entire World
Population.
On the other hand, Food and Agricultural
Industrialization and Privatization, really Added
Greatly to Global Hunger and Poverty. The
Reasons are because Agric Industrialization and
Privatization:
- Results in an Uneven Distribution of Food.
- Uses much of the Produced Food in Feeding Animals.
- Is Wasteful and Destructive as it is only after Quantity.
- Favors the Haves and Disfavors the Have-nots.
- Adds Hidden Taxes to Prices of Food.
- Is Very Expensive and Uneconomical.
- And it Results in Total Loss of Rural Jobs; Etc…Etc.

12. Global Warming

Global Warming is also part of the Major Problems
of Food and Agriculture in Nigeria. Forest
Destructions and Over-grazing of Animals has
really turned a lot of Nigeria's Farmlands into
Deserts.
Like in other Countries of the World, several Lakes;
Rivers; Streams and Rain Forests have actually
Disappeared.

Many Nigerian Farming Communities that only
Depends on Rainfall, are now faced with Severe
Droughts, Erosions, Landslides; Deforestations and
An Excessive Massive Loss of Crops and Animals. All
these are some of the Real Impacts of Global
Warming on Nigeria's Agriculture and Food
Production.
Have a very Nice and Happy Day and Stay Blessed!
- Sadiq

Read more at: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/110350/12-major-problems-of-food-agriculture-in-ni.html

GENDER EQUALITY BEGINS AT HOME

By encouraging rural families to work together in a way that benefits everyone, IFAD's household methodologies has already shown promising results in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.  ©IFAD/Sarah Morgan Rome, 7 March – Growing up in a coffee-growing area in central Kenya, Elizabeth Ssendiwala could see how harmful gender inequality was to her community.
"Every payment season, we would hear shouting and women being beaten in some of the households," she said. "Some men after receiving the money would disappear for a few days and return without any money. I thought it was very unfair, but I had no idea what could be done."
Ssendiwala is now working to combat gender inequality head-on as IFAD's Regional Coordinator for Gender in East and Southern Africa.
The innovative way that Ssendiwala and the gender team at IFAD approach this issue is by helping people living within the household to imagine their lives differently and then working together to make it happen.
This not only strengthens the household by making it more cohesive, but also results in other positive development outcomes such as increased agricultural productivity, better education, and improved food security and nutrition.
"When households work towards a common strategy, results include increased productivity, better use of household resources, ending gender-based violence and, therefore, having more harmonious families built on trust and transparency," Ssendiwala said.
A husband and wife take part in household mentoring in Uganda and work together to develop and achieve a common, time-bound vision for themselves. ©IFAD/Sarah Morgan What differentiates the household methodologies from other approaches is that they shift the focus from things – assets, infrastructure, value chains – to people, directing attention to who household members want to be and what they want to do. Everyone in the household works together to develop and achieve a common, time-bound vision for themselves.
Although many development organizations have made great strides to empower women in the community, the effects have rarely reached behind the closed doors of the household.
"Women still often lack a voice in determining household priorities and spending patterns, ensuring food security and school attendance of their children and addressing their own health-care needs," Ssendiwala said.
Encouraging families to work together in a way that benefits everyone, the household methodologies have already shown promising results.
In Uganda, over 18,000 households have been mentored, and the process is being scaled up through the new IFAD-supported Project for Restoration of Livelihoods in Northern Uganda.
For Imaculata Ninsiima and her husband William Simon Kasija, the new approach has given the family the skills and knowledge needed to dramatically improve their living conditions.
"Our situation was extreme," says Kasija, a farmer from Kamwenge district in western Uganda. "We owned no plates, no chairs, no mattresses or bedding, no livestock, not even any chickens. The children were not in school because we were unable to pay the school fees."
Through the IFAD-funded District Livelihoods Support Programme, mentors were nominated by local leaders and trained by community development officers at the district level.
They made regular visits to mentee households over a period of one or two years, working with household members to convey knowledge, skills and the confidence to work together as one household and make the leap out of poverty.
"Our relationship has changed," says Ninsiima. "Now we plan together, and we know how much we each earn. We have goals for our future. We want to build a brick house, finish paying for the children's education, and then buy some cattle."
Ssendiwala has already seen significant changes within the communities.
Elizabeth Ssendiwala, IFAD's Regional Coordinator for Gender in East and Southern Africa, says that working on gender equality in rural households helps to contribute to increased agricultural productivity, better education, and improved food security and nutrition. ©IFAD/Giulio Napolitano "During field visits, we hear testimonies from men who told us how they were previously using household resources for alcohol abuse and beating up their wives and have now changed after mentoring or training on household methodologies," says Ssendiwala.
"They are now able to sit and make joint decisions with their wives and domestic violence has stopped in such households. The men are also helping with domestic chores, such as cooking and cleaning thus confronting gender stereotypes," she says. "This not only helps to reduce women’s drudgery but also frees up their time so they can engage in income generating economic activities."
According to Ssendiwala, many more IFAD-supported projects are now using the methodologies and seeing results in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.
"The point is,” she says, “within the context of the 2030 Agenda’s spirit of leaving no-one behind, the importance of using household methodologies for social inclusion cannot be over emphasized."

