The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • AFAN seeks support for youth farmers

    The Vice President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Osun State, Mr. Moses Oladipupo, has called on the government to support youths who venture into farming.

    Oladipupo made the call in an interview in Osogbo, the Osun State capital

    He said the majority of youths who  returned to the farm were being discouraged because of the challenges.

    “The majority of the youth that returned to farming decried the hardship they were facing in their operations.

    “Many are complaining of the old system of farming and lack of funds for their operations,’’ he said.

    Oladipupo also said genuine farmers were being short-changed in the distribution of  farm  input, urging that this should be redressed.

    “The government should give farmers and those interested in farming land, good training and  funds while extension workers should be recruited  to monitor farming operations and production.

    “If the government could provide needed tools and materials, youth farmers would have no reason to quit farming,’’ he said.

    He called on the government to encourage small-scale farmers, adding that most government policies and programmes only focus  on  commercial farmers.

    “Small scale farmers are many and their production is what is sustaining the local market while commercial farmers produce for external markets.

    “For this reason, the government should concentrate more on small-scale farmers to  boost food production that would sustain the nation,’’ he said.

     

  • Agriculture mechanisation a must, says expert

    There is a need to adopt agriculture mechanisation to enhance crop productivity to feed the growing population, Country Manager/CEO, Dizengoff Nigeria Mr. Antti Ritvonen,  has said.

    Speaking during a Farmers’ Field day held in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Ritvonen said Nigeria can feed itself, Africa and other regions of the world, provided mechanisation is combined with knowledge-based best practices in modern agriculture.

    He noted that it was difficult for agriculture to develop, if it is not industrialised and mechanised.

    He said there was the need to train farmers on modern agriculture and efficient resource management.

    The  participants were  exposed to various innovations in agricultural mechanisation and technologies. These included greenhouse technology, drip irrigation, cost effective tractors, selective weed control chemicals and battery powered sprayer and irrigators.

    Special Adviser to the Kwara State governor on Agriculture & Rural Water Support Services, Anu Ibiwoye, said agriculture was top on the state’s agenda, adding that the goal is to move the   state from subsistence food production to commercial agriculture by exploring opportunities in cashew, shea butter nuts and cassava production.

    Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Simeon Opowoye, added that manual agriculture was ineffective, expensive, intensive and extensive, making it irrelevant in the modern age of food production, industrial raw materials requirements.

    Integrated Project Country Manager, Greenhouse unit of Dizengoff, Oscar Walumbe, said: “Greenhouses help to bridge the gap between weather extremes to stabilise vegetable production.”

    He advised farmers not to produce what they like but what the market demands, saying greenhouses help farmers to use less resources but get greater higher returns on investment.

  • Don cautions against antibiotics misuse in animals

    Project Director Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II), Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, has warned against the misuse of antibiotics in livestock, saying it can also make humans resistant to drugs.

    The food and agriculture industry is relying on antibiotics to secure the supply of food and income to farmers. However, the use of antibiotics for food production has been a major driver of antibiotic resistance, which is  threatening food security.

    Adebayo explained that antibiotics residue in animals could affect humans who   eventually consume the animals.

    He said: “The situation is worsened when there is indiscriminate and incorrect use of antibiotics; each antibiotic has a period to spend in the animal before it is safe to eat by humans.When animals are sold for human consumption before it is safe to do so, the antibiotic will continue in the human blood stream. That could be dangerous.”

    He stressed the need for responsible use of antibiotics by farmers in animals to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

    According to experts, antibiotic resistance in animal is not only threatening animal health, but also affects human health.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that overuse of antibiotics in animals is contributing to growing drug resistance in humans with serious health implications.

    WHO warned that farmers must be prevented from using powerful antibiotics on animals reared for food, because of the serious risks to human health.

    New guidelines from the global body advised farmers to stop using any antibiotics routinely to promote growth and prevent disease in animals that are otherwise healthy, a common practice in some parts of the world, including Asia and the US. Such routine use is banned in Europe, though campaigners fear the rules are sometimes flouted.

