The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Women farmers lament inability to get bank loans

    Women farmers have lamented their inability to access bank loans farming.

    They listed like poor road networks and dearth of land as some of the hurdles confronting women in the sector.

    The women farmers said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at capacity building for small holders women farmers organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), supported by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Kwara State Coordinator, Country Women Association of Nigeria, Alhaja Bosede Anifowose, said: “Women in agriculture have a lot of challenges. The challenges are lack of good roads, bringing the produce from the farm to the market is a big problem. Another is that some of the women farmers do not have their own land. They rent land. In some cases, they need loans and they are unable to get loan.”

    Anifowose urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise women in farming, adding that fertiliser distribution does not get to the grassroots.

    She added: “We expect Buhari to bring some changes. The President should recognise women that are doing farming. We want Federal Government to recognise women in farming because some are doing poultry; fishery and even some are even cultivating crops. So there are some other problems like fertiliser. It does not get to the grassroots; it does not get to the real farmers.”

    The state Coordinator, Ifesuwapo Women Farmers Group, Mrs. Josephine Afolabi said: “We want President Buhari to make it possible for us to have agricultural inputs, fertiliser, seeds and farm machinery.

    “Most of our farmers are core farmers in the villages. They need good roads. They should be made to sell their produce directly to companies or final consumers. We need greater government commitment.”

    Earlier, WARDC’s Director, Dr Abiola Afolabi, said in addressing huge burden of hunger and poverty, the government must recognise the efforts of women in the sector.

    Her words: “It is reported that women small holder farmers constitute between 70 and 80 percent of the agriculture labour force. They produce the bulk of food for domestic consumption and they are the drivers of food processing, marketing and preservation.

    “In spite of these enormous tasks, they have limited access to land, credit facilities, farm inputs, training and advice, technology and health insurance. Women small holders have just 14 percent holding rights on land where they farm.

    “In spite of their strategic roles in food production, government agricultural policies hardly focus on supporting them. It is estimated that if women have had the same access to finance, land, technology, training and advice as men, they could contribute significantly to the achievement of the MDGs of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

    “The issues of women small holder farmers cannot be separated from the broader issue of gender inequality and discrimination against women. Women are still voiceless in issues affecting their lives and they are yet to be involved in decisions that affect their livelihoods and survival. In this instance on influencing agricultural policies, there is little or no involvement of women small holder farmers in local, states and national decision making and policy issues.”

  • Committees on sector revitalisation submit report

    The four National Committees on the revitalisation of the sector have submitted their reports.

    The committees included the Resuscitation of Cotton, Textile and Garments, Strategic Action Plan for the Development of Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes Nationwide and Revitalisation of Agricultural Extension Services in Nigeria.

    For instance, the Committee on the Resuscitation Cotton, Textile and Garments (CTG) called for the injection of N37.20 billion in the sector between 2016 and 2019 as well as the exploitation of the existing N100billion CTG fund domiciled with the Bank of Industry(BoI), which has been converted to equity.

    This, the committee said, would support as working capital/retooling of textile mills and resuscitation of about 80 closed mills as well as 23 closed ginneries.

    The N37.20billion, the committee said, should be used to support all sections of the cotton, textile and garments sector.

    It emphasised the improvement of cotton production through financial support for the Institute for Agriculture Research of the Ahmadu Bello University to upgrade its facilities and build the staff capacity.

    It also recommended financial support for the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to enable it deploy Biotechnology (BT) Cotton at confined fields at trial level while the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Introgress BT Protein in varieties as well as produce of double haploid cotton.

    On Cotton seed multiplication and seed supply, the Committee recommended a breeder foundation and certified seed regeneration system, mandating the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to regulate the industry.

    Part of the recommendation of the committee on ginnery development was for ginneries to work with the Nigeria Incentive Based Risk sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and Bank of Agriculture (BOA) through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) to boost seed cotton and lint.

