The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Prospects in hybrid crops

    Prospects in hybrid crops

    The increasing revenue from hybrid crops, such as watermelon, is attracting young entrepreneurs to farming. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Jasper Chidera Ezirim is a graduate of economics. He had his career plan mapped out. After school, he went into international trade. Like many youngsters, he had little interest in farming. He wanted to go into a lucrative industry. In places like Owerri, the Imo State capital, where the population prefers trading, lack of suitable and affordable technologies and inadequate financial services for small-scale farmers lead to low agricultural productivity. This makes the sector unattractive to youngsters.

    Along the line, his business failed and he was jobless for some time. To keep himself busy, he decided to plant cucumber on a small piece of land around his house. The harvest within three months was amazing. He realised that profitable farming could be the answer to unemployment as it provides year-round income. Ezirim started his agribusiness formally in 2011. He is now growing watermelon and cucumber in Owerri.

    He earns up to N250,000 in three months from one acre of watermelon, as demand for the vegetable keeps rising. He also grows cucumber, which earns him between N150,000 and 250,000 in gross incomes  in three months. This is far higher than what other crops will fetch him. He is full of joy whenever he harvests his watermelon because his hybrid variety helps him to get more tonnes per acre. Besides, it is bigger and weighs heavily on scales.Today, he is a successful watermelon farmer and business owner. He chose farming over white-collar job, because he realised farmers could earn a good income. He is following in the footsteps of his parents, who were also farmers.

    From the returns he has recorded so far, cucumber is one crop every young farmer should cultivate to make more money, while avoiding competition with other vegetable dealers. This is because the demand for cucumber and watermelon is high in urban areas as Nigerians with health interest   believe the crops possess incredible nutritional benefits.

    Unlike other crops that are fortified with nutritional elements to boost the fight against malnutrition, cucumber and watermelon have a major advantage of containing many nutrients that it does not need to be fortified. This makes it a more cost-effective option, not to mention a healthier one.

    Experts said regular consumption of cucumber helps to keep the skin well-toned, regulates blood pressure and contributes to the proper structure of connective tissues in the body, including those in the muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, while watermelon, described as one of the most powerful, body-healing fruit, has the  capability to boost immune support, speed wound healing and prevent cell damage.

    With these crops, he said a farm venture can produce over 300 per cent Return on Investment (RoI) annually. The major problem, according to him, is not doing it well, because one can use minimum input to get maximum output.

    He said that, from his experience, making millions as a farmer is easy and can be done in a short time, stressing that all that is needed is, at least, a hectare of land and any of the good vegetables.

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive of Fastlane Farms, Jerry Obamwonyi, is one of the young people who has joined the bandwagon. His farm is in Edo State.

    Before he embarked on watermelon farming, he surveyed growing areas. What he saw convinced him that the returns from the crop would be better. He said his earnings from the first yields of the crop were impressive. Today, he is happy to concentrate on the crop that has helped to transform his life. Obamwonyi said: “Watermelon agribusiness can be very lucrative within a short period of time. One can start off with as little as between N30,000 to N60,000 and be sure to make between N300,000  – N700,000 or more from an hectare.

    “Whoever wants to generate quick wealth from producing watermelon should try getting the knowledge or training from an experienced farmer who’s into the business.”

    He saw other farmers growing crops and did not understand why they don’t grow such crops. He has been able to produce watermelon without using any crude implement like cutlass or hoe, from planting to harvesting. He utilises chemicals even during weeding.

    It takes him approximately 70 to 90 days for planting and harvesting watermelon, depending on the viability of the hybrid seeds used.

    His common  watermelon varieties include sugar baby, sangria, jubilee and orangeglo and golden midget. They are available in most local agro-related shops nationwide. And the price depends on location. The price may have gone up with inflation. Generally, 500grs hybrid watermelon seeds for planting cost between M4,000 and N7,000. For him, the most critical part of the agribusiness is caring for watermelon. This involves getting rid of weeds with pesticides, insecticides and deploying fertiliser.

    This is vital since these things must be given at various developmental stages in the 70 to 90 days production cycle.

    He said the treatments, including fertilizers and insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides must be given not only to prevent or control pests and diseases but to also enhance foliar growth to boost production.

    The other young farmer making money from farming is Chief Executive, Natural Nutrient Limited, Adeniyi Sola Bunmi. Based in Ogun State, Adeniyi said the influx of young professionals into farming and agribusiness has begun to change a long-held view of agriculture as the nation’s most impoverished and antiquated sector. He is at the forefront of profitable farming systems, giving farmers the tools they need to thrive.

