The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • NGO to boost cassava production

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), is set to make cassava business attractive in Nigeria. It is working through Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-Processing Project (CAMAP).

    CAMAP, funded  by the United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAid), seeks to  transform  the  cassava sector  in  sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing  commercial  production,  processing and market linkages based on business models that engender sustainability.

    The CAMAP Project Coordinator, AATF, Ayodele Omowumi, said the project had opened a new vista for many cassava farmers in Ogun, Kogi, Oyo, Osun and Kwara states.

    The vision, according to him, is to build a sub-sector that creates a future where cassava farmers are economically bouyant, with enhanced livelihoods.

    Omowumi said weeds posed a serious threat to agricultural productivity and food security.

    Cassava accounts for as much as a third of the total calorie intake for people in Ogun, Kogi, Oyo, Osun and Kwara states. This called for an urgent increase in funding, research, training, surveillance and other measures to help farmers.

    To this end, he said his organisation was urging swift action to tackle  weeds  and other  issues affecting cassava.

    AATF has held a cassava weed management training at Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State. The training, organised  in collaboration with the International Institute of tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Bayer Cropscience AG, aimed at training farmers on integrated weed management in cassava production. It was attended by farmers from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara states.

    The training covered areas, such as land preparation and best agronomic practices, types of weeds, types of herbicides, herbicides application and calibration. There was also a practical session where participants were exposed to tips on application and spraying.

    Omonwumi said the project was intended to change the situation by offering farmers evidence-based information that would help them make better choices.

    “As AATF, IITA and Bayer Cropscience have come together: it is a unique conspiracy against weed control which takes about 70 per cent of the cost of producing cassava roots” the CAMAP project coordinator said.

    He  reiterated  that the integrated weed management approach is dedicated to providing viable strategies and solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and secure  cassava  supplies in the long term.

    Its aim is to strengthen the capacity of  farmers and build a more resilient food supply chain.

    The partners called for more concerted efforts to tackle the menace of weeds. They warned that unless weed infestation on field is addressed,  farmers would not be able to maximise the gains of crop  improvement.

    Recently, commissioners of agriculture in Nigeria’s cassava growing belt decried weeds menace which they blamed for low yields in cassava and the main constraint to the competitiveness of cassava farmers in the country.

    To stem the menace, the commissioners signed in a communique at the 2018 Annual Review & Work Planning Meeting of the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project themed: “(Unveiling of new Technologies for Weed Control in Cassava Farming Systems),” in Ibadan, in  March.

    Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery at IITA, Dr Kenton Dashiell, said the declaration was a step in the right direction.

    ”The first step to solving a problem is identifying and recognizing that you have a problem,” he said.

     

  • NIHORT trains 400 farmers in Delta

    The National Horticultural Research Institute is pushing for a renewed focus on innovation and research in agriculture to improve people’s livelihoods and boost the fight against poverty and hunger.

    At an empowerment and training programme for 400 farmers on plantain and pineapple in Delta State, NIHORT Training Coordinator Dr. Lawrence Olajide Taiwo said the institute had stepped up research to boost crop growth, utilisation of new techniques, field management and harvests.

    NIHORT has projected that a committed national policy on mass production of plantain and pineapple can contribute 10 percent significant growth to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next five years.

    Taiwo said agriculture contributes 24 per cent to the GDP, without the input of horticultural crops. He said if horticultural crops value chain development is given due attention in the agricultural system, it would  add 10percent to the agriculture sector ‘s GDP.

    The programme coordinator said the training would expose participants to pineapple cultivation through processing and maintenance and marketing to make money.

    “Here in Delta, we are going to train 400 farmers on horticultural value chain. In the next five years, if we continue the way we are going, horticulture will add about 10 per cent to whatever agriculture adds to the country’s GDP,” he said.

    The training session which tookplace  inKwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, drew trainees from the three Local Government Areas of Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency. The training session started with the first set of 100 farmers from Ndokwa West.

    He said the training would be extended to Ika Northeast and Ika South LGAs because indigenes of the areas were predominantly farmers and they would be exposed to various sources of making money from plantain and pineapple.

    NIHORT Acting Executive Director Dr Abayomi Akeem Olaniyan said plantain and pineapple were important horticultural commodities, adding that horticulture remained a source of household income, employment generation, enhanced GDP and government revenue.

