The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Rains may increase crop disease outbreak, losses

    Rather than help crops to grow, the rains may lead to their destruction this year, experts have warned.

    According to the experts, several plant diseases are more common during wet season.

    They said favourable conditions for infection and plant damage include wet and compacted soils.

    From findings, it has been confirmed that pathogens (disease causing micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses)  are widespread and persistent in field soils during the season.

    The experts said, seedling diseases could begin after the planting of the seed and  continue for several weeks. One clue is reduced emergence and other clues are seedling death, yellowing, or stunting. The problems, they said, might start when the soil is wet, although may be delayed a week or more after wet conditions occurred.

    Senior Lecturer, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Dan Gwary explained that seedling diseases occur as excessive rainfall and fluctuating temperature create excellent conditions for them.

    Gwary said wet and flooded soils produced after heavy rains are favourable for  soil borne, moisture-loving fungus and diseases.

    He said they damage seedlings and even mature plants. To prevent this, he advised farmers to check fields for seedling disease, and efficacy of seed treatments.

    A former dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, said  normal rainfall would be good, and more would be better, but too much at the wrong time could damage or kill certain plants.

    He said farmers are at risk when there is above-normal rainfall.

    He urged farmers not to expose their farms to floodwaters.

    He advised farmers to observe basic farm safety and sanitation practices to avoid nurturing platforms for the spread of diseases.

  • Foreign investors eye food sector

    Food and agribusiness could become an “emerging sector” for foreign investors, the Director, Life Sciences Group Africa, Global Exhibitions, Jamie Hill, has said.

    With a population of about 180 million, a government aspiring to improve the gross domestic product (GDP), Hill said  Nigeria offers enormous growth potential across a number of different sectors.

    Hill said the drivers for investments in the agric and food sectors were very strong and favourable and he expects that growth to continue.

    He said the nation would continue to see strong interest and investment from abroad and the foreign investors would find the food sector in the country attractive.

    According to him, improving the nation’s food   sector is critical given an ever-increasing demand for food.

    In line with this, he said his organisation zeroed on food safety during its just concluded Food Nigeria exhibition since   it has become an issue of concern for international food firms in export.

    He explained that the exhibition provided a platform for international and regional food and beverage companies to network and cultivate business ties.

  • ‘Investment in agric can create jobs for youths’

    An octogenarian, Pa Emmanuel Osunwo Remi-Williams, has urged the government to tackle youth unemployment by investing in agriculture.

    In an interview, he said the perennial problem of the country is unemployment and  this could be solved through a recourse to farming

    Pa Remi-Williams said the federal and state governments should study the blueprints adopted by the late premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He said Awo, as the late sage was popularly known, solved youth unemployment then by acquiring vast areas of land in Apoje on the outskirts of Ijebu Igbo, which were devoted to palm tree plantation.

    To encourage young school leavers to work on the farms, he said Awo gave the youth good welfare packages, including salaries. “People were enticed with bicycles, the most senior ones with motocycle. Other areas were earmarked for cocoa and cassava planting. Salary scale was good and very encouraging. Education was one of the cardinal points of the government. Free education was introduced in 1955. It was a six-year programme, after secondary modern school. Most of these youth took to agriculture instead of white collar jobs,’’ he said.  According to him, the government used the money it made from agriculture to build its education programme and build skycrappers, such as the Cocoa House in Ibadan.

    Also, Pa Remi-Willaims said during the Second Republic, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) also used agriculture as  cardinal programme.

    He cited former Lagos State governor Alhaji Lateef Jakande who acquired land in Epe for rice plantation to buttress his point. He said many Nigerians were willing to return to the farms if given the right incentives.

    He said his call became imperative as the country’s economic earnings from its mono-product declines daily, warning that there might be more problems ahead if an alternative was not sought, especially for the youth.

    Since the idle mind is the devil’s workshop, he said the youth should be engaged.

    He however, did not support the idea of giving tools to the young to stand on their own, saying they lack the experience and that not everyone could be an entrepreneur.

