The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Adopt irrigation for year-round food production, LBRBDA boss urges farmers

    Adopt irrigation for year-round food production, LBRBDA boss urges farmers

    Farmers and agri-business owners in the rural communities among States under the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) have been urged to embrace irrigation as a tool towards ensuring year-round farming and food sustainability.

    The Managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Terese Ninga made this call at the grand finale of the three-day capacity building for farmers and agribusiness owners across Plateau, Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

    The event, held in Makurdi between last Tuesday and Thursday, had no fewer than 60 farmers and agribusiness dealers as beneficiaries.

    Speaking at the final, Engr. Ninga said the capacity building and grants awarded to participants are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to ensure farming becomes lucrative and food sufficiency all year round.

    Ninga said, “Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s vision for zero poverty and food sustainability. We have put this together to ensure that we reduce poverty at the grassroots and to have more people improve on their current businesses.

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    “We want to ensure agribusiness and agriculture itself are made attractive to youths, women and other categories of Nigerians who are resident within our jurisdiction and this is one of the plans embedded in the holistic framework we have on this.

    “In the Middle Belt here, we realised that most farmers don’t do much during the dry season. But I’m here to tell you that farming can still be done during the dry  season and that’s why we talk about irrigation. We have water that will serve us and ensure we have harvests all year round.

    “Farming should be all year round and that’s why we’re calling on farmers to embrace irrigation. The President is very interested in sustainable farming and our jurisdiction being the food basket of the nation, we all must work towards this vision.”

     Ninga commended the president for the opportunity, adding that the agency under him will continue to work with all stakeholders. He also urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the grant and the knowledge gained.

    While addressing the participants, representative of the lead partner, Abeam Global Resources, Mr Kola Balogun said the company keyed into the vision of the LBRBDA and the Federal Government, adding that the capacity building was designed to address major issues facing farmers in the region.

    “We keyed into the vision of the Authority to ensure farmers at the grassroots are empowered with both capacity building and small grants to do their business. We also ensured that the training was deep enough to capture all areas needed for modern farming and farming during the dry season,” Balogun said.

    He called on beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the grants, while also putting the skills and knowledge acquired during the training, into practice.

    Some of the beneficiaries, while speaking with newsmen, appreciated the opportunity given to them by the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority.  

    Ene Idoko, who described herself as a business woman that deals with agriculture products, said her major inspiration was sessions on record keeping, planning and budgeting.

    Ene said “this is highly inspirational and I’ll surely apply lessons gained from sessions. I appreciate the authority and the federal government for helping us in this direction. The grants and knowledge will surely yield positive results.

    Also, Samuel Lohman, a participant from Plateau State described the training as impactful and engaging.

  • Firm reiterates plans to empower farmers, connect consumers in Africa

    Firm reiterates plans to empower farmers, connect consumers in Africa

    A new agricultural platform, Farmlinkup, has been launched to connect farmers, consumers, and industrialists across Nigeria and beyond. 

    The founder, Omoyele Omonira, explained that the platform is designed to empower farmers by providing a marketplace to showcase and sell their produce, while also connecting consumers to fresh and nutritious farm products.

    Speaking at a briefing in Ibadan, Omoyele noted that the platform is a farmers’ hub which ensure farmers sell their products faster, noting that most agricultural products are perishable products, which often cause huge loss to effort put into production by the farmers, if not sold early enough.

    He said the platform will help reduce market inefficiencies, promote youth inclusion in farming, and advocate for government incentives and soft-loan support to foster a thriving agricultural sector. 

    With features like logistics coordination and transparent pricing, Farmlinkup aims to revolutionise the agribusiness value chain and digitize agriculture.

    Omoyele emphasised the importance of empowering Nigerian youths to thrive in agribusiness and called for partnerships with government and private firms to promote the agricultural sector through seminars and trainings for farmers. 

    He also expressed optimism about the platform’s potential, stating that Farmlinkup could make Africa the food basket of the world within the next five years.

    He stated that the platform which have over 50, 000 subscribers, encourages consumers and all citizens through the patronage of nutritional, fresh from farm products, agricultural equipments and services.

    He added the organisation which was recently honored in recognition of his contributions to the agricultural sector, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Oguwusi, during the Oodua Special Recognition Award, OSRA, was created as a marketplace for farmers where they can link up or project their farm produce and services to the world.

    He further added that the platform is also meant to bring together agric entrepreneurs, farmers and industrialists in need of farm produce or equipment within and the country and beyond together.

    Omoyele however noted that the initiative is an avenue to create a space for younger generations to go into agriculture.

    While seeking partnership with government and private firms in promotion of the agricultural sector through seminars and trainings for farmers, he urged Nigerian farmers and other farmers in africa to join in a bid to boost their profit margins.