    On seed cotton marketing, the Agriculture Ministry (FMARD) and Ministry of Trade and Investment (FMITT) called for the establishment of the Cotton Corporation of Nigeria (CCN) to revive Cotton Production and Competitiveness.

    The committee on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes Nationwide observed the enormous challenges, including urbanisation, lack of right to land, increased livestock production activities which have limited the success envisaged from the various interventions, called for the establishment of a National Programme on Grazing Reserves and Stock Routes development; strengthening of existing conflict resolution and prevention mechanisms.

  • Lagos to prosecute owners of stray animals

    To keep Lagos State safe, the  government would prosecute the owners of stray animals.

    In a statement by the  Ministry of Agriculture, signed by its Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the government said it would no longer fold its arms and allow the menace to persist.

    It said: “In spite of the government’s concern and awareness campaign on the danger posed by these stray animals in the society, the menace is still on the rise. Apart from causing accidents on our roads, these stray animals could also spread contagious diseases such as anthrax, rabies, tuberculosis and other ailments that could lead to death.”

    Also, the statement reiterated that the state government was sending Agric-Marshals to local government areas and local council development areas as part of its stray animal control policy to end to the menace.

    “The state government expressed concern and would no longer tolerate the culture of releasing cattle at night on major roads and highways in the metropolis” the statement warned.

    It urged residents not to panic but move to a safe place when they meet stray animals, such as cows, horses, dogs, pigs, rams, goats, and monkeys. Residents, according to the statement, are enjoined to cooperate with the authorities to rid the state of stray animals while owners of such animals are also advised to take adequate care of them to avoid confiscations.

    Residents are, however, advised to call any of the following dedicated lines for immediate response if accosted with any of these stray animals; 08077775657, 08057761762, 07033348402 and 08023934920.

    “Together, we can make Lagos a safe place if we all say no to stray animal on our road, and safe lives,’’ the statement added.

  • Farmers explore greenhouse farming to increase food security

    Farmers explore greenhouse farming to increase food security

    Faced with unpredictable weather conditions, many Nigerians are turning to greenhouse farming technology to increase food production and supplement their income. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    To boost food production, farmers have been in search of crops cultivation technologies that would help them control the climate for their plants 24 hours a day.

    This will allow their plants grow strong, healthy and big. One of these is under net houses. Net houses are framed or inflated structures covered with transparent or translucent material large enough to grow crops under partial or full controlled environmental conditions to get optimum growth and productivity. Net house farming, also known as greenhouses is fast gaining popularity among farmers because it enables them grow exotic vegetables, flowers and fruits throughout the year and help to  improve the depleting water table. This means farmers can grow crops  anytime  of the year and make the most use of land. The  technology gives plants exactly what they need – the perfect climate, the right amount of light, the right amount of nutrition, exact amounts of water and carbon dioxide and  proper ventilation.

    According to experts, the yield under greenhouse cultivation can be achieved to the level of 5-8 times as compared to the open crop cultivation which is two times.

    Also, it is possible to harvest a single crop round year with minimum additional inputs and higher income can be generated.

    Vegetables and flowers grown under greenhouses have given high returns and top quality produced. The potential of floriculture under protected cultivation is huge for global markets.

    One of the companies that have adopted greenhouse farming is Vegefresh Company Limited, an indigenous producer of tomato paste. This is to help the company achieve the goals of its National Integrated Tomato Development Programme which has commenced in Ogun and other states of the federation.

    The company farms and processes tomatoes. The addition of green houses enables it to produce tomatoes all year round.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Samuel Johnson Samuel said the  company  acquired greenhouses to enable it produce tomato year round and provide raw materials for its tomato processing plants.

    Under the net houses, the plants are protected from wind, precipitation, excess radiation and temperature. The other benefits are that crops of good quality and higher yield can be grown, water requirement is very less, while the low labour-intensive method helps in controlling pests and diseases.

    Indeed, Samuel is excited about his tomato project having seen the potential of a year-long harvest to service his tomato processing business. Though acquiring it costs some few millions, the facilities provide atmosphere for growth that is unaffected by outside changes.