  • Firms proffer solution to tomato disease

    Two firms,  Russell IPM United Kingdom and Agronet Nigeria Limited,    have  launched an effective and sustainable solution to combat the tomato disease-Tuta Absoluta.

    In a statement, the  firms  said the three-component system, based on beneficial soil microbes and biopesticides, work in synergy to destroy both larvae and adults of Tuta, boost the plant’s defence and promote  growth in a safe and sustainable way.

    Together with Agronet Nigeria Ltd, Russell IPM conducted field demonstrations to show farmers how they can use the products and gain complete control over the pest.

    According to the statement, local farms using Russell IPM’s Recharge, Antario and Biotrine systems have noted a significant reduction in Tuta population and tomato damage. The product has been demonstrated at Tenti Farms, a   25 hectares of greenhouse farm based in Jos,Plateau  State where tomatoes and peppers are primarily grown.

    Head Agronomist at the farm, Odunayo Orowumi,  said: “In the past, our farm has been devastated by the Tuta absoluta pest and despite trying a number of conventional pesticides, the moth caused complete losses in our greenhouses.”

    After seeking the help of Agronet, a local agricultural and consultancyservice, they began applying the Russell IPM solution within their greenhouses.

  • Kano targets food security, higher IGR

    Kano targets food security, higher IGR

    Governor Abdullahi  Ganduje of Kano State has said his administration is investing in agriculture to ensure food security and improve its revenue.

    The governor spoke during the celebration of the state Farmers Day and inauguration of 381 agricultural extension workers and distribution of motorcycles to them at Kadawa, in Garun Mallam Local Government Area.

    “Oil money has dropped, so the best option is for us to focus on agriculture so as to shore up our revenue base to enable us address the development needs of our people.

    “As a leading wheat production state, we have invested substantially in production of the commodity. For instance, the government provides N100 million interest-free loan to wheat farmers, drilled 1,000 tube wells, distributed 5, 000 hand pumps and procured two combined harvesters, clearing, sorting and grading machine, among others, to boost production.”

    Also, Ganduje said moves are on for the improvement of milk and meat production in the state, as two Artificial Animal Insemination centres have already been established and equipped.

    He stated that the new agric extension workers were recruited to build the capacity of farmers, even as the government is encouraging private sector investment across all the agricultural value chains.

    Also in Garun Malam Local Government Area, the governor addressed tomato farmers, whose produce were destroyed by Tuta absoluta referred to as Tomato Ebola in local parlance.

    The governor, who lamented the huge amount of loss incurred by the farmers, said a census of the affected famers is being carried out by the government, while contacts have already been established with two research institutes for the provision of antidotes for the moth.

    Some tomato growers who spoke with the governor, explained that they had incurred more losses than victims of the recent fire outbreak at Sabon Gari market, exacerbating the prevailing harsh living condition in the country   for them.

  • Lifeline for farmers

    Lifeline for farmers

    Releaf Group, an initiative led by young Nigerians at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, is deploying science and technology to promote capacity-building in agriculture. The group is determined to make agricultural production sustainable, climate-proof and profitable. How far can they go? DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Agriculture should be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy because it has the potential to sustainably employ about 75 per cent of the population. However, inadequate viable value chain and entrepreneurial activity have kept the sector at the subsistence level, leading to high youth unemployment. To reverse this, a group of young Nigerians, known as The Releaf Group, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, is poised to train and equip farmers and youths to transform the agricultural sector and enhance economic growth.

    The team consists of two MIT students, some university students and others in Nigeria. They include the Director, Partnerships, Emmanuel Udotong; Partner Business, Development, Ikenna Nzewi; Managing Partner Toby Nzewi; Director, Value-Chain, Joshua Nzewi and  Partner Operations, Isaiah Udotong.

    Others  are Director of Project Management Uzoma Ayogu and Director of Public Relations Adaeze Okoli.

    Their project is part of the MIT’s IDEAS Global Challenge, which connects students with the passion and talent to improve the world with the experience and resources of the MIT community worldwide. The programme supports innovation and entrepreneurship through an annual competition that awards up to $10,000 for a team with the best ideas to tackle barriers to well being.