    WHO reported that in some countries, as much as 80 per cent of antibiotic use is on farm animals. Even in some countries where routine use for enhancing growth is banned, more antibiotics are used on animals than on humans.

  • Ogun invests N4b in rice

    Ogun invests N4b in rice

    The Ogun State Government has invested N4billion to boost rice production.

    Agriculture Commissioner, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, made this known in a statement.

    She said the government was ready to  develop areas of high-quality rice products, using high technology.

    She said the government is focusing on researching high-quality rice varieties and rice production technical package to reduce production cost, improve rice quality, protecting the environment and ensure sustainable agricultural reforms.

    “This administration is encouraging the restoration of culture and heritage of our people, this include the production of indigenous variety ofada. Hence the government is leaving no stone unturned to promote and improve the production of ofada which has become the State’s brand.

    Moreover, other varieties, such as Nerica 8 and Faro, which are short and long grain are also being promoted. This is to ensure that economic growth plan of the Federal Government of “eating what we grow” is realised in the state.”

    The state, according to her, working with various development partners, such as World Bank through Fadama and International Fund for Agricultural Development Programne (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP),  boosted rice production.

    “This is apart from the public sector supported intervention which resulted in increasedhectarageunder cultivation. Prior to now, there was not much rice processing mills in the state.

    “Farmers had to travel long distances to access the few that deploy old equipment which hinders quality. The establishment of the processing mills in at least one in each senatorial district will ensure the easy access by farmers, ensure quality assurance and traceability of products, she added.

  • Young entrepreneurs urged to invest in agric

    The Chief Executive Officer, Davichi Farm Tech, David Echegwisi, has challenged young entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture to boost employment generation and meet the growing food gap.

    Echegwisi spoke at the Farmfest 3.0 organised by the company at Inspire Centre in Simawa, Ogun State.

    The event brought together farmers, women groups, cooperative societies, corporate bodies, students, school owners, and agriculture enthusiasts among others.

    He called for increased investment in agribusiness to tackle unemployment.

    According to him, industrialists, including Aliko Dangote, Maduka Cosmas, and Oba Otudeko, are into agriculture because they saw huge potential in the sector.

    He challenged unemployed youths to explore agriculture as there were fewer white collar jobs.

     

  • Cashew body demands more EPZs to boost food production

    The  National Cashew Association of Nigeria(NCAN) National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sotonye Anga, has canvassed  increased spread of Export Processing Zones to replicate the impacts the initiative has had in states they have been situated.

    According to him, the EPZs have attracted so much in collective capital investments as tax holidays to make it more attractive to investors seeking to carry out high capital ventures.

    He explained that EPZ model was the softest landing for those coming to invest in the country because most of the processes are arranged and many other incentives exists.

    He encouraged creation of a favourable policy environment for innovation and enabling conditions for agric entrepreneurship, and a focus on building infrastructure, including roads, and electricity.

    He explained that a blend of efforts are needed to produce tangible economic result, including modern infrastructure development, seamless access to energy, market access for food products and increased foreign direct investment can play a catalytic role in fostering industrialisation.

    According to him, EPZs will help in creating demand for farmers produce, better remuneration, increasing level of processing and value addition, reducing wastage and creating opportunities and benefitting many farmers and youths.

    He stressed the need   for the development of an integrated logistics sector, adding that high logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Nigerian goods, both in the domestic as well as the export market.

    According to him, the development of logistics would give a boost to both the domestic and the external demand, thereby encouraging manufacturing and job creation. This will, in turn, be instrumental in improving the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), he added.

     

  • NABG seeks private lab accreditation

    The President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Alhaji Sani Dangote, has urged the government  to  encourage accreditation of private  laboratories  to allow Nigeria to export tested foods .

    He said Nigeria has a limited number of food laboratories.

    Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Dangote said the accreditation  became necessary in view of the fact that the few ones established by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) could not cover the volume of food  produced  across the country.