    Due to very little sunlight access, humidity of the fertiliser is maintained, external insects and organisms that harm a plant don’t enter it and plant growth is even due to same climatic condition.

    To date, greenhouse farming has proved popular with big farmers and investors, who find it suitable for labour-intensive food production. The facility providers believe greenhouses represent potential growth market for a variety of economical, environmentally technical and ecological reasons and they are taking advantage of this to grow their businesses.

    An example is Dizengoff West Africa Nigeria, a member of the United Kingdom Balton CP Group and few of the organisations that have introduced greenhouse farming system into the market.

    For the company, if Nigeria has to emerge as an economic power, agricultural productivity should equal those countries, which are currently rated as economic powers of the world.

    To this end, the sector needs a new and effective technology which can improve continuously the productivity, profitability, sustainability of the farming system. One such technology is the greenhouse technology.

    Consequently, the company is training farmers and entrepreneurs on the use of its greenhouse technology for fresh vegetable production.

    The training focused on the production and post-harvest management of vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper and cucumber using the greenhouse technology.

    Its Marketing Communications Manager, Humphrey Otalor said the company has over 300 greenhouses across Nigeria.

    His words: “Over the past one year, we have engaged well over 200 greenhouse owners through a systemic training, which are both in theory and practical with the aim of helping farmers grow fresh vegetables in season and out of season, as well as helping them understand the different soil topography. With our greenhouses, farmers are able to grow their income levels, by growing fresh vegetable all year round: such are tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet-melon. Also, some use our greenhouse for research purposes.”

    Dizengoff greenhouse technology otherwise called ‘Dizengoff Farmers Kit’ is aimed at providing farmers with an all year round technique to produce and increase the yields of greenhouse crops such as tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet-melon as well as provide steady incomes for the farmers. It also involves transfer of knowledge to the farmers to improve the quality of their produce, reduce field losses and ensure higher profits.

    Presently, a number of farmers who have adopted the Dizengoff Farmer’s Kit are already enjoying high productivity from the system and most of them believe that with the increased demand of such crops in the market, the Kit, which is now widely being adopted, will help meet the rising demand.

    In terms of affordability, Otalor said the greenhouses are affordable and they are also talking to some banks, to provide loans for interested farmers on a single digit interest rate. While the technology has been associated with wealthy individuals, this is changing, thanks to many initiatives to produce low cost greenhouse to support small scale farms in urban and rural areas venturing into tomato and pepper growing.

    One of the farmers driving this change is Adewale Okunoye. He is an agric engineer by training. He is developing low- cost greenhouses. Okunoye, Chief Executive, Asher Ventures and Specialities, has successfully cultivated a variety of crops at his greenhouse set up at Ajah,Lagos.

    Though cheap compared to others, Okunoye has been able to achieve the objective of cultivating vegetables under a locally made greenhouse which still offer controlled conditions for the growth of different varieties of vegetables. Before he went into farming, he was into building/construction project management.

    His greenhouse, made up of low materials can be used to grow tomato, sweet peppers,orange, cucumber and vegetables. Apart from these, it can be used to cultivate varieties of flowers.

    Agricultural experts said cultivating fruits, flowers and vegetables in the greenhouse year-round requires maintaining a favourable temperature inside the greenhouse for the plants. He is happy he is able to achieve this.

    People aware of advantages of greenhouses have been approaching him to set up greenhouses at their farms and fields.

    Okunoye went into greenhouse constructing after quitting a career in building construction. Along the line, he thought of tomato cultivation. But he realised tomato farming is better done through greenhouse. With a greenhouse, he can extend tomato growing season to three crop cycles.

    Although greenhouses were available outside the country when he was starting, they were too large and too expensive for rural farmers. He thought of a way out. His words: “I got the idea of using local materials partially from my trip to East Africa in my quest to acquire the capacity to deploy the greenhouse cultivation technology. I took extensive and expensive tours around tomato greenhouse operations and from what I saw, with my background as an engineer, and my experience in construction, I came to the conclusion that I could try something similar in Nigeria.”