AGRICULTURE TO THE RESCUE

AGRICULTURE used to be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. But as oil revenue increased, successive governments out of lack of leadership vision ignored this economic multiplier until President Goodluck Jonathan made it a top priority of his government.  Happily government’s agricultural programmes have recorded appreciable gains that can easily ensure self-sufficiency in food production and possibly economic stability in the face of dwindling oil price. Indeed, December last year was a month that clearly signposted the gains made by the Jonathan administration in the quest to boost food production and ensure that the journey towards self-sufficiency in agricultural practices reflects in practical terms on the quality of life. This was due to the 70 per cent growth in food production. The development is unprecedented in the history of the country since the oil boom. It would be recalled that in 2011, the Jonathan administration took giant steps towards food sufficiency by initiating the Growth Enhancement Scheme, GES, through the Ministry of Agriculture. The GES programme was essentially designed to plug all the leakages in the fertilizer and agricultural components distribution programmes and ensure that farmers, rather than profiteering middlemen, access the components and the subsidies attached to them. Last year’s Christmas celebration provided a window for an assessment of the programme. In 2013, rice prices shot up by about 25 per cent during this high demand period. But in 2014, prices largely stabilised and citizens were able to purchase almost at the same rate they bought the previous year. The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, recently said the current rice transformation policy would lead to the national goal of rice self-sufficiency. “Nigerian rice farmers have increased output by over 2.8 million metric tonnes of rice paddy. The total output of paddy in the 2012 wet season and 2012/2013 dry season brought to the market an additional 1.409 million metric tonnes, MT, of paddy or 916,137 MT of milled rice from 403,222 hectares of cultivated land. By the 2013 wet season and 2013/2014 dry season, output more than doubled to 2.96 million MT of paddy or 1.92 MT of milled rice from 802,108 hectares of land. “What this means is that if the current tempo is sustained and the area of land devoted to rice cultivation were doubled, Nigeria would produce over and above the quantity of rice being imported, leaving room for export. “This has happened because through the GES programme, government has given massive support to farmers. Without this, the quantum jump in production would have been elusive,” he said. The increase in farming activities has helped in solving employment problems. Agriculture, being a critical employment enabler, has the capacity to reduce the spiraling unemployment rate in the country. There is no doubt that, so far, tremendous gains have been recorded in the sector that was comatose before now.  It was a result of the progress made in the sector that some yam sellers in the North allegedly donated N5 billion to General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign funding. Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, said the progress made in rice production was in addition to hundreds of thousands of other indirect job opportunities for input suppliers, farm labourers, transporters, warehouse operators and other stakeholders in the value chain. The gains from the GES have provided a new vista through which the economy can grow and sustain the country and its people with or without oil. Soon Nigeria will be able to feed herself; funds for needless imports can then be channeled to other critical areas of need.   Mr. Danbaba, a farmer, wrote from Oturkpo, Benue State

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/agriculture-returning-boost-nigerias-economy/

FG EMPOWERS 740,000 MARKET ORIENTED YOUTH IN RURAL AREAS

The Federal Government has concluded plans to empower 740,000 market-oriented young agricultural producers in rural areas, under Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP), in a bid to reduce unemployment.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Information, Mr Tony Ohaeri and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development, Dr Shehu Ahmed disclosed this while addressing a one-day stakeholder’s workshop on Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).

“In its determination to reduce the level of youth unemployment, the Federal Government has plans to empower 740,000 market-oriented young agricultural producers.

“The youth living in rural areas are earmarked to benefit from this incentive under Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP), the statement quoted Ahmed as saying.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Dr Egejuru Eze said the programme would cover the entire 36 states and including Abuja.

Ahmed said the programme had commenced with six pilot states across the six geopolitical zones.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the states are Bauchi, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Niger, and Rivers.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the beneficiaries of the project would comprise of 20,000 school leavers and rural youth leaders from each state.

He further said the YEAP would develop additional 18,500 University graduates, who would be formed into young agribusiness entrepreneurs, called ‘’Nagropreneurs’’ that would develop business along the agricultural value chain.

Ahmed explained that the beneficiaries of the YEAP programme would enjoy supports from the Federal and State Governments in areas of access to land, technical, entrepreneurial, financial business and marketing.

He, therefore, commended the efforts of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) for providing assistance to the ministry in strengthening the capacities of those to implement YEAP in the six pilot states.

The Permanent Secretary, however, solicited for an expansion of the programmes to cover more states of the Federation.

In her goodwill message, the FAO Representative in Nigeria Ms. Louise Setshwaelo said youth segment form one of the greatest assets Nigeria could take advantage of to take poverty out of the country.

Setshwaelo said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the FAO in 2012 designed the YEAP in order to provide necessary skills and opportunities for the youth.

She reiterated the commitment of the FAO to continue collaborating with the Federal and state Governments in the implementation of the programme aimed at empowering the Nigerian youth. (NAN)

LEVERAGE ON GROWING POPULATION - Minister of Agric

The minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that the country could put the growing population into good use by increasing local production of food crops.

The minister posited that Nigeria’s population which would grow to 200 million people by the year 2020 could be an advantage for food production if the country could hasten to take the agriculture sector to the level of China, India, and other nations of the western world.

Ogbeh said, “In four years time our population will be 200 million people and we can put that population into good use if we have the capacity and become more organised like the Chinese or Indians.”

The minister made this known when he received in audience a delegation from the Kingdom of The Netherlands led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Groffen in his office. He maintained that there is an urgent need for the country to grow more food crops in order to meet the demands of its growing population and seek for more support from the international community towards the sustainable development of the agriculture sector. According to him, the sector would require international support in its programmes and initiatives, such as the cattle breeding improvement, climate change, standardisation and certification of food products, seed development and improvement, capacity building, among others.