    He said accreditation of other food testing facilities would  assist the industry to certify foods for sale in the local and export markets.

    He said the development of the   National Quality Infrastructure was important and the accreditation of more  food testing labs vital to the economy.

    He pointed out that with such accreditation, goods tested for export at private labs will not be withheld in the ports of other countries to be rechecked. Usually, when goods are held in the ports of the importing country, there is a decrease in the confidence of potential buyers and time is wasted.

    He noted that with less process of exporting foods, the country can look forward to earning more foreign exchange.

    According to the industrialist if standards are maintained and adhered to, fake and sub-standard products would definitely go out of circulation and would pave way for the nation’s agro-allied and local industries to thrive, arguing that SON owed it a duty to facilitate the development and accreditation of private laboratories across the country for the use of small and medium scale enterprises.

    According to him, the benefits of having such internationally accredited labs are numerous and cannot be ignored if Nigeria must take its pride of place in the global market. For one, local products will  be standardised and certified, thereby reducing substantially the preponderance of fake and substandard goods. Besides, access to certification will also drive down costs based on the fact that Nigerian officials will no longer need to travel abroad to get samples of products tested.

    The reduction in the cost and, indeed, the time taken for certification will be reflected in the economy through a reduction in the prices of goods and services. Cost of output will drastically reduce for the manufacturers through the SON’s intervention.

    He said the private sector has the capacity to promote growth in agriculture with the Federal Government create the enabling environment.

  • World Bank programme boosts agribusiness

    World Bank programme boosts agribusiness

    The Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) is helping to achieve the World Bank’s twin goals of ending poverty and boosting prosperity by creating new agric entrepreneurs. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Nurudeen Adekunle, a Physiology Graduate, has been searching for jobs without any success until he saw the advert of the Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) announcing opportunities in agri-business for graduates.

    The World Bank-Assisted-CADP is aimed at strengthening agricultural production systems and facilitating access to market for participating small and medium scale commercial farmers. It supports the commercialisation of agriculture production, processing and marketing output among small and media-scale commercial farmers and agro-processors.

    Adekunle applied and got the job. He was trained on poultry business.

    At the end of the training, he was given a starter pack which include cage (for the birds), feeds, generating set, crates to pick the eggs, shovels, and wheel barrows.

    Today, his farm is a small scale success story. Adekunle said the poultry business has transformed his life. He makes a lot of money from selling eggs and mature birds. He supplies chicken to individuals, supermarkets and hotels. Not only has he been able to find a sustainable means of livelihood, he has now money to take care of his parents.

    According to him, “the CADP initiative is very commendable which focus is to create employment and encourage participation in agriculture. I must commend the Lagos State government and the World Bank for this”.

    Another beneficiary is Miss Ronke Parker, a science graduate. She knew about the project from a newspaper. She picked the form, filled it and was selected. He received training in fish farming.

    She had one month training at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos. She was awarded a certificate on completion of the training. Thereafter, she registered a company.

    The initial cost was N2.5 million. But amount was not given to her in cash. Instead, she received equipment.

    According to her, CADP provided her all the equipment, fish input and quality fish feed.

    She also got automatic fish grader (sorting machine). Several service providers came to her, providing everything she needed for the business. Today, she  has set up a fish farming business.

    Miss Parker said CADP trained her on agric business.

    One difference the programme has made among fish farmers is  ending the era of traditional method of fish-smoking that sees women spending many hours tending to fish laid out on mesh over smoking coals. That is changing with the introduction of smoking kilns. The technology also helped Miss Parker   to save time.

    Before farmers spend about two days drying and smoking the fish. Now, it takes about seven hours to finish it. With CADP, her dreams are becoming a reality. She expressed gratitude to the state government and those handling the project.

    Najeem Olalekan Gbadamosi is elated at the opportunity given to him by the government. A technical school product where he studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering, he is into Aquaculture value chain under the scheme.