    In this project, the team will work with Verdant and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to empower farmers in agribusiness to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture.

    While Verdant will offer personalised scientific agricultural information and market intelligence to farmers through a mobile application that acts as an all-round companion, from the pre-planting period to harvest and beyond, partnership  with IITA will  support the group  to  integrate training and technological innovations with production, mechanisation, agro-processing, marketing, recycling, value chain improvement and other related services. The overall goal of the project is to use sciences and technology to promote capacity-building in food production.

    The spokesperson of the group, Mr Isaiah  Udotong said: “Releaf has partnered with IITA to work on-ground in choosing the farmers to work with and evaluation of their yields. They’ve committed staff members to be involved in this pilot, helping with adoption of technology and planting phase and interviewing farmers to participate, evaluations of initial yields and final yields.”

    He said the group will work with smallholder farmers, agro-processing groups, farmers associations, and service providers across the state to introduce improved agricultural technologies and develop specialised skills to order to increase the end-value of their agricultural products.

    For a pilot, Udotong said the group would be carrying out a demonstration project in Akwa Ibom State. In partnership with Verdant,  Udotong said smart mobile devices and low-end phones will be made available  to  farmers.  Then farming information will be relayed through text messages.

    He said: “We are targeting about 1,000 cassava farmers to use the agricultural extension mobile service provided by Verdant to increase their yields.”

    The team intends to train the farmers in establishing sustainable agribusinesses and practices. This, they believe, would contribute significantly to the creation of employment for youth, improving self-reliance and food security.

    This strong value chain, he also believes, will provide farmers with a more stable supply of good quality food as well as bringing them profits.

    Under the scheme also, farmers will be provided with improved cassava cultivar, fertiliser and pesticides. The target is to achieve higher yields per hectare, shorter growth cycles and  improved resistance to pests.

    The varieties are improved genetically modified cassava tubers that research from the IITA has proven can more than double cassava yield.

    Udotong said since equipment plays a very important role in improving crop yields, farmers will be encouraged to use them to increase production.

    He said mechanised cassava graters are part of the project.The deployment of the mechanised graters allows cassava to be grated down into small pieces that can be easily collected for bulk pickup.

    He added: “The higher concentration of cassava grated in even higher quality also gives farmers the ability to process their own tubers with potential to create their own products.”

    He believes the technology is a strong catalyst to boost cassava production on commercial basis in which would additionally create decent job opportunities.

    Akwa Ibom State government is  supporting  the project. Consequently, the state government is providing logistics/support for the selection and training of cooperative farmers groups expected to participate.

    In line with this, the Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Cooperatives and Food Sufficiency, Mr. Effiong Peters, has sent a memo to the Secretary to the state government for its execution.

    In April, Releaf submitted a questionnaire to the farmer cooperative group in Akwa Ibom State and has already received compelling responses that demonstrate the need for the project.

    From the survey, the group learnt that 85 per cent of farmers in the cooperative produce below 15 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cassava per hectare.

  • Expert seeks functional agric research system

    An expert on economic development, Dr. Utiang Ugbe, has said eradication of hunger will require a functonal  agricultural research coordination system.

    Calling  for a unified bureau, Ugbe  stressed that making researches work for improved food security and nutrition requires coordination and implementation of appropriate policy interventions and getting researchers to work together to achieve given  objectives.

    He said: “There should be a unified bureau for the governance, coordination, management, and direction agricultural science, technology and innovations (STI) for the country.  The functions of the bureau will include hosting of partner-funded pilot projects on various aspects of agriculture, by aligning each project with the suited agricultural research campus, and the relevant private sector parties. This is how you ensure institutional learning and the effective digestion and diffusion of innovations from pilot projects into national priorities, policies and processes in agriculture.  The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) hosted a small DFID (Department for International Development)-funded pilot project for about 30 months, and was able to adapt key elements of the technical template of the project into a major World Bank funded project which rolled out nationwide.”