    He has established a business from Morin-ga and is making money processing its roots, leaves, seeds, oil, and flowers, after undergone training.

    After processing in his factory, the various products are supplied to buyers and distributors in and outside the country. He has a successful business supplying Moringa products.

    According to him, young farmers are now involved in the cultivation of vegetable crops, such as  tomato, chilli, onion,  cowpea, green peas and other leafy vegetables with increased yields.

    He highlighted the critical role of new plant varieties and high quality seeds in sustainable agriculture.

    According to him, research institutes are working on the development of better varieties/hybrids and technologies. The varieties, he  explained, are resistant to multiple diseases and pests, give higher yield and better quality produce suitable for long distance markets and for export.

    He said his organisation was promoting an initiative to steer young people towards agriculture with quick returns.

    Adeniji said agriculture and agro-industry were the nation’s fastest-growing sector. His goal is to change the perception among youths that farming is for the poor.

    Chief Executive, Agro Info Tech, Mr Oluwa Ayo Okediji, believes young people are not attracted to agriculture because there have not been many farming success stories.

    He said youths exploring opportunities in the agricultural sector face a number of challenges which include access to land, finance and markets.

    Okediji said although access to land is fundamental to starting a farm, it is difficult for young people to access land. To change the situation, he said the sector needed policies that encourage access to land, credit and finance for youths.

    This, according to him, may entice more youths to agriculture and contribute to the economy and food security.

  • ‘ Farmers need technology to improve agriculture’

    Use  of machinery has become more important in agriculture as labour costs continue to rise, National Sales Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr Kunle Dabiri has said.

    Dabiri said Dizengoff Nigeria has made  vegetable and crop production easier with the use of modern and affordable farm equipment, kits and improved varieties of seeds and seedlings.

    Dabiri spoke during a field demonstration exercise conducted for corporate and individual farmers on the usage of tractors; drip irrigation systems and greenhouses for fruits and vegetable production in Ibadan, recently.

    Greenhouse kits, he said, could be used to produce exotic tomatoes all-year round even in the bacteria-infested areas of the Southwest Nigeria.

    Dizengoff also demonstrated to farmers  how tractors are used for ploughing, harrowing and ridging; explaining that mechanisation of crop production was the only sustainable way to increasing production, productivity, more profit and a means of reducing poverty among farmers.

    Demonstrating the use of mini-drip irrigation kits to the participants, Supervisory Agronomist, Mr Friday Ali, said the kits were in different capacities and sizes, ranging from half a plot to one hectare of land.

    The drip irrigation system, he added, could be used to produce annual crops, vegetables, and short-cycled crops in the dry season, ensuring more profit.

    Tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, maize, potatoes, groundnuts, different vegetables and a host of other crops could be planted between November and May with the use of mini drip irrigation kits.

    He also emphasised the use of soluble fertiliser that could be used in boosting production. The soluble fertiliser, he said, is applied through the drip irrigation system and it goes directly to the root of the plant, in a method known as fertigation, thereby avoiding back-breaking application methods and high labour cost associated with granulated type of fertiliser. This type of fertiliser is used with knapsack-sprayers too, he said, adding that the cost of fertiliser is reduced by over 60 per cent with the use of soluble type.

    The source of water for the drip irrigation kits could be wells, boreholes or streams, Dizengoff said, and that the kits are easily assembled and dismantled even by laymen.

    In the southern part of the country where bacterial wilt is rampant and responsible for poor performance of tomatoes, greenhouses and their accompanying improved seeds are ways of ensuring sustainable tomato production.

    Dizengoff said sporadic scarcity of all types of tomatoes and pepper could be eradicated with the massive use of greenhouses, urging the corporate bodies, the government, farmers’ groups and individuals to explore opportunities in the application of modern kits for profitable business in vegetable production.

    Commercial Manager, Tractor & Implements, Mr Damisa Enahoro, said the demonstration was to tell Nigerians that farming is no longer as stressful as it was, saying youth unemployment could be drastically reduced in the country if simple and affordable technologies were deployed to food production.

    Enahoro urged farmers to group and pool resources together, buy tractors, greenhouses, and other modern agricultural tools and experience a turnaround in their productivity and financial power.