Ogbeh further sought the assistance of The Netherland Government on area of machineries that could convert shafts from rice mills in the country to briquettes for household uses, adding that the present administration was poised to take life back to the rural areas, mostly for women and the youths. He stated that the ministry was working in collaboration with other relevant ministries, like the ministries of works, environment, water resources and industry, trade and investment, to grow and develop the sector.

Earlier, The Netherlands’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr John Groffen who led the delegation said that the purpose of their visit was to explore areas of collaboration with the ministry, describing the challenges facing the nation’s agricultural sector as enormous. He stated that Nigeria and The Netherlands which had in existence a business relationship would now enjoy symbiotic sustainable development enterprises with an assurance that varied opportunities inherent in Nigeria’s agricultural sector would be showcased to potential investors in The Netherlands.

He assured the ministry of the continued support of The Netherlands Government in up-scaling the growth of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Distribute fertilizer via text- farmers

Some farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa have called on Jigawa government to distribute fertilisers using the Short Message Service (SMS), to guard against diversion of the commodities.

A cross section of the farmers made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Hadejia.
NAN recalls that the state government had announced plans to distribute about 5, 000 metric tons of assorted fertilisers to farmer for dry season farming.

Malam Hadi Aina, a farmer, said the call was imperative to ensure that the commodity got to the genuine farmers.
Aina alleged that they did not receive fertilisers and other inputs distributed by the government during the past rainy season due to diversion of the commodity.

He noted that distribution of the commodity through committees was making it difficult for genuine farmers to benefit from the exercise.
The farmer lamented that they were sourcing the commodity at exorbitant prices in the open market, a trend which affected productivity.

“It is desirable to distribute fertilisers and inputs direct to the farmers to guard against diversion.
“Government should adopt similar method applied under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, to distribute fertilisers through individual’s phone number.

“Under GES programme, farmers have access to fertilisers and inputs without difficulties.
“We call for application of the same methods in the distribution exercise,” he said.

Alhaji Ahmad Gambo, another farmer, commended the state government over the distribution of fertilisers to farmers.
Gambo said that the gesture would end scarcity and encourage agricultural activity in the state.

NAN reports, however, that the Federal Government had so far distributed 1, 000 bags of improved seeds to farmers for dry season activity in the state.

Other implements distributed include 130 water pumps; 50 grain thrashers and 250 knap sack sprayers.
The items were distributed at subsidised rate under the wheat and rice cultivation scheme initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to statistics by the Jigawa chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), over 150, 000 irrigation farmers were registered under the GES scheme in the state. (NAN)

CBN brings lending rate to 5% for Farmers

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed to five per cent interest on lending rate to farmers in the country.

Ogbeh made this known on Tuesday, while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day national workshop on a “New Agricultural Policy for Nigeria.”

The workshop was organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) in collaboration with the ministry and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

According to the minister, the agreement followed discussions with key officials of the apex bank on Tuesday morning.

“Just this morning, I have talks with key officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria to bring the lending rate to five per cent.

“How they do it, how the finance institutions want to cope with it, they have to or we impose severe penalty on anyone who defaults, otherwise we will not survive.

“There is no country on earth in or outside Africa, where banks demand 25, 18 or even nine per cent interest rate for agriculture borrowing.

“With those rates, I assure you as man, who have been in this business – agriculture since the age of seven years, you cannot make profit in agriculture,” Ogbeh said.

The minister said that agriculture and solid minerals remain the alternatives sectors to which the country could diversify now to survive current economic situation.

He said: “The challenge before us is how to make this happen. The time for lamentation is over. The time for action is here.”

Ogbeh said unless this was done, the problem of youth unemployment and youth restiveness would continue to plague the country.

“We have 100 million young people in the country who are below the age of 50 years and if we do not give them job, they are likely to take care of us in a very rough manner,” he said.

Ogbeh said outbreak of bird flu and pastoralists/farmers clashes remained challenges to the sector, adding that in the last two months, the flu had killed between five and six million birds.

He, however, disclosed that a vaccine had been found for the virus.

“I have been calling friends across the globe.

“Just yesterday, I received a message from Egypt and they informed me that they have found a vaccine which they injected the chickens with which is working perfectly well.

“We will not immediately rush in and bring the vaccines, we will ask our research institutes to take a look and see if they can fit into our needs.

“Every January, we have this problem of avian flu, it has destroyed many farmers; we are looking forward to finding some resources to compensate them.

“We do not have enough money right now even to pay arrears of certain debts which were piled up before now but we will do what we can,” the minister said.

Earlier, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, suggested the creation of a forum where farmers and the ministry could regularly dialogue in formulating agriculture rebirth policies.

Adamu, also the chairman, NAFN, said this was necessary as farmers were the one to really implement agriculture policies.

He said they needed to be brought on board for proper education on policy objectives and direction.

Adamu also suggested that there should be clear policy on the procurement and sale of fertilisers at the right time during farming season.