    Currently, he said the ARCN has coordination and oversight functions of the national agricultural research system consisting of 15 or so national agricultural research institutes, and federal colleges of agriculture nationwide.

    He noted: “Each of the research institutes was created by an enabling law at a given point in time, and each has its own governing board. The current system does not appear to have a mechanism that would allow effective technical oversight and quality assurance in the development of market-oriented science, technology and innovation (STI) research by the agricultural research institutes. As a result, we now have a non-existent interface between agricultural STI and the private sector in the country.

    “But if you look at the structure in some countries, especially Brazil, India and Ghana, our system is not streamlined, and therefore does not have a workable technical quality assurance and oversight mechanisms. The boards of the research institutes are typically political appointees who are there just for the largesse, and not because they know a thing about agricultural research, science and technology. Rarely do you hear that a governing board of a national agricultural research institute has ever successfully fundraised from the private sector or from development donors for the institute, apart from occasional project support coming through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Yet, the key function of a board in the business world is to serve as resource to the organisation, not unproductive cost centres that politically appointed boards typically have been.”

    He said the recommended system will have only a single governance structure or board for agricultural research in Nigeria, adding that since Nigeria is a federal political structure, any state may also establish its own agricultural research institute, just as we now have some state colleges of agriculture.

  • Turning LAKAJI rail route into viable agric hub

    The Lagos-Kano-Jibiya (LAKAJI) corridor is a 1,225-kilometre route that runs from Lagos through Kano,  ending in Jibiya at the border with Niger Republic. It is a major conduit for food supply from the North to the South. But farmers are finding it difficult to transport food across the region. It has become imperative to tackle the problem as Nigeria is set to play a major role in addressing Africa’s food security issues.  DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The Lagos-Kano-JIbiya (LAKAJI) corridor is a 1,225-kilometre transport route.  It is a broad swathe of territory beginning from the Lagos port and terminating at the Republic of Niger border of Jibiya in Katsina State.

    The area  covers Jigawa,Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states as well as the Jibiya route. It has  arable land, special economic zones designed to promote agribusiness, major water retention and irrigation schemes and large grain storage facilities.

    Offering rice, sugar cane, maize, cassava, poultry, fish, cattle and dairy, cocoa, cashews, sustainable seafood, sesame seed and  shea and shea butter and lots more, the region is one of those untapped agricultural destinations. Production and processing centres along the corridor also benefit from proximity to dense urban population centers that provide end markets for domestic goods.

    So far, the corridor is said to be Nigeria’s busiest transport corridor facilitating the movement of 30 million tonnes of goods per year valued at more than $6 billion and accounting for 36 per cent of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP).This is because  it is  a major conduit for food supplies from the North to the South. It is also a vital channel for food supplies to neighbouring countries in Niger, Chad, Cameroon ,Benin.  Experts agreed the area has the potential to stimulate investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, linking the largest consumer market in West Africa (Lagos) with some of the highest potential agricultural zones in the region. Leveraging on the potential of the region, according to them,  offers untold benefits for the nation and, ultimately, the continent.  Interestingly, the fundamentals are all in place for the area to act as an agriculture hub.

    Speaking on this, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to the LAKAJI corridor to ease trade. This, he said would be possible through the provision of basic infrastructure that will ease production and transportation of agricultural produce. Tinubu, who spoke at the just  concluded  Katsina State Economic and Investment Summit, said LAKAJI is an acronym for Lagos–Kano-Jibia corridor.

    Represented by a former Lagos State Commissioner of Finance and Executive Director at First Bank, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, Tinubu said a strategic approach must be adopted where the upper north has the capacity for agricultural production that should be based on strength.

    He maintained that the LAKAJI corridor, with 10 states on its routes, needs concerted efforts based on individual strength, where those who have the capacity to produce can complement storage capacity to add value to the system, especially in the case of the movement of goods to Lagos where consumption is high.

    The former governor expressed concern over challenges confronting the LAKAJI corridor, saying storage and other production processes to the end consumers calls for improvement.