    On finding a market for exotic vegetables from greenhouses as a concern expressed by farmers, Dabiri said hotels, eateries, boarding schools and well-to-do Nigerians prefer exotic fruits and vegetables, hence ensuring a sustainable market.

  • How safe is that meat?

    How safe is that meat?

    The beef processing industry is important to the economy. A forum has highlighted the need for beef system that would create more value for farmers and consumers, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Abattoirs are important to the economy. They ensure that the population have access to processed whole- some meat. But what they offer have direct health implications on the population. Nationwide, consumers have expressed misgivings over their poor sanitary conditions. This is compounded by the unhygienic approach in preparing the meats. According to consumers, operators are not following safety rules enough, with the biggest  challenge coming from butchers, who process meats on slaughter slabs located in barracks and other places outside the watch of the government.

    Addressing a workshop on food safety in the  meat industry with the theme: “Meat Quality and Safety in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future”, the President, Animal Science Association of Nigeria(ASAN), Pastor Taiwo Adeoye, said the meat industry is far from desirable and below minimum global best practices, majorly because the industry lacks proper monitoring and control by professionals.

    He said: “The poor handling of meat at slaughter houses (abattoirs) in Nigeria attests to lack of adherence to minimum operating procedures and standards, even as the movement of meats and meat products from the slaughter houses enroute market/stores without adherence to safety guidelines are clear food safety threats to unsuspecting consumers.”

    Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) President, Prof Folorunso Adu, lamented the unwholesome practices going on in many of the abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the country.

    He said: “It is on record that Lagos State government recently closed many unlicensed and illegal abattoirs and slaughter slabs that are not in compliance with the relevant laws governing meat slaughtering in the state.

    “ Many states in the country are also guilty of this offence. Pre-slaughter care of animals without consideration for their welfare and post–slaughter handling are subjects of concern to animal scientist in the country. In this regard, livestock farmers need to be educated on the effects of handling and transportation of animals on meat quality. “

    He commended the plan of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) to partner the Nigeria Railways to begin transportation of cattle from Kano to Lagos. This type of intervention, he noted, would minimise transportation stress, thereby, improving the quality of beef produced.

    The Managing Director, Master Meats, Deon Johamm Conradie, observed that Nigeria is a place where people buy their meat from poorly maintained open-air markets. But he wants that to change with his company’s chain of over-the-counter butchers.

    According to him, his company  operates a standard  beef processing  outfit with  a farm and a processing unit, saying that  the business has acquired loading bays, cold rooms and freezer storages and a training facility.

    Also, the company has trained competent people in specific skills, providing opportunities for employees to move up the ranks.

    The training opportunities, he added, is supported by continuous enforcement and training in hygiene and other vital health and safety practices.

    Conradie explained that running a beef processing  business requires  the implementation of the strictest quality standards and safety regulations.

    He  added that food-processing companies needed to trace batches throughout the production process. This not only optimises efficiency, cost-effectiveness and client satisfaction, but also helps ensure public safety.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Suarau Isiaka Oluwatoyin  said  the state is tightening food safety and hygiene control in the slaughterhouses to ensure safety of meat  for consumption.

    Oluwatoyin, who spoke through Director of Veterinary Services, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr  Olalekan Allison said most slaughter houses and packing plants have  on-site inspectors.

    He said Lagos has one approved abattoir, eight approved slaughter slabs and more than 15 illegal slaughtering slabs including slaughtering facilities located within the military barracks.

    Daily, he said over 6000 cattle, 10,000 sheep and goats are slaughtered.

    The chaotic situation has caused serious problems related to food hygiene and safety.

    He said small slaughter houses were scattered among the residential areas and often failed to meet food hygiene and safety requirements.

    Besides this, wastewater from these slaughterhouses also pollutes the environment, affecting the living conditions of surrounding households.

    Despite having investing modern slaughterhouses, he  said the state is still struggling to compete with illegal abattoirs.

    Oluwatoyin said Oko-Oba has to take advantage of market trends in order to remain competitive. The  latest plan, according to him,  is to build  biogas to power its facilities  and assist efficient waste recycling and environmental practices.

    Consequently, new abattoirs may have biogas producing facilities to be  able to disseminate cheap and relatively clean energy. This is expected to improve waste management at the  abattoir.

    He  highlighted the challenge of managing waste, stressed that the government is taking steps to improve sanitary control in slaughtering, processing and commercialisation of meat at Oko Oba Abattoir in Agege to prevent food safety risks.

