The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Stakeholders score Cassava Weed Project high

    Heads of implementing partner institutions comprising the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta(FUNAAB), and the University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM) are proud over the progress made towards the implementation of the Cassava Weed Management Project (CWMP)—a project that is led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

    In a briefing with the Project Coordinating team in Makurdi, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, thanked the team for a good job and reiterated the support of the University to the project. Kucha who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UAM, Prof John Ayoade, said the equipment donated to the University by the project were of great help to research. He praised the team for efficient and effective sharing of information on the activities of the project through the newsletter and social media, and also called on other projects to emulate the IITA-CWMP.

    At the NRCRI, the Executive Director, Dr Julius Okonkwo, also lauded the milestones and praised the capacity building efforts of the project.

    He promised that his institute would continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that the project attains its goals and impacts positively on the lives of farmers. Dr Okonkwo pledged to ensure that the project’s assets and research trials were protected and secured.

    Demonstrating his commitment to the Project, the NRCRI boss promised to release additional four hectares to the IITA-CWMP for trials this season at Utobi in Benue State.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, said his university was glad to be part of the IITA-CWMP.

    He emphasised that the results from the project would be useful to the society, and the advancement of the productivity of cassava in Nigeria.

    Earlier, the Principal Investigator of the IITA-CWMP, Prof Friday Ekeleme and the Communication & Knowledge Exchange Expert, Mr Godwin Atser, made oral presentations on the activities of the project in the outgoing year and plans for the year 2015.  Prof Ekeleme said the successful implementation of the activities of the project last year was a joint effort involving partners from NRCRI, FUNAAB, UAM and IITA under the leadership of the Project Coordinator, Dr Alfred Dixon.

    Prof Ekeleme called on partners not to rest on their oars but to redouble their efforts and commitment to attain the project’s milestones this year.

    The visiting team, which also had the Project Administrator, Mrs Ezinne Ibe, took time to visit experimental farms across the various partner institutions.

  • WAAPP support mission team visits FIIRO

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi has received the West Africa Agricultural Productivity (WAAPP) Supervision/Support Team who were on a working visit.

    The team was led by Dr. Sheu Salau who is the WAAPP Regional Task Team Leader from the World Bank. Also in the team were: Dr. Lucas Akapa, WAAPP Coordinator from CORAF/WECARD; Prof. Chi-kwendu Damain, National Coordinator, WAAPP – Nigeria and Dr. Kadir Osman Gyasi, the National Coordinator, WAAPP Ghana.

    Dr. Gloria N. Elemo, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in her welcome address, alluded to the objective of WAAPP team’s visit, saying it was review the progress of implementation of WAAPP projects with the various collaborating organisations with WAAPP of which FIIRO is a major stakeholder.

    She also stressed that WAAPP-Nigeria has been a very strategic partner to FIIRO because of her mandate most especially in the R&D on food and agro-processing technologies which is in tandem with the objective of WAAPP while stating that no other institution in Nigeria can serve this purpose better than FIIRO. She also appreciated WAAPP for the approvals the institute got from the organisation to execute some  projects.

    These include training in high quality cassava flour, odourless fufu flour industrial starch, fruit juice, instant pounded yam flour, kunu production and preservation, fish smoking, tomato processing, and zobo production and preservation in the six geo-political zones.

    Mre Elemo thanked the team for their various comments and suggestions and promised that she would set up a committee to look at the various suggestions made by the team with a view to implementing them to enhance the performance of the institute to make it deliver effectively and efficiently on its mandate.

    Regional WAAPP Task Team Leader, World Bank, Dr. Sheu Salau, stressed that FIIRO is a very serious result-driven institution and alluded to the fact that WAAPP and FIIRO have a lot in common thereby assuring of the readiness of World Bank and WAAPP to collaborate with the  institute.

    He promised to link the institute with various other donor organisations that are relevant to efficient and effective delivery on its mandate.

    The team expressed satisfaction in the institute’s activities and leadership and concluded that the institute has all it takes to execute all the approved WAAPPP projects.