    To stakeholders, the  corridor ’s huge agricultural potential holds the promise, but is hampered by lack of infrastructure. Among the factors limiting the realisation of the corridor’s potential are major infrastructure deficiencies, particularly the poor condition of secondary roads. This has led to  congestion and delays at ports and checkpoints. A   study  conducted by the  United States  Agency for International Development’s Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) project, CARANA Corporation and its implementing partners on movement of  goods along the LAKAJI Corridor confirmed  the  situation.

    The CARANA team found that the main drivers of the inflated time and cost of transport along the corridor were delays and inefficiencies.  Their concern was also  lack of a clear vision of corridor development and a range of enabling environmental constraints, such as limited access to finance, they said have stifled both private and public investment.

    Confirming this also, the Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kebbi , Alhaji Sahabi Augie said the state of the roads along the axis is challenging.

    He    complained that   poor transportation infrastructure has led to increased food waste and higher prices for consumers.

    He noted that improvement of the corridor would greatly boost transportation of farm produce, adding  that the government needed to improve roads in selected areas across the country in order to boost agricultural marketing and household incomes.

    This, according to him, would open up commercial opportunities and services that make farming a more profitable livelihood for rural inhabitants and an important means of addressing food insecurity.

    As the Corridor winds its way north, it crosses eight States – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina, and road conditions vary in each section. This reflects systemic issues in the national logistics system that need to be resolved by long-term investment in new infrastructure.

    Attempts to overcome these myriad of obstacles, the Agriculture Team Lead, Feed Nigeria Live, Mr Dayo Ogundijo, noted ,requires focus on the creation of local transportation and distribution corridor across the region.

    With the construction of rural feeder roads, Ogundijo said farmers would be able to access markets to sell their produce hence improved livelihoods and incomes.

    While feeder roads are critical factors to raising agriculture production, Ogundijo wants the government to expand railways connection across the corridor to enhance all season connectivity to agricultural market centres.

    Several stakeholders within the region have tried to raise agricultural productivity and attract investments to create an efficient and well-functioning agricultural chain.

    For  instance, to  start new agribusiness investment, CARANA Corporation and its implementing partners conducted an initial assessment of the corridor designed to review the agricultural logistics services, infrastructure inefficiencies, and investment needs along the corridor, as well as develop an investment blueprint, or profiles of high-priority, investable opportunities that are commercially viable along the corridor to improve the flow of goods.

    The LAKAJI Agricultural Growth Corridor Assessment identified a set of promising opportunities for investment in improved infrastructure and services for agriculture along the corridor.

    Particular attention was paid to the location of complementary initiatives, including those financed by donors and by state and Federal Ministries of Agriculture, such as the Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZs).

    The report identified an initial set of 33 commercially viable and relevant agribusiness investment opportunities throughout the eight states visited, separated by state and the following investment categories: inputs, production, processing, manufacturing, warehousing and infrastructure, and information communication technologies (ICT).

    Value chains identified in the investments include: cotton, sesame, soybean, maize, rice, sorghum, inputs (seeds and fertilizer), transport and logistics (cold storage facilities, trucks and tractor manufacturing), vegetable oil, vegetables (tomato, cucumber, peppers, onions), shea, cashew, honey, spices, fruits (TBD), cassava, cocoa, fish, poultry, and ICT infrastructure.

    To promote investment across the region, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has revealed plans to set up a special development fund called the Investment Facilitation Funds (IFF). The proposed fund, when launched, will be accessible for preparatory stages of investment for business expansion or green field projects across the entire nation.    The Coordinator of Invest in LAKAJI Corridor with the NIPC, Mallam Aminu Takuma made this known at Investment Facilitation Workshop for Northern LAKAJI Corridor States which was organised by NIPC and United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria), in Kaduna State.

  • Ooni preaches agric modernisation

    Ooni preaches agric modernisation

    Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye  Ogunwusi  has  underscored the importance of rural reform in developing modern agriculture.

    The monarch spoke on the importance of agriculture  in fostering  prosperity in rural areas after  his investiture as the National Grand Patron of Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN) in his  palace in Ile Ife, Osun State. He called for improved production  to ensure food security and supply, adding that everything be done to narrow the urban-rural income gap.