    The Secretary, Lagos State Butchers Stakeholders Forum, Alhaji Aminu Tanko Sadig noted that abattoirs are an important part of the economy and would  need to be supported in order to maintain and improve their efficiency.

    According to him, abattoirs need to keep up with evolving demand and capacity to change.

    To achieve this, he  said the  operators required  the support of the  government and other actors  across  the value chain  to maintain   quality management from farm to fork food production chain, including  farms, holdings, slaughterhouses, laboratories among  others.

    Sadiq said running slaughter housing facilities require large quantities of water.

    The Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the workshop, Prof Samuel Sola Abiola noted: “ The rise in demand for meat and meat products in Nigeria is mainly due to the high rate of urbanisation and proliferation of fast food restaurants with over 800 outlets. However, many consumers want healthier meat from slaughter houses.”

    “ At the moment, some industrial meat companies are now segmenting the market, selling frozen meat packaged in individual portions. The question that is now agitating the mind of an average consumer is how safe is the meat we eat in Nigeria?”

  • Tambuwal to Bill Gates: Come partner with us

    Tambuwal to Bill Gates: Come partner with us

    Sokoto state government has sought for a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of agriculture and related sectors in the state.

    “We appreciate your efforts in improving healthcare delivery in Sokoto state in particular in Nigeria as a whole. I want to inform that the potential agricultural sector holds in Sokoto is enormous. We seek partnership with you to modernise the sector and improve the earnings of our farmers,” the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said during a video conference with Mr. Gates to assess the progress of Routine Immunisation in Sokoto.

    The immunisation programme is funded by the Gates, Dangote Foundation and the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID).

    According to Tambuwal, with more than 85 percent of Sokoto’s population engaged in one form of agricultural activity or another, the partnership will create value for all parties and ensure rapid development of local farmers in the state.

    Agricultural development is one of the largest initiatives of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To date, the Foundation has committed more than US$2 billion to agric development efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

    In June this year, Gates launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in sub-Saharan Africa by giving them 100,000 chickens.

    According to him, raising and selling the birds can be efficient to tackle extreme poverty.

    Speaking on efforts to boost immunisation in Sokoto, Tambuwal assured the development partners that Sokoto government will meet its funding obligation, while a new data centre will be opened in the state ministry of health to ease collection and processing of data for proper planning.

     

     

     

  • ‘Research can boost poultry, animal production’

    For poultry and animal production to be viable, they must be research-driven, an expert, Dr Olugbenga Ogunwole has said.

    Ogunwole of the Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, spoke  during a a workshop by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Ibadan.

    The poultry sector, he said, is one of the sustainable and decent employers of labour in Nigeria, and has a predictable and high return on investment across the value chain of breeding, production, feeding production and supply chains.

    Ogunwole, however, said challenges of the poultry production sector, such as vagaries of weather, poor elasticity of production, high cost of poultry feeds and vaccination, poor production efficiency, sub-standard inputs and activities of quacks parading themselves as professionals, among others, had encumbered the growth of the sector and hence the economy.

    On how the sector could boost the economy, especially in hard times, Ogunwole said affordable labour, high demand for eggs, poults and increasing demand for cheaper sources of protein as the population increases and urban dwellers surges were factors energising the poultry industry to contribute to the local production, processing and utilisation of the products.

    As the way forward, he suggested a strategy to make the industry competitive – effective linkage with research institutes and new technologies like the one between the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israeli poultry farmers.

    Speaking on the theme, ‘Enhancing Nigerian economy through poultry,’Oyo State P oultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Chairman, Mr Olabanji Akanji, said poultry has great potential for revamping the economy if given the needed attention by stakeholders.

    “While we covet and plead for massive government support for the industry, we cannot but keep investing in the industry in our own little way as individuals for all these have effects on the nation’s economy.

  • How ranches can stop herdsmen’s threats

    How ranches can stop herdsmen’s threats

    The Federal Government is facing the challenge of cattle rearers across the country. To solve the problem, stakeholders are advocating the establishment of cattle ranches, with the goal of modernising livestock husbandry and inducing pastoralists to settle in one place. DANIEL ESSIET writes.

    These are trying times for farmers who are threatened by the activities of nomadic herdsmen.

    These herdsmen, believed to come from the Fulani ethnic group with their large number of cattles, engage in nefarious activities, such as the destruction of farm crops, arable land, pollution of water bodies, as well as killing and maiming of farmers who dare to stand against them. It is said that they rape innocent women in the communities as well. In some cases, clashes between the herdsmen and farmers have resulted in loss of lives and properties.