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    “We are revolutionising the agricultural system whereby a farmer can take pictures of his farm produce and upload, put his phone number and address and anybody in need of the product will call such a farmer for it to be delivered. 

    “This platform is an online marketplace that brings together farmers, service providers, and consumers across Nigeria. Its core mission is to  link up the farmers, agricultural service providers and the consumers, creating a seamless, secure space where producers can showcase and sell fresh, nutritious produce while buyers enjoy transparent pricing and easy access

    “Beyond commerce, Farmlinkup seeks to  revolutionise  the agribusiness value chain, promotes youth inclusion in farming, offers tools for logistics coordination, and advocates for government incentives and soft‑loan support to foster a thriving, digitally‑enabled agricultural sector.

    “In essence the platform aims to digitise agriculture, reduce market inefficiencies and empower Nigerian youths  to thrive in agribusiness 

    “We are seeing farmlinkup in the next five years as a platform which will ensure africa is the food basket of the world,“ he explained..

  • ‘Youth empowerment, innovation to transform food system’

    ‘Youth empowerment, innovation to transform food system’

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said transforming Nigeria’s food system requires aligning policies with innovation and empowering youth as co-architects of agriculture.

    Speaking at World Food Forum Nigeria Chapter Side Event: “Bridging Policy and Innovation: Youth at the Forefront of Agri-Food Transformation,”  Kyari said young entrepreneurs would drive innovation, create opportunities, and foster inclusive and productive agriculture ecosystem.

    He noted that under President Bola Tinubu, agriculture has been placed at the core of national development agenda.

    “Food security is more than an economic priority; it is the foundation of national sovereignty and stability,” he said.

    Kyari said through Renewed Hope, the President is leading efforts to reinforce confidence in Nigeria’s food systems, strengthen production, and empower youths.

    “We are strengthening the link between policy and practice, ensuring that strategies are inclusive, data-driven, and shaped by those who live and work in our food systems, especially the youth driving innovation,” he added.

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    The minister stressed that the government is shifting from a top-down approach to co-creation, where collaboration replaces prescription and young voices shape policies that define the nation’s future.

    Listing progress made under National Agricultural Technology and Innovation, Kyari described it as the backbone of a tech-enabled, youth-driven, and commercially viable agriculture ecosystem.

    He noted the need for sustained financing to scale youth-led agricultural innovations.

    “To sustain this innovation, we must ensure young agripreneurs access resources to scale their ideas. Financing innovation and enterprise is the catalyst for agricultural transformation. No matter how brilliant our ideas or technologies, without accessible and affordable finance, they cannot grow into impact,” he said.

    Kyari listed key initiatives, including operationalisation of the National Agricultural Development Fund and the N1.5 trillion recapitalisation of Bank of Agriculture, described as one of the largest agricultural finance commitments in Nigeria’s history.

    These measures, he noted, will expand access to affordable finance for youth and women-led agribusinesses.

    He also celebrated the contributions of Nigerian youth innovators such as Samson Ogbole, Femi Adekoya, Atinuke Lebile, and Azeez Salawu, who are leading projects in soilless farming, drone technology, biofortified crops, and ecosystem coordination.

     The minister further commended Abdulsalam Umar of Matura Agro for pioneering Nigeria’s first large-scale cultivation of alfalfa grass for export.

    Kyari announced the procurement of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 agricultural implements, describing it as the largest mechanization initiative in Nigeria’s history.

    “This bold intervention will expand access to modern machinery, enhance productivity, and create new opportunities for youth in machinery operation, maintenance, and agribusiness services. It is part of our deliberate effort to make agriculture a field of innovation, dignity, and decent work for the next generation,” he said.

    The minister lauded the establishment of the World Food Forum (WFF) Nigeria Chapter, calling it a bridge between local innovation and global priorities.

    He said the platform would unite youth-led organisations, private sector players, research institutions, and government agencies to build resilient food systems.

    He urged partners to support the government’s drive to de-risk investments, upgrade enterprises, and provide blended finance to expand youth-led agribusiness opportunities.

    “Let us build a food-secure, youth-powered, and innovation-driven Nigeria, where every young person with a dream finds in agriculture not a struggle but a pathway to prosperity and national pride.”

  • Solar Energy: A Game-Changer in Tackling Food Inflation in Nigeria and Africa at large

    Solar Energy: A Game-Changer in Tackling Food Inflation in Nigeria and Africa at large

    Nigeria, the most populous Black nation on Earth with over 200 million people, has in recent years struggled with rising food inflation. This crisis is largely driven by outdated farming techniques, inefficient food processing, and storage challenges all of which have limited productivity and increased food scarcity. As prices soar, the average Nigerian finds it increasingly difficult to afford daily meals.