    “I got information about the project from a newspaper and a Television programme on LTV (Lagos Television). I got the form, filled it and I was selected. I had one month training at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos. I was awarded a certificate on completion of the training. Thereafter, I registered a company- Starworld Integrated Farm Nigeria Enterprises- with the CAC and opened accounts (current and savings) with Fidelity Bank. Over 50 service providers came to me; they provided everything I needed for the business according to my proposal.” Gbadamosi said.

    The indigene of Lagos from Agege said he has completed first phase of his business and ploughed back the profit into the second phase.

    “The total initial cost outlay was N2.35million. But it was not given to me in cash. It was given to me in the form of input into the business. All the things I needed, they provided, which covered the running cost. For instance, at inception, I was provided with borehole, generating sets, petrol, fish, feeds, etc. I started with 1,500 fish today it is about 10,000,” he said.

    According to him, “the important thing is that I enjoy what am doing. Naturally, I like agriculture. It was my father that insisted I should study Electrical Engineering because of his own background. I do not regret it though, because I am using the experience in my farm. I do all the electrical and technical work by myself; so, it is good for me.”

    So far, most of his clients are home owners. He believes he is on the right track and does not waiver in his determination to succeed. While fish farming remains a largely untapped market with a few incentives, he has decided to be a trendsetter and beat his own path in the industry.

    He was excited about the project, adding that they were well- equipped and capable of achieving great milestones while scaling their impact.

    Mrs. Funmi Ayoola , a Marketing  graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, based in Opesa, Iyana Ipaya,  is one fish farmer whose story inspires. She, like her peers, had looked forward to secure a white collar job. She left with no regular source of income for some years.

    Mrs.  Ayoola, a middle age woman , started fish farming business  after she learned about the Commercial Agric Development Project’s call for expression of interest from  an announcement  on  Radio Lagos. She  applied and was  selected for  aquaculture. She was shot listed for training. After the training, Mrs.  Ayoola was supported with seed grants that helped her set up a farm.

    She was  set up with two collapsible tanks. Other items put in place for a successful and smooth running of the fish production by CADP at her farm include borehole system, generator set, feeds among others.

    “I have benefited greatly from CADP. We got collapsible tanks which reduce stress of mobility. “If I decide to change location today, my business would still continue because all I have to do is find a way of moving my fish and my collapsible fish pond. The collapsible fish pond is an improved fish rearing pond system.

    ‘‘I’m not even thinking about job search again.  Mrs. Ayoola said that the entire exercise was transparent and very professionally done,’’ she said.

    She is earning something from the business. This has not only made her feel self-assured, but also more accepted by her community.

    With a secure source of income, she now knows that she can feed her family, send her children to school, and sustain her livelihood. She feels empowered.

    For Olamielekan Otun, a beneficiary of poultry, life could not have been better. An agriculture graduate of University of Maidugari, Borno State, Lekan, Chief Executive, Freash Eggs Farms, a poultry processor,based in Alapado, Lagos learned about the in the newspapers. He picked the form at CADP office in Oko Oba, Agege. After completing the form with necessary documents attached, he  was shot listed and sent among other lucky individuals for a training at Epe.

    “My experience since then has been a wonderful one. “It has not only been a rewarding experience, I am continuously learning every day,” he said. From the  proceeds of the business, he is able to feed his  family and am hoping that the future will be brighter as he get more customers to  buy  his processed children.

    The CADP has changed the story of people  such as Lekan. It is the first of such that will empower qualified individuals with seed grants, giving agriculture entrepreneurs 100 percent of what they require to start their agro ventures. Although the project is aimed at helping participating small and medium scale commercial farmers to access improved technology, infrastructure, finance and output markets, the women and youth empowerment segment of post restructuring has proved to be a huge success.

    Apart from the poultry business, he also keeps pigs. According to him, the pigs take a short time to mature while they also breed rapidly.

    He advised the youth not to shun farming as demand for food is always rising, which means ready market. He appealed to the government to continue with the project to support youth entrepreneurship. This is the story among all the CADP Women and Youth Empowerment Programme beneficiaries.