  • Better seeds, better yields

    Better seeds, better yields

    Sustainable improvement of crop productivity is dependent on  seed varieties that have been  adapted to all types of environment. This is one area that the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria has invested in to improve food productivity and turn around the fortunes of farmers. DANIEL ESSIET reports.  

    Earlier this year, farmers in Benue State suffered crop loss attributed to the  poor quality seeds. Some of them in Otukpo Local Government Area lamented that they did not get high yielding seeds, fertiliser and other inputs. They blamed the poor harvest of crops on the government agricultural representatives who, in their estimation, are not doing enough to distribute inputs through the right channels.

    Despite that, the state received good rainfalls, the farmers recorded poor harvest.  Some of them complained of inability to access necessary inputs for high yield production. But, the State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Aondona HembeKule, attributed the poor harvest to lack of adequate inputs at the disposal of the commodity farmers, saying: “They (farmers) couldn’t collect their inputs this year. There was a communication gap between the commodity farmers association and AFAN. We are doing everything to bridge the perceived gap so that it doesn’t happen again.”

    Of the many factors that keep small-scale farmers poor, quality of seed may be the least understood. A lot of local farmers have been given seeds that promise high yields but fail to produce enough. Sometimes, the results are disastrous.

    President, Federated FADAMA Community Association, Lagos State, Alhaji Abiodun Oyenekan has experienced it.

    He said there was a time he was using local seeds.  Yields were very low. When new varieties came in, he took advantage of it.

    To him, the huge adoption by small farmers in Lagos has resulted in very high yields.  In terms of productivity, he said improved seeds can make a world of difference for small farmers. This is enough to lift farmers out of poverty.

    For instance, some farmers get one to three tonnes but with improved varieties they get five to six tonnes per hectare. For him, local seeds are major barriers to agricultural growth. This is because of low yield.

    While he owes his present success to improved seeds, the challenge, however, is that improved seeds are not enough to supply the millions of farmers who need them.

    Presently, there is lack of trust in local seed markets even for large commercial farmers, some of whom have invested heavily to plant hundreds of acres with high yield hybrids that simply didn’t germinate.

    In an  interview with The Nation, the Farm Manager and Agric Technical Advisor, Kaboji Farms Limited, Niger State, Mr  Kobus De Jager  said  the  market lacked  good hybrid seeds  which  is  key to profitable commercial farming.

    For watchers, poor seeds make it impossible for farmers to adopt the modern agricultural techniques that lifted millions of farmers out of poverty.

    But  an  initiative hopes to change all that by enhancing farmers’ access to improved seeds.

    With West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria)’ support, poor farmers will be able to purchase high quality seed of local food crops

    The programme’s   support for the nation’s fledgling private seed sector is part of its comprehensive approach to catalyzing change. This includes supporting the national agricultural research institutions, to develop improved varieties with higher yields to   reach farmers. The step offers hope for small farms by helping ensure that new seed varieties with higher yields make it through the supply chain from breeders to farmers.

    Speaking  in  a forum  in Abuja, the National  Coordinator, West  Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme,(WAAPP),Professor Damian Chikwendu  said breeders, industry, farmers and others are  involved in the supply chain, it  is the first viable system for getting a top-down view of where choke points stifle seed access.

    With support from WAAPP, Nigeria is strengthening its seed systems as well as its research and technology transfer systems to make farming more resilient.

    With the help of the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), some   farmers have been able to revitalize their productivity through the planting of higher yielding varieties.

    WAAPP sponsors  research organisations to run experiments to develop higher yielding varieties.  Farmers also benefit from training, study tours, knowledge exchanges between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stakeholders, and equipment prototypes during exchange visits, all of which help strengthen their technical capacities.

    Chinkwendu  said   getting improved seeds to small farmers is critical to raising agricultural productivity and reducing poverty.

    He   added that the main challenges facing the seed sector is equitable access to good quality seed due to poor infrastructure, poor market infrastructure and systems and a variety of logistical challenges.