WTO MEETING ON AGRICULTURE

Agriculture takes the front burner headline once again particularly with the need to subsidize export of food crops particularly by African poor countries to raise living standards and provide food security.
NIGERIA needs to diversify her agricultural potentials and grow more exportable crops like cotton, cocoa, beans and groundnut as already listed in this article, but should also embark on massive mechanization of our large expanse of land to boost the country’s economy.
The report here taken from citizen TV news is of a recent WTO meeting on agriculture. Read on:
Agriculture has the most glaring distortions in international trade; this is according to some members of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
During the Plenary Session on the 10th Ministerial Conference at the KICC, developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) asked the WTO to deal with Agriculture issues.
India’s Minister for Commerce and Trade Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Agricultural sector is very important to developing countries for economic growth.
“We are concerned that the reform process appears to be in peril,” said Sitharaman. “The agricultural issues raised have been taken up to suit a few members. We need to deal with these issues for food security purposes.”
Nigeria noted that Agricultural trade is in need of fundamental reforms.
“Agriculture is important,” said Nigeria. “ We provided solutions to cotton trade. We all need to be flexible and open to solutions. We are prepared to engage constructively for the benefit of Africa and for all members at large.”
Nigeria is currently in the process of ratifying its Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
“Agricultural issues can only be dealt with on the basis of multilateral framework,” said Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Luiz Lecker Vieira. “We need to deliver on agriculture issues. Export subsidies are the most pernicious form of trade.”
“It will not be acceptable to complete MC10 without an outcome on agricultural export,” said Australia’s Trade Minister Andrew Robb. “We are committed to a credible export competition outcome that will benefit developed and developing countries alike.”
Agriculture is one of the most important and politically sensitive issues on the WTO negotiating agenda.
“The elimination of agricultural export subsidies, new rules for export credits, international food aid and exporting state trading enterprises are expected to make up an important part of the Nairobi package. Collectively, these issues are known as “export competition”.
Under the current WTO rules, only 16 WTO members are allowed to subsidize exports of certain agricultural products.
In addition, developing countries have been permitted to subsidize exports in order to reduce marketing and domestic transport costs under certain conditions.
However, a survey in 2015 indicates that many of these countries have significantly reduced their export subsidies in recent years, and only a handful of WTO members still use export subsidies.
A decision to fully eliminate any form of export subsidies would be a significant step in the reform of agricultural trade because it would ensure that countries will not resort to trade-distorting export subsidies and would thereby level the playing field for agriculture exporters.
It would be particularly meaningful for farmers in poor countries who cannot afford to compete with rich countries that artificially boost their exports through subsidization.

DANGOTE grows Rice to reduce importation

Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has lamented that Nigeria spends nearly $1.8billion per year importing (approximately 3.2 million) metric tons of rice to feed its population.
He said this huge foreign exchange (forex) would have been used on more impactful social development interventions if they were not needed for food imports.
Speaking during the launch of the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme in Jigawa State at the weekend, he said the nation’s agricultural commodities and food imports bills averaged over N1trillion in 2013 and 2014, with foods such as sugar, wheat, rice, fish accounting for 93 per cent of the total cost of imports.
He described the situation as unacceptable for anyone who loves the country.
To check the the unncessary waste of forex on food importation, the Dangote Group has made investment in the agric sector to create jobs and assure food security in the country.
The Rice Outgrowers Scheme was launched in Hadejia, Kafin-Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Starting with 20,000 hectares of rice cultivation to be expanded to cover 800, 000 hectares over the next three years, Dangote said there was no better time than now to turn to agriculture to save the economy.
The scheme started with the distribution of treated rice seedling for planting to some 5000 farmers.
He said: “We are committed to the development of outgrower scheme by providing local, value added products and services that meet the ‘basic needs’ of the populace. To this end, the Dangote Rice Farm Ltd, will run an initial pilot in Hago-Fadama, Kafin Hausa and Auyo areas which would see Dangote Rice developing small hold farmers by providing quality inputs (certified seeds, fertiliser, agro-chemicals and petrol), improved agricultural practices and technology to increase yield and produce quality rice paddy which would also be bought back from them by Dangote Rice Limited.
“The programme in Jigawa State is expected to create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs to the host communities.”
Aside the outgrowers aspect of the investment, he said Dangote Rice is planning to plant approximately 150,000 hectares of long grain white rice and produce near one million tons of high quality par boiled white rice for sale into the market.
Furthermore, he said the internal policy within Dangote Rice Ltd is to procure 30 per cent of rice production from local farmers who will be developed into outgrower groups. According to him these outgrowers will be simultaneously developed alongside the company’s commercial farming operations.
Dangote said before the discovery of oil, the economy was built around potentials from palm oil, ground nut, cotton, and rubber plantations. “Now the price of oil has plummeted from a peak of $116 per barrel in June 2014 to as low as $29 per barrel in January this year. This means there is huge loss of revenue to the government,” he said.
Currently the average yield of rice in the country is between 1.8 to 2.5 metric tone per hectare (MT/ha), depending on the region and the crop (wet or dry) and with or without irrigation 1.8 MT/ha, which is significantly lower than the best practice yields in Africa of 9.2 MT/ha generated in Egypt. Locally produced rice is more expensive than imported rice due to the high cost of production relative to the low yields in the country because of poor agronomic practices.
In addition, the Federal Government has implemented policy incentives that encourage investment in domestic rice production and milling.
Dangote disclosed that the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme was designed as a one stop solution for the rice value chain.
In his remark during the rice seedling distribution, Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heneiken Lokpobiri lauded the initiative of Dangote, saying the intervention in the government efforts at providing food security for the citizenry, creating jobs and reducing dependence on food importation is appreciated by being boosted.
According to him, so much forex is spent on importation of food items that could be produced locally.
While expressing the government readiness to provide all the needed support to make the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme a success, the minister said the government is putting in place a strategy that will make farmers have greater access to farm implements to help them produce with ease.
Also speaking the Special Adviser to Alhaji Dangote on Rice and Coordinator of the Outgrowers Scheme, Mr. Lulu Carlos explained that 6.1million metric tone (mmt) of rice is consumed annually but not more than 2.6 million metric tons are produced locally leaving the rest to importation.
Lulu said: “We are happy to start today the partnership with the First Out Growers bloc of 200 hectares, shared among 8 communities. I have seen the same project grow in my country, Brazil, whereby from 2.5 Mt tons in the beginning to today where we reached 9 tons of paddy rice per hectare in productivity.
“This has transformed our country (Brazil), from a net importer of Rice in the year 2000 to a neýt exporter in the year of 2009. This was achieved through a big out grower scheme in the rice region, which today involves thousands of independent farmers responsible for 80 per cent of the 12 million tons locally produced rice and a small number of large Commercial farms supplying the remaining 20 per cent.
“Also, Alhaji Aliko, has instructed me to conduct the project here for at least 30 per cent from out growers and 70 per cent from our commercial farm to be established in the state. But this is not our limit. We are today convinced that this equation will have more and more out growers participation in the future, due to very good and welcome response we are getting from all the communities we are dealing with.
“We are bringing to the people top quality seeds, fertilizers and chemicals as well the training and teaching the best and most modern agriculturalý practices, to enable you to boost your productivity and quality of your rice. We are also committed to roll out the scheme to cover another 1,000 hectares for the coming rainy season in June / July, using the experience of this 1st plot to guide our progress.”
The Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Badaru Muhammed Abubakar thanked the Dangote Rice Limited for choosing Jigawa as the pilot state for the project. He pledged the readiness of his administration to provide all necessary support to the project.
He said, the project was part of his government’s commitment to improve agriculture and industrialize the state for job creation and poverty eradication. “Right from my inaugural speech, I made it clear that, agriculture was one of my government cardinal points and we are ready to collaborate with private investors in achieving the desire goals.
“The project we are launching today is one of the numerous projects we intend to embark in collaboration with private investors from within and outside the country and we have already signed memorandum with many of them,” the governor said.
The governor then assured Dangote Group of the state government’s support in making any policy and intervention that will make the investment profitable and generate jobs for the teeming population of the state.