    To address this growing tension and prevent its aggravation, stakeholders are calling for immediate action to prevent  the problem escalating to a full blown national crisis.

    Right now, there are two bills before the National Assembly. The Bill for an Act to establish the National Grazing Route and Reserve Commission, to establish and control Grazing Routes and Reserves in all parts of Nigeria; and for Other Matters Related Thereto (HB, 388), and the Bill for an Act to create a Department of Cattle Ranches under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, or any such Ministry Overseeing the Production and Rearing of Cattle; and for Other Matters Related Thereto (HB 323).

    But  some  stakeholders  do not agree with the  idea of grazing  routes and areas; rather,  they are pushing for cattle ranches as a means of ending recurring conflicts between herdsmen and farmers. Ranching is the practice of raising herds of animals on large tracts of land. Currently, ranching and livestock industry is growing faster than any other agricultural sector in the world. This is practiced in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

    Worldwide, private organisations and individuals establish cattle ranches. In most of the arrangements, a group of people jointly hold title to land, maintain agreed herd sizes, and own livestock individually, but herd them together.

    Speaking on the issue, the President of the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama, said that cattle raised within the ranches are well fed. Within a ranch, the managers ensure that livestock have grass to graze, good water to drink, and that they are in the right pasture that allows grazed plants time to recover and become highly productive.

    Iyama said Nigeria needs cattle ranches across major parts of the North as practiced in Australia.

    Such businesses, he said, will have   sheds, machinery, accommodation for workers, vegetable gardens. Cattle ranches will also house meat processing plants.

    Apart from reducing the problem of clashes with communities,  large-scale cattle ranching create jobs for farmers, veterinarians, mechanics, and engineers, he said, adding that moving cattles around is not the best for livestock management.

    He described the practice as ‘cruelty to animals, having to walk them for miles in search for grazing areas, stressing that there is no way in Australia with the largest number of cattle population in the world that cattle herdsmen would move animals around.

    Iyama said the absence of the law regulating movement of cattle has led to criminals masquerading as herdsmen and getting away with criminal activities such as destruction of farms.

    He said a lot of waste lands along the nation’s economic routes cannot be used by conventional agriculture, adding that the government can support private investors to take over those areas and convert them to cattle ranches. According to him, there are massive hectares of land along the Lagos –Ibadan axis  and the road to the north that are wasting that can be converted by private Nigerians into cattle ranches.

    He said Australia has been able to curtail cattle herdsmen and communal conflict because of its large cattle stations with cattle farms covering thousands of square kilometers.

    This ensures peaceful co-existence between crop farmers and animal farmers, particularly herdsmen.

    With drought conditions and high feed prices creating havoc for many cattle herdsmen. Feed costs have escalated in dramatic proportions, and in some cases farmers are struggling to be able to acquire feed at all.

    To address this, Iyama is launching a national initiative to help cattle herdsmen feed herds from hydroponically grown feed, saying that  the hydroponic feed will provide a highly nutritious and cost effective living feed for cattle on the ranches.

    The feed will be grown from barley and other seeds, which are placed in climatically controlled hydroponic unit.It takes 6 days for the seeds to germinate into a mat of nutritious fresh green barley shoots.

    He said it is his expectation that  the system will provide a consistent, daily supply of fresh feed. With this system, he explained that there was no need to move cattle around the country.

    His thoughts are shared by  other stakeholders who believe  as   urban  consumers  became more  demanding,  especially  in  the  area  of  hygiene,  the  balance  of  the  market   will shift  against pastoralists and towards enclosed systems.

    One of them is the Chief Executive, Centre for Cocoa Initiative, Mr. Robo Adhuze.

    He believes the potential of agriculture is enormous. But there is a huge gap – at the moment agriculture contributes little to thenation’s Gross domestic product (GDP).

    He observed that the sector requires commercial farming, not only to provide the country but also to be able to export, so they can get the foreign earnings that they so desperately need.

    Adhuze noted that rangeland livestock production is an important form ofdiversified agriculture.

    He said the government needs to apply new development concepts to make agriculture more efficient, inclusive and environment-friendly.

    According to him, marked progress in livestock farming ensures food security and supply, while the urban-rural income gap must be narrowed.

    He said that a cattle rearing was private business.He said nomadic cattle rearing was obsolete and should be discouraged.