    The seed grant has helped in setting them on the path of success as many of them are now smiling to the banks with proceeds from the CADP investment in their lives.

    CADP Project Coordinator Mr. Gbenga Ogunyinka said 45 aquaculture production beneficiaries received input support ranging from collapsible tanks, boreholes, scaffolds and tanks, juvenile fishes, weighing scales, feeds and generators, among others.

    He said 33 aquaculture processing beneficiaries were supported with smoking kilns, table size fish, packing materials, shed, charcoal, sealing machines and freezers.

    Apart from introducing fish farmers to new techniques supported by the World Bank, Ogunyinka said some of them have forayed into the international market.

    According to him, branded smoked fish produced by fish farmers in the state are sold abroad.

    In Lagos, according to findings, the project supported the rehabilitation of 16 farm access roads of 34.9 kilometres across the state, among other achievements.

  • World Bank programme boosts agribusiness

    World Bank programme boosts agribusiness

    The Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) is helping to achieve the World Bank’s twin goals of ending poverty and boosting prosperity by creating new agric entrepreneurs. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Nurudeen Adekunle, a Physiology Graduate, has been searching for jobs without any success until he saw the advert of the Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) announcing opportunities in agri-business for graduates.

    The World Bank-Assisted-CADP is aimed at strengthening agricultural production systems and facilitating access to market for participating small and medium scale commercial farmers. It supports the commercialisation of agriculture production, processing and marketing output among small and media-scale commercial farmers and agro-processors.

    Adekunle applied and got the job. He was trained on poultry business.

    At the end of the training, he was given a starter pack which include cage (for the birds), feeds, generating set, crates to pick the eggs, shovels, and wheel barrows.

    Today, his farm is a small scale success story. Adekunle said the poultry business has transformed his life. He makes a lot of money from selling eggs and mature birds. He supplies chicken to individuals, supermarkets and hotels. Not only has he been able to find a sustainable means of livelihood, he has now money to take care of his parents.

    According to him, “the CADP initiative is very commendable which focus is to create employment and encourage participation in agriculture. I must commend the Lagos State government and the World Bank for this”.

    Another beneficiary is Miss Ronke Parker, a science graduate. She knew about the project from a newspaper. She picked the form, filled it and was selected. He received training in fish farming.

    She had one month training at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos. She was awarded a certificate on completion of the training. Thereafter, she registered a company.

    The initial cost was N2.5 million. But amount was not given to her in cash. Instead, she received equipment.

    According to her, CADP provided her all the equipment, fish input and quality fish feed.

    She also got automatic fish grader (sorting machine). Several service providers came to her, providing everything she needed for the business. Today, she  has set up a fish farming business.

    Miss Parker said CADP trained her on agric business.

    One difference the programme has made among fish farmers is  ending the era of traditional method of fish-smoking that sees women spending many hours tending to fish laid out on mesh over smoking coals. That is changing with the introduction of smoking kilns. The technology also helped Miss Parker   to save time.

    Before farmers spend about two days drying and smoking the fish. Now, it takes about seven hours to finish it. With CADP, her dreams are becoming a reality. She expressed gratitude to the state government and those handling the project.

    Najeem Olalekan Gbadamosi is elated at the opportunity given to him by the government. A technical school product where he studied Electrical/Electronics Engineering, he is into Aquaculture value chain under the scheme.

    “I got information about the project from a newspaper and a Television programme on LTV (Lagos Television). I got the form, filled it and I was selected. I had one month training at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos. I was awarded a certificate on completion of the training. Thereafter, I registered a company- Starworld Integrated Farm Nigeria Enterprises- with the CAC and opened accounts (current and savings) with Fidelity Bank. Over 50 service providers came to me; they provided everything I needed for the business according to my proposal.” Gbadamosi said.

    The indigene of Lagos from Agege said he has completed first phase of his business and ploughed back the profit into the second phase.

    “The total initial cost outlay was N2.35million. But it was not given to me in cash. It was given to me in the form of input into the business. All the things I needed, they provided, which covered the running cost. For instance, at inception, I was provided with borehole, generating sets, petrol, fish, feeds, etc. I started with 1,500 fish today it is about 10,000,” he said.