    After failed trials, Okunoye has produced a perfectly functional type. With all hardwares, it costs just N700,000. To produce for someone, he promised to do it for N800,000. The area of the greenhouse is 200m2. He opted for improvised greenhouses with lower maintenance costs that uses water more efficiently and one that can be easily moved to cut on setup costs.

    His dream is to produce a greenhouse for 400,000 naira.

    To Okunoye, greenhouse farming has opened a new chapter in his life. He is able to provide food for his family and educate his children. His passion and use of cheap materials is what has driven him to attain success so far.

  • Ogun to restore agric’s lost glory

    The Ogun State government’s goal is to re-engineer the agricultural sector to boost its industrial base and restore its lost glory as the main source of the nation’s revenue base.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun stated this at the kick off and distribution of agro-input to the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF)-supported beneficiaries of the cassava project at the Ijebu North and Ijebu North East Local government areas of the state.

    Amosun represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry  of Agriculture Lanre Bisiriyu, said it was in realisation of this that his administration was providing adequate facilities, appropriate input, extension services and incentives which will greatly improve the level of agricultural production, productivity and well being of its citizens.

    He praised the Foundation for supporting cassava a value chain which is one of the six priority crops of his administration with others been rice, cotton, cocoa, kola nut and oil-palm.

    Earlier, the General Manager of the Foundation, Miss Abimbola Okoya, said the choice of the four beneficiaries – Ijebu Igbo, Ago Iwoye, Imewuro and Idode in the two local government – was as a result of extensive deliberations with their partner, the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme.

    She added that the aim was to strengthen the capacity of farmers, cooperatives and agro-enterprise associations to participate in innovative economic activities, adopt renewable and energy-efficient technology, and implement practices of soil health.

    The farmers would also be supported with farmland preparation, provision of modern agricultural extension services, timely supply of improved agricultural input, provision of storage facilities and facilitation of access to open institutional markets.

  • Nigeria tackles illegal fishing

    The Federal Government has taken steps to combat illegal fishing by implementing measures to ensure that only responsible fishing companies operate on the nation’s waters.

    Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is estimated to strip between $10 billion and $23 billion from the global economy, and their impact undermine the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

    The Director, Department of Fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Aderemi Abioye, who disclosed this in Lagos, said the government was making efforts in collaboration between fishing companies to strengthen inspections and control procedures on vessels.

    He said the government was ready to work with the industry to encourage responsible fishing and promote sustainable fisheries and food security, adding that every attempt is made towards developing the industry.

    Abioye said the government was encouraging stakeholders to focus on fishery products that must be the result of appropriate trawling equipment and methods that do not harm the environment, use legal labour, and attain the required food safety standards.

    Globally, he said United States and the European Union (EU) represent the largest market for Nigerian shrimp exports and that the government ensures shrimp and fish exporters comply with  international regulations on country of origin to help US and EU consumers know where the shrimp and the fish they purchase was produced.

    Under international Country of Origin Labeling Law, labels on fresh seafood are required to tell consumers where the fish was farmed or wild-caught.

    He said the nation was making sure there were efficiencies at every stage of shrimp and fish export process to enable Nigeria enjoy a reputation of being highly efficient, reliable and standing by their commitments.

    Last year, a regional workshop on shrimp fisheries management plans for Cameroon, Gabon and Nigeria was held in Lagos to empower local companies, following foreign buyers demand that imported shrimps meet ecological and fair trade certification.

    The programme was intended to educate farmers on best practices as the government had taken the problem seriously. The shrimp industry, according to experts, is worth over $18 billion yearly.

    To be eligible for export, shipments must have certificates of origin, such as the name of the fishing vessel and the area. Under the regulations companies are required to put the samples of any export shrimp in testing for pathogen, antibiotics and other additives. The container will be held in quarantine cold storage until government representatives have come and got samples, then taken them to a lab for testing.