    And that it takes usually small piece of land to cultivate vegetables, fruits, and farmers can make huge income within a short period.

    A member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency and  the initiator of the project, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, said the training  was designed to expose the participants to new areas of making money, particularly converting plantain waste into different products.

    “We have engaged the experts from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) to train the farmers in various ways of growing plantain suckers, pineapple suckers and utilising these crops for different purposes,” he said.

  • How agric is bouncing back

    Under three years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the agric sector has witnessed a dramatic transformation. The sector looks good to drive the on-going economic diversification. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that agriculture was one of the largest contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth between 2015-2018.

    According to the NBS, agriculture now contributes about 30 per cent to the GDP. The agric sector’s growth was driven by the grains and exports, though other agricultural industries performed strongly. The value of farm exports alone was in excess of $20 billion, with experts expressing hope that the sector will be better in the coming years. Their hope and expectations were hinged on increased investments by governmental and non-governmental organisations.

    The Chairman of Rice Farmers Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Sahabi Augie, said Nigeria’s agriculture, in the Last three years, has been on the cusp of dramatic expansion. Given the rich harvest recorded by rice farmers between last year and now, he said many of them are smiling to the banks

    Augie added that millers and traders from Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Lagos, Maiduguri, Niger and Adamawa, have been coming with trucks and trailers to buy rice from the farmers, adding that this has led to an increase in the price of the commodity beyond farmers’ expectations. This development, he said, has enriched farmers.

    Augie said many farmers were engaged to produce rice under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers programme. He commended the government’s determination through the CBN to make Nigeria one of the largest rice producers and exporters in the world, making her less dependent on revenue from the oil & gas industry.

    He said the CBN, working with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), has made rice production a successful business. According to him, the government’s resolve to increase production was one of the solutions to achieving rice self-sufficiency.

    However, experts say the quality of local rice must be improved to make it capable of competing favorably with the imported variety. This was as the CBN said it spent N55 billion on boosting rice production through the Anchor Borrowers’ programme in the last two years. At least, 2.5 million metric tonnes has been added to the already 2.5 million metric tonnes Nigeria was producing.

    Following the success, CBN said it will expand the scope of intervention this year to achieve 3.5 million metric tonnes of rice production through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme by the end of year.

    Nigeria’s agric promotion policy 2016-2020

    One of the most promising ground work done by the government towards achieving food security was the introduction of the Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020. “The Green Alternative” was the outcome of an intensive consultative process starting in November 2015 through April 2016, and involving multiple stakeholders.

    From farmer groups to investors to processors to lenders to civil servants to academics, many stakeholders provided detailed input, commentary, and support. Within its overall set of policy principles, the Federal Government concentrated on providing an enabling environment for stakeholders at federal and state level to play their distinctive roles.

    The policy emphasis was on providing a conducive legislative and agricultural knowledge framework, macro policies, security enhancing physical infrastructure and institutional mechanisms for coordination and enhancing access to adequate inputs, finance, information on innovation, agricultural services and markets.

    Turning the country’s agric sector into a robust one has been a major development target for the government. To help achieve this, the government has been working on improving the national seed situation and the strategic grain reserve. The government has taken measures to provide for the regulation and control of all seed issues, protect consumers and dealers and also promote a responsible and productive seed industry.

    With collaboration with the National Seeds Council, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh strengthened the agro-dealer layer between the farmers and the large seed companies. This resulted in improved local availability and affordability of inputs.

    Access to agric mechanization

    The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is partnering with global agricultural equipment manufacturers – John Deere Tractors and the Nigerian Agricultural Mechanization & Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL) to improve farmers’ access to mechanization and increase agric productivity.

    Under the partnership, the S.M.A.R.T Model Mechanization Farm is a technologically driven agricultural project that offers integrated solutions for smallholder farmers; mechanized agriculture for improved yields; access to finance; reliability and technology/training; and designed to make mechanized farming available & affordable to farmers especially the smallholder farmer who cannot afford to own tractors and other agricultural equipment at affordable rates.

    The partnership was expected to help encourage more youths’ participation in agric, increase food production, boost job creation and promote local content in agric mechanization through the establishment of training centres and spare parts assembly plants.