    To ensure farmers have access to improved and adaptable seed varieties, he  said the  programme  was sponsoring  the implementation of  an effective breeding and seed systems approach across the country. He said the programme is promoting partnership to provide information and assist those who want to enter the seed trade sector.

    With food demand increasing, reflecting a growing population and  increased consumption, Chikwendu noted  that   a  higher yields will be needed to meet this demand.

    In a meeting with some Chief Executives of some Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs),Chikwendu said partnership with the ADPs would continue as long as WAAPP remained and expressed confidence that at the end of the programme, its impact would be felt by Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, WAAPP-Nigeria has distributed over 125 bags of rice, sorghum and maize hybrid improved seeds to over 200 farmers in Gombe State for this year’s farming season.

    Speaking during the distribution at Baure village in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area, the Provost, Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Professor Fatima Sawa, said the seeds were freely given to the farmers.

    “The seeds are improved, graded specifically for the Northeast ecological zone and from the reports we got from the farmers, the seeds are high-yielding and of better quality than the types our farmers were using before,” she said.

    Sawa called on the farmers to use the seeds judiciously. “They should use them by way of planting them and observe all the agronomic practices in order to drive the maximum benefit from the seeds.”She said the college has signed an agreement with a pesticide company to supply the chemical directly to the college, which would  sell the chemical to farmers at a subsidised rate.She said doing so will solve the problem of adulterated chemicals and eliminate middle men who might increase the price.

    So far, WAAPP-Nigeria has  signed partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  with   States Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs).  The WAAPP-sponsored initiatives include Community-based Agricultural Seed Multiplication.  The community-based seed multiplication initiation is aimed at contributing toward seed sufficiency among rural farmers in the country.

    To this end, WAAPP-Nigeria has already invested in the production and supply of foundation seeds for cassava, maize, rice, sorghum, and yam to ADPs in  states.  WAAPP’s commitment involves covering the cost of the agricultural seeds, the farm inputs, farmer training, technical assistance, and a mandatory inspection regime by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), as part of the processes for the production of Certified Seeds which will be available for farmers’ during  the  farming season.  The state ADPs are technical partners in the community-based seed multiplication initiative.

    The  Programme Manager, Agriculture Development Programme, Abia State, Mr Eyinnaya Elekwachi, said the local farmers are  benefitting  from  improved seeds   given  by WAAPP, adding  that they  enhance  their productivity and make farming a better business in the state.

    Speaking  with The Nation, the WAAPP Desk Officer , Abia State  ADP, Mrs Nnenna  Uche said  farmers  in the  17  local government  areas  of the state have  benefitted  from high yielding  seeds.

    These include   certified rice,  maize, yam and cassava seeds to enable farmers increase their productivity. The seeds, he said  were  made  available  to   farmers through  innovation platforms.

    The  seeds   were freely given to the farmers and they are of better quality than the local types they  were using before.

    According  to  the  Chairman, Cassava Value Chain Innovation Platform, Abia State, Kalu Iche Kalu, several   new cassava varieties have come from collaborative breeding efforts supported by WAAPP and   improved varieties resulting from such works have doubled average crop yields.

    Kalu said the impact is great, yielding enormous returns for agro businesses.

    Consequently, he said, cassava is one of the most dynamic sub sectors in the  state, helping to drive industrial development while delivering higher incomes to investors. Under the WAAPP Nigeria Programme,  the mandate, he said, is root and tuber, specifically yam and cassava. The platforms are in nine states and have given small holder farmers support on farm inputs such as fertiliser and the top five cassava varieties, including the pro-vitamin A  umu-cass 36,37 and 38.

    Under the WAAPP assisted project,  he said the  target in the first phase is to reach out to 300,000 farmers, and  they have reached  167,000.  “This year we are providing seven processing centres across seven states  of which two are almost completed.  Our target is to complete these processing centres before the end of May next year.