    The Ooni congratulated the association’s national president for being visionary and thanked the entire trustees, patrons and nationwide membership for choosing him to be the national grand patron of the association.

    The monarch  promised to work with the association to move its activities forward.

    Earlier, its  National President , Dr. Michael Egbuta  said the  association  has achieved rice yield of 5.5 tonnes from 0.8 per hectare among small holder rice farmers using its  strategic plan – Private Sector Driven Extension Programme (PSDEP) .

    In Niger State, he said the association has empowered farmers to use power tillers, tube wells and improved rice seed cultivars , good agronomic practices that have resulted in good yields.

    He described the monarch as a businessman with a track record of success and resilience, and has contributed to the turnaround of the economy before mobilising other successful Nigerians  to support and implement his vision to  grow agriculture and promote youth employment.

  • Technology boosting cassava production

    Technology boosting cassava production

    To respond to rising food and nutrition needs, some apps, online portals and cell phone-based programmes have been developed to help small-scale farmers enhance their skills and yields, DANIEL ESSIET reports. 

    Pelumi  Aribisala  is one of the young technology savvy  farmers in Oyo State. He plants vitamin A cassava and other staple crops.  Sometimes, after harvest, he counts his bundle and takes out his cell phone. He calls a number to find out the latest prices of cassava and maize.  From the answer he gets, Aribisala knows how much he will earn from his bags of cassava and maize. Subsequently, he can  decide whether to sell them near the farm or the town where he can make more money.

    Aribisala is one of the hundreds of farmers across the country trying to take advantage of technology to boost food production. A growing number of them have entered the agribusiness sector, looking to use technology to gain new commercial opportunities. Information communications technology (ICT) has made agric attractive to the youth.

    Drawn to the sector early, Aribisala is among the young cassava growers living modern lifestyles from farming, thanks to technology  which helps them to use data  to do business and increase incomes.

    Access to technology enables  him and others  to enjoy higher profits when food prices rise  and  to manage their farms in a sustainable manner.

    In the past, he sourced his stems from close sources. These days, with technology, he can buy stems from a farmer in Ondo, especially if he is looking for Vitamin A cassava stem which is sought-after because of its nutritional benefits. This is possible courtesy of an e-market portal and farmers’ exchange platform provided by Harvest Plus. These enable him to find where farmers are offering quality stems across the country.  Now, not only does he know which farmer  has quality Vitamin A cassava  stems to sell,  he is able to find out areas where cassava commands higher prices.

    The platform also provides cassava farmers with an efficient and secure way to store and share information, locate, and contact suppliers and customers online. All these data can be accessed by the farmer via phone.   One of the first users of the platform were the project’s partners located across the cassava producing areas of the country. The partners help farmers to plant vitamin A cassava on their farms.

    Being introduced to these technologies, they use the interactive tools to map out and communicate with farmers they work with. Operational information relevant to the successful development of the cassava supply chain, such as seed varieties used and production data are recorded and mapped onto the platform.

    The platform also provides cassava farmers with an efficient and secure way to store and share information, locate, and contact suppliers and customers online. All these data can be accessed by the farmer via phone.   The  first users of the platform were Harvest plus’  partners located across the cassava producing areas of the country. Basically, the partners help farmers to plant vitamin A cassava on their farms.

    Being introduced to these technologies, they use the interactive tools online to post market information and  communicate with farmers  in other  areas.  Operational information relevant to the successful development of the cassava supply chain, such as seed varieties used and production data are recorded and mapped onto the platform.   One of the users  is the  Programme  Director, Development Dynamics, Dr Jude Ohanele  who  works with groups of  cassava farmers in Imo  State .

    At the start of every season, he carries out demonstration for them. He visits groups and individuals, providing seeds when plots have been correctly prepared, and offer advice and further training on different aspects of the technology and cassava cultivation.