    Ogbeh described mechanisation as a key strategy to attaining Nigeria’s food security target and self-sufficiency. The Minister welcomed the group to Nigeria and thanked them for their willingness to invest in the country’s agric sector.

    He emphasised the importance of ensuring high quality standard of equipment designed for the Nigerian farmer, taking into consideration the structure of the soil and climatic conditions.

    Credit guarantees to the rescue

    One agency that has been on the campaign to boost the nation’s agro-industrial revolution is Nigeria incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lendingn (NIRSAL). Its Managing Director/CEO, Aliyu Abdulhameed, said the organisation was doing a lot to reduce credit risks, increase lending, and drive investment across the entire Nigerian agric value chain.

    At Institute of Directors Nigeria’s Members Night in Lagos, Abdulhameed said NIRSAL offered commercial lenders a sense of shared risks by providing up to 75 per cent credit guarantees. So far, he said the organisation has issued over N67 billion in credit guarantees to cover loans by the commercial banks.

    To tackle the challenge of access to land, the NIRSAL CEO said the organisation was aggregating farmlands in agriculturally-endemic areas into geo-clusters of 10,000 hectares, further broken down into geo-cooperatives of 250 hectares.

    Farmland aggregation was matched with coordinated farmer aggregation through out-grower schemes and other pooling mechanisms. This, according to him, will enable NIRSAL to reach smallholder farmers with support, comprising training, mentoring and follow-up to ensure compliance with good agronomic practices, from input quality control to harvesting in a controlled and coordinated manner.

    Furthermore, he said farmers are aggregately positioned to enjoy credit, mechanization, irrigation, transportation, infrastructure and other support services promoted by NIRSAL. This supports large scale deployment of interventions and solutions and provides the benefits of economies of scale.

    According to Abdulhameed, NIRSAL has made significant investments in technological solutions and innovations in the fixing of broken agricultural value chains and facilitation of agribusinesses.

    One of its flagship innovative solutions is the FAM-SMART model. The CEO explained that  NIRSAL was using Geographical Information Systems and Pattern Recognition Systems to undertake a field mapping of agriculturally-endemic regions across the country.

    Besides aiding aggregation and coordination, he said the mapping helps in defining the locations for NIRSAL support, minimizing the risk of investing in areas that are not agriculturally viable.

  • Herdsmen/Farmers Clashes: Experts urge farmers to embrace ranching

    Some security experts on Friday urged farmers to embrace ranching as a lasting solution to the perennial clashes with cattle herdsmen in various communities in the country.

    The security experts told our reporter in Lagos that cattle ranching would go a long way in curbing herdsmen clashes and cattle rustling in the country.

    Mr Aghanya Ibezimako, a retired Commissioner of Police, said that the killings persisted due to lack of modern crime-fighting equipment by the police.

    Ibezimako, former CP in Benue, Kogi and Ekiti, called on all security agencies to synergies and share intelligence to finally tackle the menace.

    “Initially the country was battling with Boko Haram insurgency and now it has graduated to herdsmen killings.

    Read Also: ‘Herdsmen’s, farmers’ clashes may worsen without ranches’ 

    “Government needed to provide necessary equipment to the police to fight this crime because they are closer to the public than other security agencies,” Ibezimako said.

    The former CP commended Federal Government for deploying 150 special force of the Nigerian Air Force in Benue and other states where the clashes were prevalent, saying that it would yield positive result.

    Mr Micheal Sam-Wobo, a security expert, urged government to deploy the use of information technology in fighting crime, adding that it would also generate employment among the youths.

    According to him, technology can be used in detecting suicide bombers carrying explosives inside their dresses.

    Mr Tony Ozorh, another security expert, called on National Assembly to enact a law establishing ranching as private businesses as was being done in advanced countries.

    Ozorh said that countries like Bulgaria, Algeria and Brazil, among others, made ranching serious business enterprises through which the countries generate income from it.

    According to him, herdsmen of the premordial time who used to move around with sticks now carry AK 47 rifles.

    “Cattle herdsmen should have grazing areas where they can feed their animals.

    “We urged the National Assembly to pass a law that will establish ranching like in other countries of the world,” he said.

    NAN

  • Govt, private sector partner to end fish import

    The Federal Government will help the fisheries sector to recover its competitiveness and reduce import, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

    To this end, efforts are being made to put the right policies and enabling environment for private sector to thrive.