    This article explores how solar energy can revolutionize agriculture and food processing in Nigeria, ultimately boosting food supply and reducing inflation.

    Outdated Farming Methods

    For decades, Nigerian farmers have practiced seasonal farming, dictated by the country’s two main seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Crops that require significant rainfall are planted only during the wet season, while drought-resistant varieties are reserved for the dry months.

    However, this limited window of cultivation reduces year-round food availability. Despite Nigeria having over 3 million hectares of irrigation potential, only around 90,000 hectares were utilized as of 2020. This underutilization leads to crop scarcity during off-seasons and, consequently, inflated prices.

    Inefficient Food Processing Techniques

    Traditionally, food drying in Nigeria involves spreading produce like yam flour, cassava, and pepper on roadsides or open fields. While common, this method poses serious health risks due to exposure to dust, dirt, and contamination. Additionally, unpredictable weather conditions slow down the drying process and reduce product quality.

    In today’s world, such outdated practices hamper food safety, reduce output, and limit scalability.

    Primitive Food Storage Practices

    Food storage continues to be a major challenge, especially for smallholder farmers. Many still rely on smoking fish or storing crops in open spaces to preserve them. Unfortunately, these methods often lead to significant post-harvest losses and reduce the availability of food during off-seasons further contributing to inflation.

    Solar Energy: A Catalyst for Agricultural Transformation

    1. Solar-Powered Irrigation

    Large-scale, all-year-round farming is impossible without reliable irrigation. Solar energy offers a sustainable solution, especially in rural areas lacking access to the national grid. With solar-powered water pumps, farmers can irrigate their fields efficiently and consistently, regardless of the season.

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    This reduces dependency on rainfall, increases crop yields, and lowers the cost of food production.

    2. Solar Dryers for Food Processing

    Modern solar dryers are revolutionizing food drying by offering cleaner, faster, and more controlled processes. Unlike traditional sun-drying methods, solar dryers protect food from contamination, pests, and unpredictable weather. They also drastically reduce drying time, allowing farmers to process more produce in less time, with higher quality and less waste.

    3. Solar Cold Storage Facilities

    In 2025, food storage is taking a new turn with the emergence of solar-powered cold rooms. At DVS Reliable Energy, we deploy commercial and industrial solar solutions to power cold storage facilities helping reduce electricity costs and minimize spoilage of perishable goods like fish and vegetables.

    These facilities enable farmers to store their harvests longer, sell when market conditions are favorable, and avoid losses caused by inadequate storage infrastructure.

    Governments can play a significant role by investing in solar-powered storage hubs in rural areas. These centers can be leased to farmers at subsidized rates creating a win-win scenario by both reducing food waste and generating revenue.

    Conclusion

    According to Save the Children, around 33 million Nigerians may face food insecurity in 2025, uncertain of where their next meal will come from. Much of the country’s food inflation can be traced to the outdated farming, processing, and storage methods discussed above.

    Food should be one of the most accessible necessities for every citizen, but in Nigeria, it’s increasingly becoming a luxury.

    Solar energy provides a viable, sustainable path forward. With strategic investments in solar-powered irrigation, drying, and storage solutions, the government and private sector can help increase food production, reduce losses, and ultimately bring down the cost of food across the country.

    Written by David Adewuyi,a renewable Energy Consultant and the CEO of DVS Reliable Energy

  • Fed Govt launches farmers soil health scheme

    Fed Govt launches farmers soil health scheme

    The Federal Government on Tuesday launched the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS), a transformative initiative designed to enhance soil fertility, improve crop yields, and drive sustainable food production across the country.

    The scheme, launched under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was unveiled by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi (CON) in Abuja.

    According to the minister, the NFSHS is an “innovative, homegrown initiative” aimed at tackling the challenges of low agricultural productivity and the high cost of production caused by indiscriminate fertilizer use.

    “Farming begins with the soil; it is the quiet partner in every harvest, the hidden force behind every good crop. But for many years, our soils have been working without rest, giving and giving, while we hardly checked how they were doing,” Sen. Sabi said.

    “The Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme is here to help farmers understand their soil better what nutrients it has, what it lacks, and how to treat it right. It takes away the guesswork and gives farmers simple, useful advice to grow more, spend less, and care for the land.”

    The minister explained that the NFSHS represents a major step in advancing scientific soil assessment and data-driven fertilizer application across Nigeria. By promoting crop- and location-specific fertilizer recommendations, the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s goal of ensuring food sovereignty and revolutionising agriculture for sustainable growth.

    Among the key deliverables of the scheme are the establishment of 774 soil testing laboratories across local government areas, issuance of personalized soil health cards for farmers, and the development of a digital platform the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) to consolidate soil data for evidence-based decision-making.