    According to him, “the important thing is that I enjoy what am doing. Naturally, I like agriculture. It was my father that insisted I should study Electrical Engineering because of his own background. I do not regret it though, because I am using the experience in my farm. I do all the electrical and technical work by myself; so, it is good for me.”

    So far, most of his clients are home owners. He believes he is on the right track and does not waiver in his determination to succeed. While fish farming remains a largely untapped market with a few incentives, he has decided to be a trendsetter and beat his own path in the industry.

    He was excited about the project, adding that they were well- equipped and capable of achieving great milestones while scaling their impact.

    Mrs. Funmi Ayoola , a Marketing  graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, based in Opesa, Iyana Ipaya,  is one fish farmer whose story inspires. She, like her peers, had looked forward to secure a white collar job. She left with no regular source of income for some years.

    Mrs.  Ayoola, a middle age woman , started fish farming business  after she learned about the Commercial Agric Development Project’s call for expression of interest from  an announcement  on  Radio Lagos. She  applied and was  selected for  aquaculture. She was shot listed for training. After the training, Mrs.  Ayoola was supported with seed grants that helped her set up a farm.

    She was  set up with two collapsible tanks. Other items put in place for a successful and smooth running of the fish production by CADP at her farm include borehole system, generator set, feeds among others.

    “I have benefited greatly from CADP. We got collapsible tanks which reduce stress of mobility. “If I decide to change location today, my business would still continue because all I have to do is find a way of moving my fish and my collapsible fish pond. The collapsible fish pond is an improved fish rearing pond system.

    ‘‘I’m not even thinking about job search again.  Mrs. Ayoola said that the entire exercise was transparent and very professionally done,’’ she said.

    She is earning something from the business. This has not only made her feel self-assured, but also more accepted by her community.

    With a secure source of income, she now knows that she can feed her family, send her children to school, and sustain her livelihood. She feels empowered.

    For Olamielekan Otun, a beneficiary of poultry, life could not have been better. An agriculture graduate of University of Maidugari, Borno State, Lekan, Chief Executive, Freash Eggs Farms, a poultry processor,based in Alapado, Lagos learned about the in the newspapers. He picked the form at CADP office in Oko Oba, Agege. After completing the form with necessary documents attached, he  was shot listed and sent among other lucky individuals for a training at Epe.

    “My experience since then has been a wonderful one. “It has not only been a rewarding experience, I am continuously learning every day,” he said. From the  proceeds of the business, he is able to feed his  family and am hoping that the future will be brighter as he get more customers to  buy  his processed children.

    The CADP has changed the story of people  such as Lekan. It is the first of such that will empower qualified individuals with seed grants, giving agriculture entrepreneurs 100 percent of what they require to start their agro ventures. Although the project is aimed at helping participating small and medium scale commercial farmers to access improved technology, infrastructure, finance and output markets, the women and youth empowerment segment of post restructuring has proved to be a huge success.

    Apart from the poultry business, he also keeps pigs. According to him, the pigs take a short time to mature while they also breed rapidly.

    He advised the youth not to shun farming as demand for food is always rising, which means ready market. He appealed to the government to continue with the project to support youth entrepreneurship. This is the story among all the CADP Women and Youth Empowerment Programme beneficiaries.

    The seed grant has helped in setting them on the path of success as many of them are now smiling to the banks with proceeds from the CADP investment in their lives.

    CADP Project Coordinator Mr. Gbenga Ogunyinka said 45 aquaculture production beneficiaries received input support ranging from collapsible tanks, boreholes, scaffolds and tanks, juvenile fishes, weighing scales, feeds and generators, among others.

    He said 33 aquaculture processing beneficiaries were supported with smoking kilns, table size fish, packing materials, shed, charcoal, sealing machines and freezers.

    Apart from introducing fish farmers to new techniques supported by the World Bank, Ogunyinka said some of them have forayed into the international market.