    Speaking during the inauguration of two fishing vessels acquired by Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, in Lagos, Buhari expressed concerns that the nation’s  yearly fish demands stood at 3.5 million tons; of which Nigeria produced 1.1 million tons from aquaculture, artisanal and industrial sectors, including shrimps, leaving a deficit of about 2.4 million tons to importation.

    “Our ultimate goal is to attain self-sufficiency in fish and aquaculture production. To this regard, my ministry is not only striving to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and fill in the missing gap but we have in addition ensured that all fishing and fisheries regulations, especially within the marine environment are enforced,’’ the minister said.

    Buhari expressed joy that industrial fishing companies, under the auspices of Nigeria Trawlers Association of Nigeria (NITOA), were collaborating with the government to ensure best practices in the exploitation of marine resources.

    He said the  ministry had elaborated on the Inland Fisheries Regulation for aquaculture policy, including shrimps, to encourage investment and facilitate the promotion of fish and shrimp culture for local consumption and export.

    Represented the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the president said the government places emphasis on the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector because it is key to the agricultural sector and contributes about 4.5 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He noted that the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector’s contributions were significant to food security, employment creation, income generation, poverty alleviation, foreign exchange earnings, and the provision of raw materials for the food and animal feed industry.

    Buhari explained that the vision of the  administration is to grow the sector to achieve a hunger-free country through agriculture.

    The president noted that the two ultra-modern fishing vessels by Atlantic Shrimpers Limited were in addition to the 70 vessels owned by the company, making it the highest number of fishing fleets and vessels in the industry.

    “The Ministry is also opening up the Deep Sea/Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for exploitation of her Tuna resources by issuing Letters of Assurances to companies to bring in deep sea vessels into the country. Nigeria has joined the International Committee for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). This is the only option open to us in terms of seafood security of the nation as we allow the inshore waters to rejuvenate back from the past fishing pressure.

    “In addition, we are embarking on backward integration through commercial aquaculture (pond and cage culture) for local consumption and export to international markets. In this regard, I wish to mention that several companies have complied with the ministry’s directive on the backward integration policy, including the Atlantic Shrimpers Limited, Triton Aqua Africa, Premium Aquaculture, Tilapia Developers Association of Nigeria (TADAN), just to mention but a few,” he added.

  • Industrialist hails govt for tomato policy

    The tomato policy introduced by the Federal Government, if effectively implemented, can boost local production and promote Nigeria’s economic growth, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, has said.

    Umeofia noted that the industrialisation strategy, which aims at achieving greater global competitiveness in the production of processed and manufactured goods, would be a mirage, without effective implementation of government policies.

    The government on March 27, last year, introduced the tomato policy, and increased tariff on tomato concentrate import from five to 50 per cent in its bid to encourage local production.

    The policy was to accelerate the growth of the manufacturing industry and deepen the diversification of the economy.

    According to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria imports an average of 150,000 metric tons of tomato concentrate per annum, valued at $170 million, mostly due to inadequacy in local capacity to produce tomato concentrate.

    Federal Government’s data reveals that the current demand for fresh tomato fruits is estimated at 2.45 million metric tons per annum (MTPA), while the country produces only about 1.8 million MTPA.

    “There are lots of policies by the government that are targeted at stimulating growth in the manufacturing sector; but the sector has continued to suffer slow growth and low productivity, due to ineffective implementation of these policies.

    “One year after the tomato policy was introduced; no tangible progress has been made in implementing the policy.

    “The objective of the policy, which is to boost tomato production, improve the value chain, create jobs and attract investment into the sector, has been delayed,” Umeofia said.

    According to him, the tomato industry is still facing challenges of fake tomato paste that are being smuggled and imported into the country.

    He noted that these substandard products portend a risk to the health of unsuspecting consumers, as well as affect the viability of local producers.

    Umeofia said that the recent zeal attached to curbing the Codeine Syrup menace, should be extended to flush out fake and substandard tomato paste from the market.

    He said fake and substandard tomato paste was much more dangerous to health than the Codeine Syrup.

    “People choose to abuse Codeine consumption, but fake tomato paste consumption is ingested unknowingly by the generality of the people, and it affects both old and young.