    He reiterated that establishment of cattle ranches is a lasting solution to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    Speaking with The Nation, a former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin(UNILORIN), Prof Abiodun Adeloye  said  the livestock industry  will do well with cattle ranches  established  with miles of fencing and  water supplies accessible to grazing land.  Cattle ranches, he explained,  will support  large pastures-grass vegetation in addition to cattle. Also, cattle will be handled in a more gentle fashion, while herdsmen will be allowed  them to move around  effectively and reduce long-term stress on the animals .

    According to him, investors will make efforts to create large feedlots and also establish  slaughter facilities.

    Cattle ranching,he emphasised is the best livestock management  to handle a greater number of cattle.

    The other issue is that Nigeria is yet to establish a completely computerised traceability system where consumers know exactly where their beef comes from and how it was raised.

  • Firm to launch TV programme

    Verdure Vision Limited, publisher of AgroNigeria Magazine, is set to launch its television programme – Agro On TV.

    According to the Chief Executive/Editor-in-Chief of AgroNigeria, Richard-Mark Mbaram,  Agro On TV will be campaigning for increased provision of water, energy and road linkage for agricultural use, especially for smallholder farmers.

    If these were achieved, he  said, there would be higher returns on agricultural investment, and an attendant positive ripple effect on the Nigerian economy will be felt within a few months.

    He said Agro On TV would feature four segments: “The Pulse”; which chronicles news in the agricultural sector, “Talk Time”; which hosts stakeholders in the agric sector to discuss issues in the sector; “Street Vibes”, which highlights the experiences, opinions and expectations of people on issues relating to agriculture and “Agro Style”; which features entertainment gist in agriculture.

    Of importance is Agro Style, a media strategy deployed to appeal to the younger generation and sustain their attention in agro-practice.

    He said attempts had been made in the past to involve the youth in agriculture, but to no avail, hence the introduction of the entertainment segment, which will draw the attention of youths to the sector.

    Mbaram added: “Agro On TV is fully funded by internal resources. It is our contribution to Nigeria; to let everybody know that the time to act on full participation in agriculture is now. The younger generation and the employers of labour should see agriculture as a necessity. Agriculture is a must. If practiced right, it would solve the social and economic problems facing the country.”

  • Faking food security

    Faking food security

    By Pagemark Africa

    Maintaining food security remains a significant challenge for governments worldwide. In general, there is less food and more people, with demand outstripping supply. One of the solutions to this problem could be in creating “fake food” or ingredient substitutes. Governments can now look to laboratories to help navigate challenges such as the changing climate, decreasing seeding, soil erosion and reduction in labour forces in rural areas.

    As we know, the majority of the foods consumed today across the world are not 100% real, for decades food ingredients have been substituted for chemicals to meet demand. For instance, when you get a strawberry milkshake, you would expect there to be strawberries and milk in the milkshake, right?  Wrong, in most fast food chains the strawberries would have been substituted by ingredients made up of chemicals . Described by draxe.com, “Fake food is basically something pretending to be something it’s not.” With no known short-term side effects, these foods are sold, regulated and distributed throughout most of the global food outlets and networks. What happens if this process falls into the hands of criminals?

    Fake food and organised crime

    In the context of Africa, it is significantly more serious.  Fake food in this context goes beyond substituting your favourite milkshake ingredients, it reaches into organised crime and fake food moves from well-regulated laboratories, into the hands of criminals. Fake foods pedalled by organised criminal gangs are sold on a regular basis throughout Africa. It is believed drug gangs have moved to counterfeiting food as the penalties are far lower than those for narcotic-related crime.  Africa is becoming the dumping ground for fake foods and according to foodsafetynews.com, there have been instances when frozen expired meats, marked as fresh meat, were sold for consumption.  In South Africa alone, an enormous recall of supermarket products was issued in 2015 after they were found to be coloured with banned dyes.

    As consumers, we shop through well stock shelves and remain food secure. It takes little effort to find our favourite meal. If we had to authenticate each product we purchased over the last month, it would be likely that some products contained ingredients not listed on the packaging and would be considered fake.

    How fake is fake?

    There is specific regulation on food substitution and at all times consumer needs to be made aware of alternative ingredients. The argument lies in the fact that if consumers are aware of the replacement process, it would make the substitution authentic. As consumers we know we are not drinking a real milkshake, we’ve been informed through marketing and advertising.