    On the platforms,  literate farmers can log into their accounts and enter planting data for the crop, and several succession plantings. Expected and actual planting and harvesting dates and expected and actual crop yields are recorded. Planting databases for each members’ farm provide a detailed and easily retrieved record to plan from in the next growing season. Though direct user approach is encouraged,  he ensures illiterate farmers have their details correctly recorded.   On the average, the platform offers a place to share information needed to plant throughout its seasonal cycle, and a space to include the farmers in the development and wider spread of the technology. Providing tangible evidence of production success is a mobilisation point for interested farmers and for those who want to learn more, about bio fortified cassava farms.  He and many other partners are at the front line of using the platform to link farmers and suppliers.

    E-market and the farmers exchange are two of many services Harvest Plus have developed on the back of ICT, entry into Nigeria’s agriculture.  Following this, an increasing number of young Nigerians have taken up themselves to help small-scale farmers increase their skills and yields through using its  platforms.

    On the development, the  Country Manager, Harvest Plus Nigeria, Dr Paul Ilona, said  agriculture was  not  growing because of lack of  access to information. This  is a major gap in the market. By providing clear, relevant, and usable data that can be tailored to farmers’ needs, he said the platform has plugged the information gap, helping the sector deliver on its potential.

    According to him, farmers need data services that promote or leverage the products they sell. A cassava stem producing company, for example, he explained, might find on the platform an opportunity to sell to a farmer having stems shortage. At the end, a profitable transaction is strucked, the farmer gets his higher-yielding cassava stems while the company makes its money.

    Right now, stem multiplication has opened opportunities for employment, income generation and improved livelihoods for cassava farmers. Consequently, some enterprising small-scale farmers have engaged themselves in the business of cassava stem multiplication and marketing, providing employment and income to several of their community members.

    By  powering the portal, he said the group  has created a profitable market for farmers in the business.

    One of the ways to do so is to attract more  farmers into the cassava  value chain through online registration. Through the platforms, he said the farmers are able to connect buyers in any part of the country.

    Besides farmers, researchers and donors are able to aggregate information from the analysis of data on cassava consumption from the market from the platforms.

    Ilona noted that the organisation is ready to work alongside others within the sector to support easier and more frequent interchange of farm data. The particular focus has been on information that supports cassava agriculture industries.

    According to him, it was imperative for farmers to take advantage of the technological tools and services that could help them address their problems and perk up their profits.

    Driving these initiatives, he said, is the micronutrient deficiency that continues to undermine public health and prosperity.

    To address the problem, HarvestPlus and its partners have used conventional crop breeding techniques to develop staple food products that are rich in Vitamin A, iron, and zinc. The process, known as biofortification, targets the nutritional needs of women and young children and offers several positive health outcomes, including improved immunity and resistance to diseases.

    To help this effort, he said his organisation is working with public partners to provide innovative farmer shops, as well as agro-stewardship training for those distributing biofortified  cassava products.

    Research shows that the e-market provides valuable data to farmers and the platform also connects farmers with suppliers.  The best evidence for the efficacy of the portal was farmer’s general willingness to use the platform. Before the introduction of the platform farmers learned about prices from buyers and middlemen.  Qualitative data from the platform helps farmers in the early stages of planning their crops. Later in the process when farmers want to sell their crops they use the platform because it quickly provides information.  A major advantage of the platform is the timeliness of the information that it provides. Cassava farmers are confident they could find a place to sell their harvest.

    For farmers, there has been a need to create more efficient supply chains for small and medium-size producers in order to feed growing private demand for cassava.

    With an efficient value chain, farmers identify opportunities and constraints within existing markets, allowing them to invest strategically to stimulate the market and increase incomes in remote and vulnerable areas.

    One way they achieve this is through a data driven platform to support agribusiness development.  This is because it creates new opportunities for income-generation, foster well-informed, profitable investments in this growing market and facilitates collaborations between investors, agribusinesses, farmers and suppliers.

    So far, improved visibility and consolidation of reliable information provided by the platform has helped to raise awareness of unexploited opportunities in the sector, driving investment by reducing cost and risk. In line with this, new technologies have emerged that are  helping farmers to manage their farms in a sustainable way.