SUPPORT "ABA MADE" PRODUCTS - Senator David Mark

The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, on Monday urged the Federal Government to ban importation of all goods that Nigerians have the capacity to produce locally.
Mark made the call when he declared the first Made-in-Aba Fair open in Abuja.
Represented by Sen. Smart Adeyemi, the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Mark described Aba as “the catalyst of industrial revolution in Nigeria’’.
He said government should henceforth discourage importation of foreign goods because “Nigeria has no business importing those goods which do not measure to the quality being produced in the country’’.
He commended the people of Aba for doing the nation proud through the spirit of enterprise and innovation demonstrated in quality products and goods made available through local skills.
“We have no business importing military boots when what is produced here locally is more superior to that which is brought into the country.
“We have no reason to import ballot boxes for INEC. This locally made ballot box is actually better than the one INEC has been importing.
“Let us ban all that we can ban to ensure a quick take-off of our industrial sector. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) should not hold us down in economic slavery.
“If there is any city that deserves the presence of the Bank of Industry, it is Aba city,’’ he said.
Mark called for a radical transformation of the Nigeria’s industrial base by providing adequate facilities to support the efforts of indigenous producers to boost economic growth.
He urged relevant agencies of government to create adequate awareness on the need for introduction of policies that would enable local initiatives to thrive.
The facilitator of the Made-in-Aba Fair, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), said the fair was his constituency project meant to “bring Aba to Abuja’’.
Abaribe, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, said the fair was aimed at giving opportunity to the indigenous producers to showcase their products.
He said the reliance on imported goods at the expense of quality goods that were locally produced would not allow the nation’s economy to develop.
He said that if given adequate patronage, indigenous producers would help to create employment for the youth and wealth for the country.
“This fair is to encourage made in Nigeria products, but specifically made in Aba goods.
“We need to be able to create wealth and employment by patronising local producers to reduce crime in the society.
“If we neglect our domestic goods and continue to patronise foreign ones, there is no way that foreigners will see us as talented,’’ Abaribe said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Industries and Investments, Dr Olusegun Aganga and the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Sen. Ibrahim Musa attended the occasion.
NAN also reports that the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is the government agency overseeing the coordination of the Made-in-Aba Fair. (NAN)

NAFDAC BANS BEANS

The Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has announced the banning of foreign beans into the country except those screened by the Agency.
The Acting Director General of the Agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni who disclosed this at the awareness/Sensitization Workshop on Safe and Responsible use of Regulated Agricultural inputs for Stakeholders in the North Central Zone in Minna Wednesday emphasized that only beans screened by the Agency will be allowed into the country in order to be sure of their safety.
According to her “We must recall that these banned beans produce that have been banned in the European Union (EU) are those ones that never passed through NAFDAC.
All the beans that passed through NAFDAC and issued EU certification to, of food and health impart on Nigerians do not get rejected.
The ones that have been banned are those ones that never passed through NAFDAC”.
She however called on all relevant Agencies to be awake to their responsibilities by working hand in hand with the Agency to actuaize this objective.
“It is not entirely the function of NAFDAC, but the primary assignment of the Quarantine which is under the Ministry of Agriculture to look into beans because it is an Agricultural produce”, she ad used.
On whose purview the produce is regulated, she said ”beans is an agricultural produce, as opposed to a semi or fully processed regulated product under the purview of NAFDAC and such products are food, drugs, medical devices, chemicals, packaged water and detergents. These are the ones that are under our purview.
“But because we have seen that the beans is a raw material into a final product that is regulated by NAFDAC, we are now talking of collaboration with one another so that all relevant stakeholders will join hands towards a common goal of ensuring that only good quality regulated products are available for consumption, for sales, distribution, advertisement, information and importation into the country.”