    What happens when food products are faked without our knowledge? Sold a salmon but eating hake. Fruit displayed as “Made in Ceres” when in reality the fruit is farmed elsewhere and possibly not to the required standards. Recently, eggs were sold as free range but later found to be farmed from steroid filled battery chickens. Organised crime syndicates have developed smart counterfeiting techniques to ensure consumers remain unaware. From exact packaging replication to infiltrating distribution channels, deaths from food counterfeiting in Africa have spiralled. Backyard sellers to high-end retail giants have been a victim of food counterfeiting. The question remains; who is to blame?

    Kyle Parker, MD of Pagemark Africa, an African authentication based company, stresses that food counterfeiting involves all role-players as syndicates may infiltrate the production process anywhere from conception to delivery.

    Is there a solution?

    Currently, there is very little legislation or penalties governing criminal activities around food counterfeiting. As the demand for production increases, criminal organisations will use this opportunity to flood the food market with counterfeited products. The key lies in authenticating the process from beginning to end. At any given point, information on that product would need to be readily available, information such as tampering and theft.

    Consumers need to be made aware that organised crime syndicates are active in the fake food industry. These syndicates use harmful, illegal and chemicals ingredients that could cause disabilities and or death. For further details on fake foods and counterfeiting contact Kyle Parker at kyle@pagemakrafrica.com or visit www.pagemarkafrica.com

     

    Pagemark Africa is the African based supplier of software technologies. With a patent approved authentication technology called Pelta™, Pagemark Africa provides governments and international companies with secure printing solutions, product and document authentication, serialisation solutions, and track and trace software.

  • Attracting FDI to agriculture

    Attracting FDI to agriculture

    Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is critical to the survival of any economy. In the last two decades, the government has made efforts to adopt sound macro-economic policies, pursue sector reforms, and achieve more sustainable and inclusive growth by diversifying the economy.

    Experts believe that increased foreign investment and industrialisation would help to unlock the potential for job creation as well as poverty reduction.

    Stakeholders say the government should encourage the flow of foreign investment into the agric sector.

    They believe Nigeria has many comparative advantages in the agric sector. It has a varied agricultural sector reflecting diverse geography and providing raw materials for a rapidly growing range of processed exports. Besides, the country is located at the heart of West Africa and seen as an emerging destination for buyers from the United States and Europe. Nigeria is now in a period of golden population structure – at least 50 per cent of its population is of working age and the total population is growing. These factors all go some way to support why foreign investors should chose to invest in the nation’s agricultural sector.

    As of last month, there were not up to 100 active FDI agric projects that have come into the country in the last two years. Most major investments in the agric sector came from  groups such as Olam, Dangote, Flour Mills of Nigeria and a few other multinational corporations. This indicated that Nigeria has not become a destination of choice for foreign investors.

    Responding to this challenge, the Country Manager, Harvest Plus, Dr Paul Ilona, said Nigeria is categorised among the group of countries  without a well-managed economic regime.

    While global FDI is up and expected to rise over the next three years, experts say it will be driven mainly by stronger economies in developed countries.

    Several key factors are considered. These include an enabling environment for agriculture to grow, good macro-economic policies, particularly fiscal prudence, a competitive exchange rate policy and strong public sector and private sector institutions. While there are no international rankings consistently giving Nigeria high marks for business and investment climate, foreign investors are fearful of any administration that advocates confiscation and nationalisation policies.

    Ilona said Nigeria needs proper macro-economic management, including fiscal discipline during boom times, monetary management that kept inflation in single digits and that produced interest rates that encouraged domestic savings, and an exchange-rate policy that allows for flexibility and competitiveness for farmers.

    Alongside trade policy and adaptability, the Harvest Plus Nigeria chief stressed the need for the government to promote an enabling business climate and incentives for foreign companies developing mega projects in agriculture.

    So far, he said the country  lacked a functional blueprint for attracting foreign investment to the agric sector. He said: “We don’t have a blueprint to attract foreign investment into the agric sector.”

    Despite substantial policy commitments, he observed that productivity in the agriculture sector remains disappointing. A workable blueprint, he explained, should address land tenure, protection of investment and repatriation of  return on investment.

    Ilona said the strength in the country’s agribusiness stands as the most prominent opportunity for attracting and building foreign investment flows, if there is supportive improved infrastructure. Foreign investors, he explained are sources of capital, foreign exchange and technical know-how.