  • Wanted: A blueprint for profitable cocoa farming

    The Chief Operating Officer, Centre for Cocoa Development Initiative, Mr Robo Adhuze, has called for a blueprint that will make cocoa farming profitable.

    He appealed to investors to pump funds into cocoa production and help to position the industry as a viable area for economic growth, wealth creation and employment.

    To create a robust industry, Adhuze said the industry needed nurseries, processing facilities, more training for cocoa farmers and increased extension services that the association provides to make a sustainable impact on the industry.

    He said the sector needed assistance to help attract more youths to the industry, considering that the average age of cocoa farmers is 60.

    He said young farmers need all the assistance to sustain their interest in the cultivation of the commodity, which should include access to fund, land, fertiliser and other chemicals at a highly subsidised rate.

    He said there was need for the government to pursue a transformative initiative aimed at  empowering farmers to become more productive and secure for the future of cocoa.

    He said cocoa farmers needed more support and that they should be paid a fair price.

    Given the varied issues facing farming communities, he stressed that the right strategies would  help turnaround the sector.

    He said some local cocoa farmers had abandoned their land, which they considered unproductive, following poor yields of their cocoa trees that have a life span of between 25 and 30 years, calling for assistance to enable them replace them.

  • NAFDAC okays Hatchery Chicken

    NAFDAC okays Hatchery Chicken

    Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery, producers of natnudO chicken, has been certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    Speaking during a factory tour by the Team of NAFDAC, the Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii said the company’s production is in line with international standards and best practices and should be emulated by other players in the industry.

    “What I am seeing today are the kind of facilities we have seen only in developed countries and which I had prayed will one day be available in Nigeria.

    “This facility has now made it possible for Nigerians to enjoy high quality locally produced chicken which is guaranteed to meet their protein needs.”

    Orhii pledged that the agency will work with Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant agencies to ensure they record more successes in the quest to eradicate the consumption of unwholesome chicken in Nigeria.

    “I want to assure you again of government’s support to the local Poultry Industry and also of our commitment to educate Nigerians on consuming farm fresh frozen chicken.

    Appreciating the NAFDAC team for their commendations, the Group Managing Director Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Ltd, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan said it was the desire to provide good quality poultry products for Nigerians that led them to invest in building state of art facilities.

    He said: “The company has been a front runner in innovation in this industry, introducing first designer eggs – natnudO Super Eggs in 2010 enriched with Vitamin E and Selenium enriched with Organic Selenium and Vitamin E and was highly recommended for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

    “They are also great for all adults that lead an active lifestyle. The nutrients in natnudO super eggs works together to aid improved memory and learning capabilities in children, improved

    “Brain, and visual developments in babies and infants, a balanced immune system, good skin, eyes, hair and also slow down the ageing process.

    “We have gone further to introduce more affordable poultry products – natnudO Quarter Chicken and natnudO Half Chicken packs so that every Nigerian can have access to quality poultry meat.

    He advised Nigerians to encourage indigenous industries by patronising their products.

  • Boosting fish production with integrated rice-fish farms

    Boosting fish production with integrated rice-fish farms

    There is growing interest in researches aimed at improving fish farming globally. Part of the outcome is integrated fish farming approach championed by the University of Ibadan (UI),which involves the use of earthen ponds to raise fish and rice, and using poultry and piggery wastes for fish production. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    To boost fish production,  the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan has introduced a technology known as fish-rice-pig-poultry integrated aquacul-ture.

    It involves the use of earthen ponds to raise fish and rice. It utilises the waste from, poultry, piggery and agriculture for fish production.

    At the end, the farmer benefits from meat, eggs, rice, and fish.

    The project occupies an expansive area. For farmers, students and researchers it is a model integrated fish farm with rice grown inside a fish pond. It has been drawing local and international tourists who come to see a demonstration farm where fish is cultivated and integrated with some agricultural products such as rice, pigs and poultry to optimise yields.