FEDERAL GOV'T IMPLEMENTS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

In its effort to ensure inclusive and robust development of the agricultural sector, the Federal Government yesterday launched the Knowledge Management Framework, an initiative to enhance knowledge flows between stakeholders.
Launching the initiative at the opening ceremony of first multi-stakeholder workshop on the implementation of the Knowledge Management (KM) framework in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the agricultural sector as one of the key driver of the economy need innovation and efficiency to ensure job creation, wealth augmentation and the production of adequate food for the rapidly growing population.
He said the sector faces many challenges across the value chains for the various commodities and that the safe production of food to adhere to health and commercial marketing standards and the climate change are yet to be surmounted.
Ogbeh who was represented by the director, planning and policy coordination, Mrs Rabi Adamu, said addressing these constraints and ensuring that information and knowledge flows between the government at all levels, the private sector, civil society and the farmers require engagement of all stakeholders in the country.
Speaking he said: “The world Bank report 2016 focuses on innovation and this clearly implies that countries that neglect innovation will gradually fall behind. Knowledge management is the vehicle for innovation as well as for enhancing efficiency of programmes and policies. It is critical that we embrace the efforts outlined in the KM framework close to our heart and nurture it to maturity.
“Framework is uniquely a clear outline to address a complex issue. It has been developed in close collaboration with key partners and already guides some of the partners. In this respect, I would like to recognize the GIZ and DFID’s programmes that have aligned their efforts to reinforce the framework.”
He said ministry has established a technical committee with representative from all departments to drive the overall process, while the ministry has also creates a Yellow Pages Directory which describes the ministry’s services with contacts details. This he said will address one of the questions of investors.
On his part the permanent secretary Dr. Shehu Ahmed, reading his welcome address said the concept provides the platform for stakeholders to achieve their role in the optimal development of the agricultural sector, saying stakeholders’ limited access to information has resulted in duplication of activities, slow pace in development and wastage of resources.

Minister battles Arrogance

THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has lamented the exorbitant amount Nigerians spend on importing food into the country, saying that the total amounts to $20b per year.
Making the disclosure at the closing of the 41st National Council on Agriculture held at Kano Government House, the minister expressed worry over this over-dependence of Nigerians on foreign food.
According to Ogbeh, many things were responsible for the downturn in the agricultural sector in the country, saying that programmes like Udoji of the 1970s were responsible for some of the tragedies facing the agricultural sector in the country.
He said that “It was Udoji programme that made people run away from farms and pursued to become contractors.”
Condemning what he described as ‘elite arrogance’ in the nation’s agricultural sector, Ogbeh assured farmers across Nigeria that his ministry would work hand in hand with them in the formulation of policies affecting agricultural development in the country.
He called on commissioners of agriculture attending the conference from the 36 states of the federation to put more pressure on their governors to ensure that modern ways of agricultural development were employed in their various states.
Noting that irrigation should be looked into as a way to address problems associated with cattle rearing, the minister said that the simple solution to cattle rearing was to grow grass and feed cattle. “We should not depend on using improved grass from Brazil, Argentina and other places. I am also advising all on engaging in cattle rearing modern mechanism.”
The governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, assured all farmers in the state that his administration would do everything possible to help develop agricultural sector for both local and foreign advantages.

EXTENSION IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR AGRIC IN NIGERIA: Says experts

An expert, Mr Richard Ogundele, on Friday advised the ministries of agriculture to revive agricultural extension services to be more effective so as to boost food production.
Ogundele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that an effective agricultural extension services would promote food security, improve income and knowledge of farmers.
Ogundele is an intervention manager for Growth and Employment in State (GEMS), a project funded by the World Bank and the UK’s Department for International Development in Nigeria.
Agriculture extension service is the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education.
Ogundele described agricultural extension workers as the bridge between farmers and research institutes, adding that whatever the institutes developed, the officers would take to the farms for trial.
He said that extension workers also functioned as the link between farmers and the government.
“Agricultural extension service delivery is dead in the country. It is not as vibrant as it was in the past.
“For us to improve our production, we need to teach our extension officers new production techniques so that they can transfer the knowledge to the farmers.
“We need to make improved seedlings, crop protection and fertiliser available all the time,” he said.
According to him, the vital roles played by the extension officers in disseminating information and transfering knowledge are to enhance agricultural production in the country.
He urged the government to sustain and improve on the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) programme to guarantee agricultural production.
“The government has no business selling fertiliser as it was in the past before the last administration changed it with the (GESS) programme.”
NAN recalls that GESS is an agricultural initiative developed in 2012 by the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The scheme is aimed at subsidising the costs of major agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and seedlings for farmers and facilitating a shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
With GESS, the government seeks to withdraw from direct fertiliser purchase and distribution, and introduce an alternative system of distribution built on the voucher system. (NAN)