    To experts, the   seed industry is growing in many ways. But the level of investment in research and development, rate of annual yield gains and overall crop and seed values should be at equal   levels. All these, they believe, will help to maintain growth while sustaining the environment, creating excitement, competition, investment and change in the seed industry.

  • Agric Bank rolls out Green Cash Card

    Agric Bank rolls out Green Cash Card

    To make life more meaningful, enable access to its facilities by clients and rural farmers, the Bank of Agriculture(BOA) has introduced a Green Cash Card that will give farmers wherever they are access to its facilities.

    Disclosing this to The Nation in an exclusive chat at the bank’s corporate headquarters in Kaduna, the Executive Director, Wholesale Finance, Alhaji Ahmadu Haruna Waziri, said the Green Cash will  key into the cashless policy whereby any of the bank’s clients can transact businesses with minimal cash flow.

    According to him, it is e-banking system whereby all the clients can do their business with the bank in a fast and secured way within a twinkle of an eye “You can use your mobile phone to transact all your businesses. You can also use internet transaction in addition to other e-banking businesses. It is a platform for us to provide our client a viable service at the remotest village you can get mobile telephone. People who are dealing in little flow of cash can easily be reached.”

    Waziri pointed out that “This Green Cash will allow them to access their fund in any part of the country even at the remotest village. We have sent marketers to the field to sensitise the people on the need to key into this concept. Now, we are at the process of recruiting agents that will serve as intermediary between the bank and the farmers. The agents will act as outlet to the services of the bank.”

    He explained that each agent will act like a branch and any customer can visit the agent either to deposit cash or withdraw cash without going to the banking hall. “We have different level of agents and the amount they can deal with. Each branch of the bank will coordinate all the activities of the agents”

    The renowned agribusiness expert said  the first recruitment of the agents will be between one and two per each of the 774 local governments and will be saddled with the responsibility of transacting business with the bank clients without going to ATM stands.

    “The idea is that cash can be transfered to our customers through their phone number. The handling of the physical cash will be minimal. Outside the eco system, all other transactions can be done on the phone. The agent will be categorized into silver, bronze and gold the amount they are handling will determine their category.

    Waziri also stated that the bank is embarking on enlightenment campaign at the grassroots to sensitise  the people on the advantage of the Green e-wallet, adding that when the system is fully operational, it will ease the tension of carrying cash all about for businesses.

    “We are backing it with the type of technology they already know like POS, ATM system etc. You can approach the agent and demand for your balance free of charge as long as you are in the Green Card system, he will oblige. It will also provide other services like buying of air time, utility bills etc”

  • Group seeks minister’s intervention on cassava bread grants

    The Delta Youths For Agriculture (DYFA) has  called on the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Adesina Akinwunmi, to intervene in the stalemate over Cassava Bread Out-grower Intervention Fund.

    The Coordinator of the group, Mr Lucky Aruoture, made the appeal at a seminar organised by the group in Warri, Delta.

    The group accused the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and the Ministry of Agriculture of frustrating access to the fund by potential beneficiaries.

    He coordinator said BoA failed to release the fund approved for Jopat Nig. Ltd under the Cassava Bread Out-grower Fund even when it had fulfilled the conditions.

    Aruoture said the development had frustrated the dreams of young Nigerians on agriculture.

    He said the conditions spelt out for accessing the fund in January 2014 included payment of N5,000 per hectare and a minimum of two hectares and maximum of four hectares per accredited beneficiary.

    “The payment of N20,000 for four hectares as equity contribution to access the loan/grant, land preparation and all other conditions have been met.

    ‘’All approved beneficiaries in our group have received SMS alerts confirming approval since September 2014, so we wonder why the bank and the ministry of agriculture have not released the funds,’’ he said.

  • IAR&T holds mid-term project review workshop

    The Integrated Land and Water Management for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change (ILWAC) Nigerian team has constructed check dams and water pans for farmers.

    The Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Prof. James Adediran, said this during the ILWAC Mid-Term Review and workshop held at  his institute.

    Adediran said since the inception of the project in 2013, the team had made a lot of progress which includes establishment of sustainable partnership for innovations in soil and water management.