    “As people consume fake and substandard tomato paste, they would be dying slowly, and contributing to medical bills,” he said.

    Umeofia commended the government for returning the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to the  ports.

    The industrialist urged the agency to leverage  its presence at the ports to effectively control importation of unwholesome foods and substandard goods.

    “A 2015 survey report of NAFDAC revealed that 91.1 per cent of tomato pastes circulated in the country were fake and substandard, we expect the agency’s presence at the ports to stop the entry of these products,” he said.

    Umeofia urged the relevant government agencies to collaborate on policing the ports and borders toward reducing smuggling in order to grow the nation’s industrial sector.

  • Jigawa spends N650m on fertiliser, chemicals

    The Jigawa State government has bought agriculture input worth N650 million for sale to farmers at subsidised rate during the farming season.

    The General Manager, Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO), Alhaji Mohammed Lana stated this during an interview in Dutse.

    He explained that the input included assorted fertiliser, farm chemicals, made up of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.

    According to him, N550 million was spent on the procurement of 500 metric tonnes of while N100 million was spent on 6000 litres of farm chemicals.

    Lana said the input had been kept at JASCO stores across the 27 Local Government Areas of the state for farmers to buy.

    “Each bag of NPK fertiliser costs N7,500 in the open market but the state government sells to farmers at N5,500 only, indicating a  subsidy of N2000.

    “The aim of the present administration in the state is to encourage farmers to produce more food for local commercial and commercial purposes,” he said.

  • Why we’re investing in fertiliser production, by agency

    Nigeria’s fertiliser production can rise above the current 2.22 million metric tons to 2.25 million metric tons before the end of the year. This is because of the massive investments by public and private sectors.

    While the Federal Government has given approval for six more fertiliser blending plants, under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) said its investment in production of local fertiliser has raised  volume  to  2.22 million metric tonnes.

    NSIA Managing Director  Mr. Uche Orji said the agency’s investment was to make fertiliser affordable to farmers.

    NSIA has invested more than $286.4 million in the fertiliser blending project, in partnership with Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

    Of the six fertiliser blending plants approved under the PFI, three have received approval and are receiving raw materials for the blending of the multi-nutrient NPK fertiliser.

    The others are awaiting final approval, having been allocated provisional approvals by the office of the National Security Adviser.

    When the new plants come on stream, i would bring the number of fertiliser blending plants in the country from five  in 2016 to 17.

    Speaking in Abuja, FEPSAN Executive Secretary Alhaji Rabiu Kwa said the three blending plants, which will also add  1.8 million metric tons to the industry,  would lift the country from an import-dependent nation to one that produces high quality fertiliser.

    Kwa reiterated FEPSAN commitment to working with the Federal Government to enhance agricultural productivity. He expressed optimism that PFI woud achieve food security.

    He hoped that with new blending plants, FEPSAN would likely double the volume of fertiliser produced, a development he expects will transform to savings for the government as well as provide export opportunities, especially to other West and East African countries.

    The plants that have been given final approval to join the 11 plants which include Waccot Fertiliser and Chemicals Ltd in Auchi, Edo State; Sora Ltd in Makurdi, Benue State, Citizen Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited in Kano State. Those given provisional approval are Green Technologies, Abak, Akwa Ibom State while two others which names were not provided are in Zamfara and Gombe states.

    Speaking on the sidelines of FEPSAN meeting, Managing Director, Bejafta Group Limited, operators of a blending plant in Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Jacob Gimba said the approval of new participants would help the industry grow further and place the country in pole position to support farmers to increase crop yield.

    Gimba, whose company partnered Plateau State government to revive its moribund fertiliser production company under the PFI programme, noted that the collaboration has immensely benefited the industry. “I must tell you that there has never been an initiative in the agricultural sector that has salvaged farmers like this PFI programme. It did not look like it was going to be such a huge success when we started, todaythe story is different and that is why we are seeing a lot more people and even state governments indicating interest to join the scheme,” he said.

    Also, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $100 million loan for Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited to support fertiliser production.

    It would help the company’s plans to double its fertiliser production from 1.4 million tons of urea to 2.8 million tonnes per year.

    At about 20 kilogramme(kg) fertiliser usage per hectare, on the average, Nigeria lags behind countries, such as  South Africa and Egypt that use over 100kg/hectare.