GOVERNMENT BANS IMPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said the the country spends a total of $2 billion annually to import agricultural products into the country.
Amaechi disclosed this to journalists during an inspection tour from Rigasa rail station in Kaduna to Idu Station in Abuja last Friday.
Even as the world’s 7th largest population in the world at a base line of 170million, the Minister said agriculture is an exceptionally important element of Nigeria’s economy.
Amaechi went to say that the large import of food products include wheat, rice, flour, fish, tomato paste, eggs, textile and sugar.
The Minister however, stressed the need to diversify the mono-cultural tendencies of the Nigerian economy by developing other sectors of the economy especially agriculture.
“Major agricultural imports are wheat, rice and sugar. Most agricultural imports come from the US and the EU. The country’s main agricultural exports are cocoa beans, rubber, sesame seeds and cocoa butter. Key agricultural export destinations are the UK, the US, Canada, France and Germany”
“We were known to be exporters of cocoa beans, gum Arabic, groundnuts, cotton, palm oil and many other agricultural commodities, but now, we import most of the agricultural commodities that we can produce because of the neglect of the sector.
“About 30 percent of live animals slaughtered in Nigeria are imported from neighbouring countries. Like other subsectors, livestock industry development is constrained by low productive breeds, inadequate access to feeds and grazing lands, frequent farmer – pastoralist conflicts, lack of processing facilities and low value addition and low technical inputs in the management of the animals, including diseases.”
However, industry watchers said the country could increase its agricultural sector output to $227 billion by 2030, thus, raising the annual growth rate to 4.2 per cent.
But achieving the feat would require a four-pronged approach which boosting yields, shifting more production into high value crops, reducing post-harvest and distribution losses, and increasing scale production. The biggest opportunity in agriculture is improving crop yields, which accounts for 39 per cent of the upside potential.
IKENNA

LASSA FEVER in Ebonyi State

Ebonyi State government yesterday confirmed the death of a 10-year-old boy (name withheld) killed by Lassa fever. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezuruike, stated this during a chat with journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital. He noted that the boy died after he was discharged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Umezuruike described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the deceased was a day student of one of the primary schools in the state, from Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area. The commissioner said the deceased’s parents were based in Abuja, adding that the report before them did not show the deceased traveled to meet the parents recently. He added that the boy, on being rushed immediately to the hospital on becoming sick, responded to treatment and was subsequently discharged by the hospital. “Unfortunately, he died the same day he was discharged. His case was surprising because the hospital thought he was all right after being treated. But before he was discharged, we had already taken his sample which came out positive,'' he said. Umezuruike also confirmed that the case was the second Lassa fever case recorded in the state. “The first was a student of Ebonyi State University and now the 10-year-old,'' he added. He pointed out that his ministry has embarked on serious surveillance and contact tracing of close associates of the last victim to enable them contain spread of the disease in the state.

GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO BRING THE YOUTHS BACK TO AGRICULTURE

The federal government through the minister of agriculture and rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that there is need to make huge investment in agriculture which will in turn attract youths into the sector.

The minister who stated this at a National Workshop on a New Agricultural Policy for Nigeria, organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), also lamented the low participation of rural dwellers who are supposed to embark on agriculture to feed the nation and increase the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

In his words, “There are those who estimate that by 2025 our population will stand at 450 million, making Nigeria the third most populated country on the planet earth, but what is more worrisome is that 75 per cent of this huge population will be living in cities while 25 per cent only will be in the rural areas. Can the 25 per cent feed themselves and the city dwellers? Yes, we if can hasten to lift agriculture to the level of India, China, and Thailand, not to mention the nations of Western Europe.

“To get to that level, we need to make huge investments in land preparation, machinery, seed improvement, farmer education, and encouragement or enticement of younger people into the agricultural terrain”.

In his welcome address, the chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said that agriculture must be born again in order to end our national shame.

“A nation that depends on other nations for its feeding has no right call itself independent. Agriculture must be born again in our country in order to end our national shame. Nigeria has close to 80 per cent of arable land, yet it is a massive net importer of food and other agricultural produce because our peasant farmers are still tilling the earth they inherited from their forefathers with obsolete farming implements,” he said.

Adamu, however, said that there was the need to create a forum to encourage a constant dialogue between farmers and the ministry in formulating agricultural rebirth policies. He also suggested a clear policy on procurement and sale of fertiliser at the right time during the farming season.

IMPROVING WHEAT PRODUCTION

Within two years of the inception of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture SARD-SC project, the wheat component has mobilized a fast –track seed multiplication program and distributed 58 tons of improved seeds that have been grown over 500 hectares of wheat areas in six sites across two states in Nigeria.

The IITA/SARD-SC Project coordinator, Dr Chrys Ake who said in a statement in Ibadan on Tuesday added that both Kano and Borno State were participating in the project with over 1600 Nigerian farmers. He added that the IITA\SARD-SC wheat initiative is pursuing similar activities in another 11 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

According to him, the project is funded by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and its focus is on raising the productivity and profitability of four commodities: cassava, maize, rice, and wheat to enhance the fortunes of Africa.

TRAINING for FARMERS

Following efforts to enhance food security in the county, the Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative, FBIN, a non-governmental organisation yesterday trained 30 small scale farmers under its grow champions project.