    “Appropriate tools for soil resource mapping were developed and promoted while technologies for soil-water-nutrient management were identified and promoted.

    He noted that his institute alongside other institutions in Burkina-Faso and Cote d’ Ivoire won the grant to conduct research on the project titled ‘Sustainable soil-water nutrient management under increasing climatic change and Variability.

    He however emphasized that the project was funded by CORAF/West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD).

    The Director said the objective was to improve agricultural resilience to climatic variability through deployment of improved soil and water management technologies that will mitigate the impact of climatic variability.

    The ILWAC Regional Coordinator, Dr Vincent Aduramigba-Modupe said no fewer than 10,000 farmers including women were empowered with inputs, climate smart soil and water conservation measures.

    He said part of the objective is to provide farmers, especially vegetable farmers with water to use during the dry season.

    “The project is on-going in Nigeria, Borkina-faso and Cote d’Ivoire. We plan to upscale the project to more countries in West and Central Africa.

    “We also plan for production of 5000 training manuals, policy briefs and farmers guide; we have more plans but have challenge of restricted use of funds by donor, World Bank and WECARD,” he said.

    The  Head, Department of Fisheries and  Aquaculture University of Ibadan, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin ,  commended the donor and the stakeholders in the project for improving farmers livelihood through the ILWAC project.

  • Professor, others get $4.5m to promote vegetables

    To promote indigenous vegetables, professor of Soil  Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , Duro Oyedele, will receive $4,450,000 million for a project to promote indigenous vegetables.

    The project, which will be in partnership with the Osun State University, University of Parakou, Republic of Benin, University of Manitoba and University of Saskatchewan, Canada, is to advance the Under-Utilised Indigenous Vegetables (UIVs) in Southwestern Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    In Nigeria, according to findings,  more than 1,000 farmers increase their yield and income by using improved farming practices to grow UIVs. These improved farming practices were developed during the field research carried out in Southwestern Nigeria. In Benin, fertiliser micro-dosing and rain water harvesting techniques also helped more than 10 thousand farmers achieve equally beneficial results with other crops despite degraded soil.

    The team of Nigerian, Beninoise and Canadian researchers are now combining these two innovations to bring the farmers’ practices to 50,000 farmers. The recommended farming techniques will be spread through demonstration trials, outreach efforts, supports and trainings for seed producers and marketers, by establishing local committees to address issues such as productivity and marketing.

    Support to indigenous vegetables farming and processing business will increase demand and improve income of 1,000,000 West African farmers and the  University of Manitoba  in Canada.This project is among the four international projects that have been collectively awarded $17 million by the  International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. They are part of an effort to scale up the most promising research supported under IDRC- Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF).

    The CIFSRF is a  programme of IDRC, Canada, undertaken with financial support of the government of Canadian provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada. The fund support research to increase food security in developing countries while fostering collaboration between developing-countries researchers and Canadian experts.

  • Don urges in-coming legislators to revolutionise agric

    A former Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof Abiodun Adeloye, has advised incoming members of the National Assembly to work with the Federal Government to ensure the agriculture sector is a leader in providing high quality food in the future.

    He said it is crucial that everyone works together in the quest for self-sufficiency in food production.

    He said the new government should come to power with a detailed and positive agenda for agriculture, to make the sector more dynamic, competitive and effective to address  areas such as improving foreign direct investment, enhancing farmers’ ability to tackle animal and plant health, building safe and secure food chains.

    Adeloye observed that there was a need  to  reverse long- term declines in farming productivity.

    He urged lawmakers to develop a blueprint for future agriculture policy as many farmers are feeling the squeeze of higher production costs.

    Suggestions include additional money for research and marketing for value-added products, innovation, development and extension, competitiveness and market access.

    Adeloye,who  is the Coordinator WAAPP Nigeria projects at the university, said the sector would need a large  funding,and  that issues affecting the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, within the country should be singled out for an overhaul.