    Speaking on the farm, the Head of Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin, said the fish-rice-pig-poultry integrated aqua-culture project involves using ponds to raise fish and rice and using the waste from pigs and  poultry as  feed for fish. At the end, he said the practice reduces the cost of production and maximises streams of income for the farmer through sale of fish, rice, eggs and pigs.

    Omitoyin said the agriculture sector is faced with the challenges of producing more food for ever increasing population while simultaneously tackling issues of environment conservation and sustain-ability.

    Tackling these challenges,he added, has given impetus to the West and Central Africa Research for Agricultural Development (CORAF/WECARD)-sponsored project on the development of viable and sustainable integrated aquaculture systems with agriculture production for resource poor farmers.

    His words: “This project has two components, namely; Integrated Production of Fish and Rice cum Poultry and Integrated Production of Fish and Rice cum Pig.  The first component is led by a research team from the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, University Ibadan in collaboration with Njala University in Sierra Leone and University of Beau in Cameroon. The second component which is also involves collaboration between the three institutions is led by the research team from Njala University, Sierra Leone. These projects are specifically designed to address the challenges related to decreases in capture-fisheries and the need for accelerated rice, poultry and pig production in West and Central Africa. It started in June 2013 and the project duration is three years. “

    According to him, the major regional target was to improve techniques on integrated crop-aquaculture-livestock production systems and subsequent up-scaling and out-scaling to countries of the West and Central Africa sub-region while the target beneficiaries are 600 integrated rice-aquaculture cum livestock farmers out of which 30 per cent  are women and youth.

    He said the approach gave birth to the establishment of two demonstration plots within the country. “Two adaptive research plots were established on the University of Ibadan fish farm, one for each of the components.”

    So far, he said over 500 farmers have been trained in Nigeria, exceeding the original 200 farmers expected to be trained in the project document for both components. Also,he said  over 700 hundred students have been trained through this process out of which 300 are females.

    Explaining the  reason for growing rice inside a fish pond, Omitoyin said the rice that is  planted  inside the fish  pond  benefits from nutrients which come from fish excreta. In addition, he said the aquatic weeds of rice also get reduced due to fish presence.  In turn, he said the fish benefits from the favourable micro climate created by the presence of rice plants. However, he said rice requires nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilisers which the fish waste provides whereas fish needs nutrients in the form of organic form. The essence of integrating them, he explained, is to allow the circulation of nutrients in different forms.

    He said poultry litter from the poultry farm is recycled into fish pond. The droppings of poultry birds, he added are used to fertilise the pond. To achieve this, he said the chicken waste from the poultry unit built near the pond is washed down through the delivery channel as organic fertiliser for the growing of rice. This, he added, helps farmers to avoid spending money in buying chemical fertiliser.

    The ponds also receive pig dung. This waste, he explained acts as excellent pond fertiliser and raises the biological productivity of the pond and consequently increases fish production and boost rice growth. To help the process, the pigsties are constructed in such a way that the washings are drained to the pond through a delivery channel.

    Omitoyin said the project could be started on one acre of land. He said would- be fish farmers will be taught to integrate rice with fish, poultry or piggery to increase production of yields. This model, according to him, would help farmers to realise so much profit from their investment than running a simple fish farm.

    Because of the success of the project, UI invites stakeholders and farmers to come and see the demonstration farm. The farm is used to train extension officers, farmers and students on aquaculture. Agriculture and fisheries students also go to the farm for school attachment.

    Omitoyin noted however, that space, labour and capital must be integrated and properly utilisfor optimum farm output.

    He stated that fisheries and aquaculture is a big source of incom, and added that there are lots of business opportunities in fish farming.

    The farm is part of the one million United States Dollars CORAF/WECARD project meant for University of Ibadan in Nigeria, Njala University in Sierra Leone and Buea University of Cameroon. Some of the project activities include: rehabilitation and re-stocking of abandoned ponds; develop capacity in sustainable integrated aquaculture techniques and tackle poverty and unemployment among poor vulnerable especially women and children.