    He added that they contribute to infrastructure development, which can spur further economic activity.

    If the nation’s Gross Domestic Product( GDP) growth targets are to be achieved, Ilona  said  urgent and concerted attention is needed to enhance the country’s agribusiness capabilities, strengthen its position as a services hub, and implement the staple crop processing zones dreams.

    He advised the government to craft a strong agric dependent growth-oriented developmental path.

    As a major agricultural producer, the Director of Studies, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Dr Olufemi Oladunni believes Nigeria offers a lot of investment opportunities in the agribusiness and food sector.

    He advised the government to recognise that the FDI is an integral part of the economy – essential to restructuring the economy and raising national competitiveness.

    Besides, heavy investments in the agric sector are needed to bring growth in productivity, considering the estimated population of 250 million by 2050.

    Given that local farmers have little the ability to increase either the quantity of land devoted to agricultural production or their own agricultural productivity, he believesthat foreign directinvestment can provide capital and investment that provides jobs and agricultural innovations which enhance food production.

    He urged the government to improve infrastructure for small scale farmers in remote rural areas and improve their access to markets and services. He also stressed the need for the rehabilitation and development of new roads.

    More broadly, while the government’s increased investment in agric may improve production capability for primary producers, Oladunni urged the government to  also explore opportunities for greater investment ‘beyond the farm gate’ by creating incentives, such as tax concessions for agribusiness projects that improve processing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution efficiencies and practices.

    He believes the success of the agriculture sector will be underpinned by expansion of the irrigation schemes.

    Currently, few hectares nationwide are either under irrigation, or about to be brought under irrigation. New investments in irrigated agric development, Oladunni said would provide up new hectares of farming land.

    According to him, something has to change if the nation is to feed its growing population, and foreign investment could be part of the solution.

    Coordinator, Agribusiness & Youth Empowerment, Community of Agricultural Stakeholders of Nigeria, Sotonye Anga, stressed that increasing focus on international trade would be critical to boosting economic performance.

    He wants the government to offset the burdens on agro exporters with tariff-free access for productive input and with tax incentive subsidies.

    According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should been concerned with ensuring the competitiveness of the country’s export sectors.

    The other strategy should be to ensure private sector representation in all key government economic decisions.

    This will ensure practical solutions are conveyed to political leaders.

    Since the agric sector accounted for two-third of employment and significant part of export earnings, experts urged the government to seek preferential treatment from the European Union (EU) for the nation’s exports to the EU.

  • ‘Poor storage facilities hamper local horticulture’

    ‘Poor storage facilities hamper local horticulture’

    Efforts at increasing horticulture production are being undermined by lack of adequate infrastructure, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Mufutau Animashaun, has said.

    Animashaun underscored the importance of developing modern agriculture to support the growth of fresh produce industry.

    He  stressed  that  farmers  need to  apply new storage concepts to achieve prosperity in rural areas, calling for improved post-harvest capacity to ensure horticultural crops, fruits and vegetables are in supply, and at the same time narrowing income gap.

    According to him, the situation is  an impediment to the government’s quest to motivate farmers to boost local production to ensure food security, aside robbing farmers of their primary source of livelihood.

    He said: “The missing thing in crop harvest in this country is post-harvest technology, management and packaging; these are very essential and important in any nation’s agricultural growth. This is what gives the developed economy edge over us, they believe in technology a lot and they spend money on research. You can’t import a technology that was made for a country with different climate to a country that has a very strong climate.Iam an ardent preacher of environmental reality. Any problem in this country has its own solution here and not a borrowed solution.It might solve the problem temporarily.”

    To reverse this, Animashaun said his organisation is working with a sister institution in the UK to provide solutions.

    He said: “We have a post-harvest unit that  is very involved in researches and test for most fruits and vegetables for supermarkets in the UK  such as Tessco, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and other major big supermarkets. We carry out the palatability test, aroma, flavour and acceptability by consumers of all these products that come to UK and we send our analyses and results to them.

    “However, I am back to establish a similar thing in Nigeria where we have post-harvest unit in some of our institutions especially in Lagos state where we have land constraint, we have areas where we can locate containerised cold rooms and offer post-harvest management and packaging of these crops.

    “This will help them to retain their original freshness and increase their shelf lives and that is why we have the value chain from the farm to the table you have it fresh.

    “Farmers can form a co-operative society and have a common cold room where companies can buy from there and do all the marketing and other necessary things like post-harvest treatment on their own.’’