    He called on the government to address issues around the cost of doing agro business, regulation, access to capital and critical infrastructure improvements.

    He urged the National Assembly to be proactive in engaging with Nigerians to find out what they think about agriculture, what their values are, regarding food production, and to proactively attempt to build better and more constructive relationships with community and activist groups, including those who are currently campaigning against the programmes  of the  sector.

    According to him, achieving food security  requires  a commitment by leaders in all sectors to ensure  a sustained and focused effort to end hunger.

  • Addressing shortage of wheat supply

    Addressing shortage of wheat supply

    Consumption of wheat has increased over the years, with population growth. It has become one of the main diets in most homes and a major raw material for industry. But the challenge is its inadequate supply. This is attributed to lack of government’s support, inability of local farmers to meet demand and millers’ demand for higher imported grade, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Wheat has become one of the common cereals in Nigeria. It competes with staple foods, such as maize, cassava, millet and plantain. In addition, the increasing number of millers, fast – food restaurants and vendors in major towns has increased the demand for wheat flour.

    Sadly, only 20 per cent of the grade used in most of the bakeries and by major millers is obtained locally. The remaining 80 per cent is  imported. While wheat consumption is increasing following changing consumer preferences, the sustainability of supply has not been addressed.

    Stakeholders say the situation requires that government work to reduce reliance on imports, thereby improving food security and conserving foreign exchange.

    Chairman, Wheat Farmers Association, Sokoto State, Mohammed Mahe Marafa, said policy summersault has affected wheat production.

    For more than 30 years, Marafa, has been farming wheat in Sokoto. His lush wheat land stretches far and yields in huge volume.

    There are many such wheat farms along the Sokoto and Kebbi axis.

    According to him, Goronyo, Illela, Gwadabawa, Wamako, Yabo, Wurno, SabonBirni, Kebbe, Shagari and Gada are the local government areas that produce wheat in the state. Years back, he said  farmers would produce more than 30,000 metric tonnes of wheat in three months. But the story has since changed because  they   used  to get  government’s support.  “We produce, the government buys and gives us money but later, the government withdrew in 1985 and the situation has remained so till date,” he lamented.

    Last year, however, the Federal Government sent an improved wheat variety to the farmers which is said to have capacity to produce between 15 and 20 bags of wheat in three months.

    He said:  “They gave us one bag each and two bags of fertilisers. Many farmers were afraid to farm because of the bad experience they had in the past hence did not farm. I had to buy 11 bags from the farmers and at the end of the year I produced 300 bags after the March harvest.

    “The most disheartening aspect of the whole thing was that the Federal Government that gave us the variety never showed up to buy the harvest. From the month of March, we kept waiting and waiting and up to November, another planting season without a trace of the government.“

    The Federal Government finally came and bought it at the rate of N13, 000 per 25 kg, while Kebbi State government bought at N25, 000 per 25kg from the farmers. But this was rather too late a gesture.

    As the season for wheat planting  wound down early this year, farmers grew worried.

    More farmers had not planted the normal amount of seed, because they had no guarantees that the government  would buy their crop as it normally does. Marafa,  lamented how tough it has become.

    He said  if the farmers get the necessary support, each member can produce more than 100 metric tonnes of wheat in Sokoto State in three months.

    He added: ”I had a link with flours mills around the country, such  as  Flour Mills of Nigeria, Bendel Mills, Zamfara Mills and there are rich people who also come to buy on behalf of them. But sadly, these companies have also withdrawn leaving us with no market.”

    What  were  the reasons for their withdrawal?  He  said they got better ones from abroad.

    Does it mean their seedlings are of low quality?

    He  said: “ No, it is not. Here in Goronyo where I am living we have the second best wheat variety in the whole world. It is only that of Canada that is ahead of ours. Our variety is JaAlkama the red one and other varieties that have high yields.”

    According to him, Sokoto farmers produce   second best wheat in the world. “All we need is encouragement from the government and wheat users,” he said.