    In one of the fora, the university’s WECARD training grant coordinator, Prof Emmanuel Ajani said the research into integrated farming was farmer-generated and meant to tackle challenges of monoculture source of income to farmers.

    He revealed that based on the success of the research into and implementation of findings of the aquaculture integration, the department had been called upon to train 5,000 farmers in Nigeria in the art of poultry-fishery-rice or pig-fishery-rice integration depending on demand.

    “This integrated farming has been helping and will continue to help alleviate poverty and create wealth, as well as employment,” Ajani said.

    The project cover sustainable integrated pond-based aquaculture with rice and poultry production and economic, social and environmental assessment. It deals with poverty eradication and grassroots empowerment through sustainable integrated aquaculture development: fish and rice cum piggery production. The projects are expected to boost fish production in Cameroon, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

    It is expected that when the 1million US dollar project ends after 3 years, enough information on integrated fish-poultry-pig and rice farming will be available to help government and other institutions develop this vital poverty alleviation sector.

    The project have three main components, “the development of suitable integrated fish-rice-poultry production technology through participatory research, expansion of the integrated aquaculture production in a community based demonstration plot and institutional strengthening and integrated capacity building of all stakeholders.

    The Project Director, Dr. Olapade Oluwafemi Julius said the essence of the project is to reduce poverty amongst grassroots dwellers.

    Meanwhile, a  profitability  study  on Integrated Aquaculture with Rice and Poultry Production in West and Central Africa (SIARP-ESEA project) conducted  by  the  university  showed that Integrated fish farming is more profitable than unitary system of farming as it ensures a spread of financial risk for its varied and diversified nature in rearing of fish, animals and crops;

    A Comparative analysis of biological productivity and yield of Integrated Aquaculture system (IAS) with conventional fish pond system showed that mean Food Conversion Ratio and Specific Growth Rate of 1.90± 0.18; 3.96±1.02 (convectional system) and 1.25±0.22; 3.16±0.29 (IAS) were recorded respectively. The total yield of rice harvested after 12 weeks in the paddy area of the pond in IAS was 20kg which can be extrapolated to 3.3tonne/hectare. Extrapolated figures between 1.63t/ha and 2.3t/ha was recorded in conventional system of rice production. Mean egg production of 52±1.50eggs per day and 53±1.0eggs per day were obtained in IAS and convectional system respectively. Water was about 17 times more efficiently utilized by integrated system of rice production than conventional irrigation system. Mean phytoplankton recorded in unfertilised pond was 12.71x 106/l, while 78.18X106/l was recorded after 12 weeks manure loading. Mean zooplankton population in the unfertilised pond was 15.4X106l, and 67.4X106 after 12 weeks of manure loading.

    Four adopted schools have been selected for the project intervention in Nigeria with infrastructure almost at 80 per cent completion in two of the selected adopted schools.

    The project has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria) on fingerlings multiplication and dissemination of the integrated fish farming across twelve states in Nigeria;

  • Govt urged to improve food safety standards

    A call has been made to the government to work with operators in the livestock meat processing sector to improve food safety standards.

    Deputy Director, Directorate of General Management, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Ademola Adeyemo, said there was need for private enterprises in the meat sub-sector to to improve food safety.

    He urged the government to strengthen regulations to ensure the private sector changes its working practices to ensure food safety and that the meat industry take more responsibility to  ensure  public  safety.

    According to him, operators were focusing on profit, adding that it is time food safety takes a more prominent place.

    He  said there should be    programme to make food business and their employees  aware that the products  meant for consumers’ plates should  be  free  from  elements  which  nurture  the  spread of diseases and ensure safety of the products.

    He said quality   assurance schemes should help not only to raise awareness of safety, they hygiene but also food fraud.

    Adeyemo called for incentives for businesses to encourage cooperation on food safety and for the industry to correct a business that takes irresponsible risks.

    He urged health authorities to pay more attention to tackling food fraud, urging the  strengthening   of meat and livestock inspection and supervision.