    According to him, branded smoked fish produced by fish farmers in the state are sold abroad.

    In Lagos, according to findings, the project supported the rehabilitation of 16 farm access roads of 34.9 kilometres across the state, among other achievements.

  • Exploring employment and business opportunities in agric

    Agbelowo Cooperative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Limited (ACAMSL) has organised a business opportunities seminar in Ikeja, Lagos. The focus is to explore how Nigerians can secure their livelihoods through agricultural enterprises. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The global unemployment rate will increase to 5.8 percent representing 3.4 million people. The 3.4 million will bring the total global unemployment to 201.1 million people, according to the World Employment and Social Outlook-Trends 2017 report recently released by the International Labor Organization. This gloomy picture is attributed to the weak economic growth.

    However, expert believes the future is in Agriculture. For this reason, Agbelowo Cooperative Agricultural Multipurpose Society Limited (ACAMSL) held its seminar in Ikeja, Lagos to sensitise Nigerians on the challenges and the opportunities in the sector and had as its theme, ‘Understanding the Agricultural Value Chain.’

    President of ACAMSL, Mr Dele Owolowo said t agriculture is a key factor in making economic growth inclusive and in reducing poverty incidence in the country, stressing the need to pursue large-scale activities in the agribusiness sector . He said Nigeria despite dubbed as “the land of promise” and a“food basket has not maximized agricultural potential despite its rich biodiversity, conducive climate and fertile soil.

    According to him ,the projection for the agribusiness sector was positive in the long term given the country’s potential and the readiness of the private sector to invest in foo d production, although backyard farming and infrastructure problems continue to hamper growth of the sector which remains “uncompetitive.”

    He blamed the situation on lack of mechanised agriculture and poor funding of farmers by banks on the dearth of research, agric engineers and economists.

    He also lamented poor power supply as a factor that has killed agro-allied industries in the country as it has raised the cost of production.

    Owolowo said the ACAMSL was partnering with other cooperatives even though his organisation has preference for soybeans.

    In his keynote presentation, Mr Olubusola Falola of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR&T), Ibadan called for the re-establishment of marketing boards by the government to buy up excess produce from farmers, urging corporate bodies to step in where government fails.

    Mr Falola who educated the cooperative members on the production of soybeans stated that the IAR&T has a seeds store where farmers could access good and viable seeds for better productivity.

    In his presentation, Mr Chiaka Ikechukwu of LAPO Microfinance Bank revealed that the bank works with over 38,000 farmers across 32 states in the country.

    He stated that the bank offers farmers loans at a 5 per cent monthly reducing balance interest rate.

    Team Leader, Peters Poultry Town, Mr Yomi Omosanya revealed that his organisation, is a cashless community of farmers and operators in the agriculture value chain, adding that they have developed a Poultry Caring House, a poultry management software.

    He added that the organisation produces 25 million eggs per day, which represents 17.6 per cent of daily egg requirements for Nigeria’s South-West region.

    The President, Cornerstone Cooperative Society, Mr Kayode Adeyeye called for solutions to problems with land ownership and rentage such as land grabbers.

    He advised farmers to study the type of loans and banks they need before applying for such loans.

    In his presentation, Mr Chiaka Ikechukwu of LAPO Microfinance Bank revealed that the bank works with over 38,000 farmers across 32 states in the country.

    He stated that the bank offers farmers loans at a 5 per cent monthly reducing balance interest rate.

    Team Leader, Peters Poultry Town, Mr Yomi Omosanya revealed that his organisation, is a cashless community of farmers and operators in the agriculture value chain, adding that they have developed a Poultry Caring House, a poultry management software.

    He added that the organisation produces 25 million eggs per day, which represents 17.6 per cent of daily egg requirements for Nigeria’s South-West region.

    The President, Cornerstone Cooperative Society, Mr Kayode Adeyeye called for solutions to problems with land ownership and rentage such as land grabbers.

    He advised farmers to study the type of loans and banks they need before applying for such loans.