    To make amendments, he said his association is visiting some of the flour mills to chart a new course. “We intend to pick representatives to go and meet them and discuss  how best we can help ourselves. We gave samples of wheat to a member who has business interest in Lagos to open discussion with a number of flour mills there and if they need it we are ever ready to produce for them. We are waiting for the result,” he added.

    For industry  watchers, while the local farmers are making efforts, there is a huge gap between what Nigeria needs and what it is producing now.  In the analysis of climatic, soil and economic data, it is very difficult to grow wheat. While the  country has a rich agricultural land and climate, it is not well enough for inland cultivation of the cereal. This is because the cereal grows best in mild climate. Climates that are too hot or too cold could ruin development of the crop.

    The north generates very productive wheat yields, but relies on irrigation. The  growing  area covers  the  Sudan/Sahelian zones of Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Adamawa states.Commercial wheat production is possible through the use of expensive irrigation.  There is a growing concern about untimely rain and hail in the hitting wheat cultivation.

    A professor of Soil Science, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto,   Sumaila Sani Noma, said wheat is no longer a common crop in Sokoto State. For this reason,  he    said  farmers have now shifted to irrigated rice instead.

    The reason largely is the lack of market and heavy  importation  that  is  driving  local production into extinction.

    According to him, millers and bakers prefer  to buy  imported wheat because  it is cheaper and this  leaves  local farmers without a market.

    Another concern he expressed  was the limited planting period.

    His words: “The only period you can grow wheat is usually from November to late January or late February before the hot season starts. Any other planting beyond this will make yield reduction above 50 per cent sometimes. This is because the time frame for which you can grow wheat is very short.”

    With appropriate measures and marketing, he  said  it is possible that people can make profit in wheat farming in Sokoto.

    As wheat farmers decry lack of assistance from the government, Noma said: “People have shifted ground to irrigate rice and I think they are getting a lot from that. It will take time to convince people to go back to wheat because of the way they suffered from it.”

    In the face of low supply, Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Dr. Gbenga  Olabanji said there was  no need to ban wheat importation.

    His words: “ No! wheat cannot be banned; there is no basis for that. There is a treaty signed on liberalisation of trade and there cannot be the banning of wheat. There should be gestation period for wheat production and development. The world is competitive and Nigeria should compete; we have what it takes to compete and Nigeria’s wheat is as good if not better than imported wheat.  Nutritionally, there is no way to compare wheat that has been stored for many years to local freshly grown wheat.

    “Remember, we are talking about food and nutrition security; food has to contain all the nutrients in their right strength. That is why the people in the village, despite their poverty, look strong and healthy – the same go for the old ones who are still working in farms.

    “We are not advocates of wheat banning, but in a few years time, even our millers will realise that our locally grown wheat is better and will key into it.”

    Right now, he said the cost of local wheat is higher than imported ones, adding that by the time the farmers are able to produce enough wheat in the country, the price will come down. In the interest of the millers, he  said  there is plan to give states the preferred variety to produce so there will  be  sufficient quantities for industries.

    The Managing Director, Chad Basin Development Authority, Garba Abba, said wheat is better grown in cold weather in Europe, Canada, United States and  Asia.

    “For us in the Chad Basin, November is ideal and for water, we draw from Lake Chad. Due to this need for water, the South Chad irrigation project, is located at New Marte to provide water for all the farmers,” he said.

    According to him, the country has comparative advantage for producing wheat, adding that Borno, Yobe  and  Adamawa states form the catchment area.

    He said: “ Our major challenge is water. Due to the fact that the basin is a low land area, we cannot irrigate our land by gravity. Water must be pumped and this involves enormous use of energy and its attendant high cost. A 30-megawatt diesel-powered station was put in place to provide the water needed by the project.

    Lake Chad is the only source of water and it is lying lower than the farm level hence the need to pump water rather than use gravity of flow.