Speaking at the training programme held in Lafia, the state capital yesterday, Chief Executive Officer and founder of the organization, Bar. Nkiruka Nnaemego said the gesture was aimed at empowering farmers with the necessary knowledge in modern farming techniques and to advocate increased investments in small scale agriculture in the country.

She explained that the FBIN which was founded 2008 was designed to stimulate positive change, promote social and environmental responsibility as well as the spirit of volunteerism in the society and to facilitate intergenerational relationships.

Nnaemego who averred that Nigeria remains predominantly an agricultural society, owing to its highly diversified agro-ecological conditions which makes production of wide range of agricultural products possible, stressed the importance of agriculture in the sustenance of the nation’s economy.

The Chief Executive Officer challenged participants at the training to take advantage of the opportunity to improve on their farming activities and commended OXFAM NIGERIA for funding the project.

“Agriculture remains a very important sector of the economy and we must put all hands on deck in improving it especially now that the global oil price has fallen”

In a goodwill message at the event, Mr. Ango Adamu who regretted that climate change was affecting the production of food, urged participants to make good use of the opportunity provided by the organization to improve in their farming activities.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that the event witnessed a display of numerous agricultural products by participants.

the Sweet money in Sugar cane

The Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Hezekiah Kolawole, has said that sugarcane can provide an alternative source of electricity in Nigeria.
Kolawole said that sugarcane has the capacity to generate 411 megawatts of electricity and create 117, 000 jobs. But he said the business has been neglected in Nigeria.

He said that the council was doing its best to stimulate interest in sugarcane investment in order to make Nigeria self-sustaining in sugar production, adding: “Nigeria has a very good ecological and weather condition that can support the development of sugarcane plantation in all parts of the country.
“Sugarcane is not only used for the production of sugar and fuel ethanol, but can also be used for the generation of electricity and produce a host of other derivatives such as food preservatives and seasoning, as well as industrial chemicals used in the pharmaceutical, leather and other industries.
“The government should adopt sugarcane as a raw material for the generation of electricity and production of industrial goods which would have gone a long way in solving the problem of shortage of power supply in the county. The sugar sub-sector, which is classified as employment spinning sector of the economy, is capable of creating job opportunities for millions of Nigerians.’’
Daily Trust reports that the country is yet to enjoy the benefits of sugarcane farming as it still produces less than two per cent of the sugar it consumes.
Recent statistics show that Nigeria currently consumes about 1.43 trillion metric tonnes of sugar yearly and spends N200 billion on importation of sugar.
A local farmer in Mahuta area of Kaduna State, Abdullahi Umar, who has been farming for more than 40 years, described sugarcane farming as lucrative, adding that it “brings money quickly more than any other crop.”
The 57 year-old farmer said: “You don’t need to plant again for many years. The only thing you need do is to properly weed the farm and it will continue to grow. Though it is not a food crop, it is a moving cash crop because sugarcane is needed for both domestic and industrial uses.”
Commenting on the profitability of sugarcane farming, he said: “It is a very good and profitable business because through this farm, I have built my house, married and trained my children without going out to beg people for money.’’
He said that sugarcane, which takes only eight months to be ready for harvest, is a crop that one can easily know how much he would get by just counting the strokes.
He lamented that government policies were not favourable to the local farmers, appealing to the government to initiate friendly policies to support local farmers and provide of incentives and implements.
He said: “The government does not care about the local farmer. All it cares about is satisfying people who do not even know what farming is all about. As a local farmer, if the government of the day is able to provide fertiliser for me, that government has solved 80% of my problems because fertiliser is like gold to all farmers.’’
Another sugarcane farmer, Warrant Officer Yakubu Chechet, who retired from the Nigerian Army in 2000 said: “I was into farming even before I joined the Army, so I felt that is the only thing I can fall back on after my retirement, to complement my pension. With farming, I am able to feed my family and take care of their needs.”
He enthused: “Farming is a good and prosperous trade every Nigerian should be engaged in.”

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/…/nigeria-yet-to-t…/134123.html

Dams all in Distress

It has been noted that dams in Nigeria are yet to be effectively and efficiently utilized.

This is the view held by the Chief Executive Officer; High hill Agri-Business Development Centre, Adeniyi Sola Bunmi.

Adeniyi, a certified agribusiness consultant-cum-value chain expert disclosed this in an online chat with AgroNigeria on Thursday. “Nigeria is yet to get her priority right. Nothing is working in this nation,” Bunmi highlighted

According to him, for the dams nationwide to work effectively and efficiently too, ‘all the stakeholders need total reorientation.’

“Government need to actually understand the potential of the dams and be ready to put in place all required equipment and manpower to actualize her current drive towards sustainable agricultural development.

“As a new generation farmers we can’t afford to practice agriculture the way our fathers did so we need to be proactive and have eagle eyes for opportunities. We must recognize that agriculture is a very risky business,” Adeniyi maintained.

Speaking on the need to irrigate farms, Adeniyi said reasons for irrigation are wide, varied and differ for each situation.

For him, irrigation “provides greater certainty with production than is possible with dry land farming; provides options for diversification or intensification, allows farmers to grow more vegetables, crops, pasture and increase livestock production.

“It allows farmers to maintain quality over a critical dry period; ensures crops are not affected by moisture stress at critical growing times; provides greater opportunity to gain vegetables/crops response to fertilizer application faster.”

He further noted that “for irrigation to be sustainable, the benefits must increase income sufficiently to cover the costs of development and provide an acceptable return on investment.”