  • ASUP to embark on mechanised farming in Nasarawa

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ), Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, says it will embark on mechanised farming to boost its revenue base and the nation’s food production.

    Dr. Yusuf Husseini, the Chairman of the chapter, said this today in an interview with our reporter.

    Husseini said that the union having a farm would go a long way in improving on its revenue base and also help in enhancing the nation’s food security.

    Read Also: Kadpoly ASUP denies plot to remove Rector

    He disclosed that the union was also planning to devise other ways of showering up its revenue base in order to reduce dependence on the union members’ dues for its activities.

    “We want to have an ASUP farm because we have vast land here. We want to embark on mechanised farming by God grace for our members’ benefit,” he said.

    Husseini urged Nigerians to embrace farming in order to boost food production and grow the country’s economy, adding that no society could live comfortably without agriculture.

    He reiterated his commitment to embarking on projects and programmes that would have direct impact on the lives of the union members and students for the overall development of the institution.

  • Using agric to reduce poverty

    States are striving to boost agriculture to promote green growth and poverty reduction.These were the highlights of The Nation Agriculture and Food Summit in Abuja, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    With more than 70 per cent of its population living in rural areas, Nigeria’s economy is dependent on agriculture. But less than 30 per cent of its GrossDomestic Product (GDP) comes from the sector.

    Experts believe  the sector has the potential to increase its contribution to GDP. However, the most pressing challenge facing the nation is harnessing its agricultural resources to improve lives.

    In response, states, including Lagos, Borno, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Benue, Lagos and Bayelsa,  are launching massive programmes to boost agriculture and smallholder farmers, to drive green growth and reduce poverty. They gave  the hints at The Nation Agric, Food Summit  and Awards held last week in Abuja.

    The event was designed to highlight agribusiness potential. To them, agriculture should be at the centre of a transition to a resource-efficient green economy, galvanising support for smallholder farmers, who are an “untapped resource” in addressing food security and environmental challenges.

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said agriculture is the most important economic sector  and that the country produces various crops in different climatic zones, from dry savanna to wet forest, which run in east west bands across the country.

    He stressed that investments in sustainable smallholder agriculture must go hand-in-hand with policy and institutional reforms, investments in infrastructure and improvements in market access.

    He said there were compelling reasons to boost Nigeria’s agricultural sector. This, he said,  would  reduce reliance on imports and provide jobs to a country full of dedicated farmers.

    The Borno State Government recently unveiled its remarkable progress in many sectors. The state has registered 18,000 farmers to cultivate rice on 18,000 hectares of land in preparation for this year’s planting season. It has acquired tractors, mills, threshers, planters and harvesters.

    Under the programme, each farmer will cultivate one hectare of land.

    Shettima procured more than 10,000 farming units of irrigation materials, brought into the state in 750 containers.

    In addition, Borno is promoting drip irrigation, which allows water to be conserved at its premier centre in Maduguri.

    The advanced farming technology allows for two farming seasons and production of about 3,000 tonnes of tomato. Existing beside this is a seedling protecting centre that can produce tomato, pepper and any seedling.

    It has a capacity to produce eight million seedlings monthly, ready to plant.

    Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, said agriculture plays a key role in the state’s economic growth.

    Since the advent of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2015, Bagudu  said  rice production has been on the increase in the state.

    He said the government has focused on food security and reduction of expenses spent on importation of food stuff, which is as much as N1billion.

    As Nigeria‘s population continues to grow, thus implying more mouths that need to be fed in the future, he said the governments recently initiated partnership programmes with smallholder rice farmers to increase production through the use of new technologies and innovative financing programmes.

    He said the  country’s plan to become self-sufficient in rice has included additional investment in milling, along with the distribution of higher-yield seeds and fertiliser.

    According to him, Kebbi State has become a model and a hub in rice and wheat production and sales that attract the attention of many individuals, companies and states across the country.

    Bagudu said states have agreed to cooperate more closely to support sustainable rice production to improve food security and livelihoods.

    The partnership primarily, according to him,  aims to enhance sustainable rice farming, including assisting governments draw up and implement policies and strategies – to the benefit of small-scale farmers.