    “We pump water to a height of 16m in two stages and the energy usage is quite heavy. At the time the station was put in place in the 70s, diesel was at 3 kobo per litre, but now in Maiduguri, the pump price is between N150-N160 per litre. The project is not yet connected to the national grid and it is the single most militating factor against the project. The grid stopped at Maiduguri, N124km away from New Marte. This energy issue makes the cost of production of wheat in the area about the highest in the world,“ he explained.

    Domestic wheat production is less than 100,000 tonnes per year. Increased production is challenged by the lack of heat-tolerant wheat varieties that are high yielding and development of rain-fed wheat cultivars that are tolerant/resistant to high temperatures, humidity, pests and diseases.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has said the Federal Government has emphatically put a lie to the long-touted myth that Nigeria cannot produce wheat in commercial quantities to enable her exit the choking grip of importation of the commodity.

    While launching two new high-yield, early maturing, heat-tolerant and drought-resistant wheat varieties developed by the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), in conjunction with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with assistance from the Federal Government and grant from the African Development Bank (ADB), Adesina  said  the two new wheat varieties, named Norman Borlaug and Reyna-28 which have potential yields of five to six metric tons per hectare as against the traditional variety with a yield per hectare of just 0.8 million metric tons per hectare were showcased to members of the public, agribusiness investors, journalists and other stakeholders on the field in Kadawa in Kura Local Government of Kano State.

  • Three institutes develop fisheries technologies

    Three institutes develop fisheries technologies

    Three institutes have developed new technologies to increase fish production. The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, Lagos, the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, Kwara State and the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa, Niger State (NIFFR)), with the new methods, plan a fish processing technology to produce healthier fish to meet local and international standards.

    Small fishing communities are to be equipped with tools and know-how to dry and smoke fish on a simple rack. The technologies include catfish crossbreeding, post-harvest processing and marketing, and sourcing local contents to substitute imported raw materials in fish feeds, among others.

    During presentation of reports to the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP, Executive Director of NIOMR and Team Leader, Dr Gbola Akande, said: “The kiln is capable of offering advanced processing technique that provides processors with better working conditions and also enables them to produce good quality and highly competitive smoked dried fish for local and international markets.”

    He said the new technology transfer was to support the fisheries sector, especially the small and medium scale fisheries in enhancing their profitability, poverty reduction and contribution to the sustainable development goals.

    Similarly, the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), which product was presented by Dr Foluso Olayemi, showcased a detachable fish smoking kiln capable of using electricity, gas or charcoal. And fish processor automatically has the three sources once he purchases the kiln.

    The three models of the smoking kilns developed for WAAPPP are effective in drying catfish to safe moisture content, as well as in fish oil collection.

    The electrically powered kiln has the highest drying rate due to a stable temperature profile in the dryer. It also developed a solar dryer tent for stock fish, which output can compete favourably with the imported stockfish in terms of nutritional and sensory qualities.

    Also, NSPRI developed packaging materials for  marketing of processed fish.

    Olayemi,who is also the  team leader, said: “the study aims at developing effective packaging for shelf life extension in processed fish through the development of vacuum and composite packaging materials using locally sourced materials. However, the triple laminated packaging materials have been found most effective but at a higher cost.

    He said: “They provided the correct environmental conditions for the fish right from the time it was packed till now (four months).”

    Also, the composite packaging materials have light weight which only added negligible weight to the weight of product being packaged.

    The materials provide a barrier against dirt and other contaminants, thus keeping the product clean, preventing losses and protecting food against physical and chemical damage from harmful effects of air, light and insects.

    NIFFR Unit Project Team Leader, Dr Moses Yisa, also presented the newly developed catfish strains, saying the objective the research was to monitor survival and growth performance of the parental and progeny from intra-specific mating combinations so as to to produce fast-growing fingerlings of Clarias anguillaris for fish farmers. This was done in collaborating with NIOMR), Lagos and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State.

    The fish strains from different ecological zones used for the study were successfully hybridised artificially and the Onitsha strain hybridised with Maiduguri strain showed superiority in growth performance in both indoor and outdoor experiment. He therefore, recommended the mating combination for propagation to produce fingerlings for farmers.