    To consolidate on the gains recorded in dry season rice farming and improve output in wet season, Bagudu said the state entered into partnership with Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and the Moroccan government to receive the supply over 300,000 tonnes of fertiliser.

    He  noted that Kebbi farmers  farm rice, wheat, sorghum and millet throughout the year.

    Apart from Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)  Anchor Borrowers Programme, he said the government is engaged in strengthening capacities of  rice sector actors through its capacity development.

    For turning Kebbi to the largest rice producing state in Nigeria, the governor was aptly appointed Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rise and Wheat Production. If the Kebbi success is replicated in other places, he  noted  that  it  was possible for Nigeria to satisfy her rice demand in three or four years; and through that process, conserve foreign exchange and create thousands of jobs.

    Importantly, replicating the Kebbi success will also help take millions of poor Nigerians out of poverty, and make thousands of farmers millionaires.

    He affirmed the government’s commitment to investing in agro-industrialisation, saying the move would create a first-line employment and investment opportunity for women as well as the youth.

    He reassured that his administration will continue to do its part to promote the competitiveness of commercially-oriented agriculture.

    At the inception of the Simon Lalong administration in 2015, the governor and his team saw the need to promote agriculture for the development of the state and its people. This it did by making agriculture one of its policy thrusts to ensure food secuirty, provide employment to the citizens of the state and leverage on the policy thrust of the All Peoples Congress (APC)-led administration.

    Lalong said the state government’s decision to engage in massive agricultural ventures through public and private sector partnership was deliberate to ensure that agriculture became the driver of a mixed sector economy for job creation and economic prosperity.

    According to him, the state is developing agricultural projects, helping farmers there adopt sustainable practices for greater food security.

    A lot of green houses have been springing up all over the state due to these efforts while improvements are being recorded in rice farming.

    With the commitment by the administration in agriculture, potato farming  received a boost which has resulted in Plateau being selected as the only state to run the national potato value chain and furtherance of its desire to encourage a robust agricultural sector, the governor created the enabling environment and sponsored the first ever farmers’ summit in the state which resulted in in far reaching resolutions.

    The investment in the agricultural sector in Plateau state has gone beyond subsistence levels to a flourishing value chain enterprise with opportunities waiting to be tapped.

    Bayelsa State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Doodei Week  said rural youth represent a large proportion of the vulnerable households.

    He  reiterated  the state’s  determination to employ agriculture in tackling youth unemployment in rural areas, therefore providing peace, stability and food security.

    Lalong was appointed as a member of the National Food Security Council (NFSC), giving Plateau a deserved recognition as an agricultural centre of excellence.

    Key speaker and former Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State,  Prof  Adebiyi Daramola, said a genuine agricultural revolution is needed to enable Nigerians  feed themselves , urging more youths to take up farming.

    Daramola said the country has  witnessed mixed results in terms of agricultural growth and food security due to poor sector leadership, erratic rainfall patterns, poor inputs distribution system and little investments.

    These mixed results ,according to him, awakened the government to the imperative to do something about agriculture.

    He  said agriculture must be transformed so that it offers young people an appealing alternative to urban life.

    According to him, channelling the energy, strength and dynamism of Nigeria’s youth into productive, competitive and profitable agribusinesses will boost agricultural production systems, create jobs and generate income.

    He said  the sector   needs to apply advanced technology and promote mechanisation in agricultural production and aquaculture.

    To develop agriculture specifically, Daramola envisions developing cold storage and food-processing facilities, and helping farmers expand markets.

    He urged farmers to change their mindsets to benefit from modern farming by using modern equipment to cultivate and irrigate crops during dry season.

    He said mechanisation improves labour and land productivity, saves time and eases work, while maintaining postharvest quality of agricultural produce to reduce losses.

    As part of measures to boost the  economy, the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) said the bank would ensure that efforts to grow the country’s agriculture sector to meet the standard set by government is not compromised.

    The BoA demonstrated leadership in agribusiness financing as being exemplified in its pivotal role in the Anchor Borrowers Programme, financing of Micro,Small and Medium agricultural enterprises in Nigeria.

    Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vege fresh, Prince Joseph Samuel, said efforts to boost domestic agribusiness capacity would allow Nigeria to capture more of the agricultural value chain incountry, thereby creating jobs and increasing wealth.

    Samuel said agricultural research and development programmes were not up to the mark.