    Speaking further, he said the NFSHS seeks to: improve soil health and fertility through targeted fertilizer application; increase agricultural productivity and food security; and promote climate-resilient and regenerative farming practices.

    Expected benefits include optimised fertiliser use, higher yields, increased farmers’ income, environmental sustainability, and job creation particularly for youth and women engaged in rural laboratory operations.

    “By optimising fertilizer use, we minimize waste, prevent groundwater pollution, and enhance the safety of food for local consumption and export,” the minister added.

    He added that implementation of the scheme follows a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, ensuring collaboration across all levels of government. 

    The scheme’s structure includes a National Executive Committee, State and Local Committees, and partnerships with research bodies, development partners, and farmer organizations.

    Development partners supporting the initiative include the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Bank’s ACReSAL project, Soil Values, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

    The minister highlighted the major milestones achieved so far from the inclusion of the NFSHS in the 2024 federal budget and stakeholder workshops to the creation of the Coalition of the Willing (CoW) platform and pilot soil assessments across eleven states.

    He however emphasised that the scheme’s precision-based approach will revolutionize yields for key crops.

    “The results will speak for themselves. A farmer who currently harvests 60 to 80 bags of rice per hectare will now harvest 120 to 160 bags. Wheat and maize farmers will see their yields double, and onion farmers will go from 400 to 800 bags per hectare,” he said.

    He added that the government is targeting the collection of at least 1,200 soil samples per geopolitical zone annually, ensuring data accuracy and tailored recommendations for every region.

    The minister reaffirmed that Nigeria, through this initiative, is already implementing the Nairobi Declaration on Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health, adopted by African Heads of State in May 2024.

    “Healthy soils are the foundation of agricultural resilience,” he said. “By embracing the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, our farmers can finally double their yields, strengthen food sovereignty, and ensure a prosperous, food-secure future for Nigeria.”

  • LBRBDA, Amisec partner to establish ₦5bn “AgroCity Doma” in Nasarawa

    LBRBDA, Amisec partner to establish ₦5bn “AgroCity Doma” in Nasarawa

    In a major stride toward agricultural industrialisation, the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) and Amisec Industrial Company Limited have signed a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) agreement to develop AgroCity Doma, a ₦5 billion Phase One project that will transform the Doma Dam Irrigation Area in Nasarawa State into a climate-smart agro-industrial hub dedicated to organic sesame production, processing, and export.

    Under the terms of the partnership, LBRBDA will provide 1,000 hectares of irrigable land along with access to water from the Doma Dam, while Amisec will lead the investment, infrastructure development, cultivation, and project management.

    The initiative is positioned as a flagship model for sustainable land utilisation and value-added agriculture under Nigeria’s River Basin Development framework.

    The AgroCity Doma project will comprise a mechanised nucleus farm over 1,000 hectares; Solar-powered irrigation systems for sustainable water use; a 10 MT/hour sesame processing plant for value addition; Agroforestry buffers and essential rural infrastructure, and an outgrower programme engaging over 1,000 local farmers.

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    Once operational, the project is projected to generate annual revenues of up to $7 million (≈ ₦10.8 billion) from organic sesame sales, creating over 500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs across the value chain.

    The Hybrid Implementation Plan allows farming activities to commence in the next rainy season, even as construction of infrastructure and processing facilities continues. Full processing and export operations are expected to begin by Q1 2027.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director of LBRBDA, Engr. Tersee Ninga emphasised that the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to the productive use of irrigation assets in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “This partnership demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to productive use of our irrigation assets. AgroCity Doma reflects how strategic PPPs can expand food production, create jobs, and boost agro-industrial growth”.

    On his part,  Chief Executive Officer of Amisec Industrial Company Ltd, Abdulmuttalib Mohammad, said the company is investing ₦5 billion in the project’s first phase, aiming to build a fully integrated organic sesame value chain capable of producing traceable, export-grade products.

    “Our goal is to create a sustainable sesame ecosystem that benefits local farmers and communities while positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global organic sesame market, which is valued at over $4 billion”.

  • NIPOST launches agriculture programme to reduce post-harvest losses

    NIPOST launches agriculture programme to reduce post-harvest losses

    The Postmaster General of the Federation/CEO of the Nigerian Postal Service, Tola Odeyemi, said on Wednesday that NIPOST launched its integrated logistics and storage backbone Agriculture programme to reduce post-harvest losses by farmers in the country.

    Odeyemi, who put post-harvest losses at 40 percent of agricultural produce across the country, said the programme would benefit over one million small-holding farmers and 3,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.

    According to the NIPOST Chief Executive, the agriculture programme would leverage NIPOST’s existing infrastructures in all the 774 local government councils to establish modular storage hubs, digital traceable tools, and corridor-based fleet operations to move agricultural produce from farms to storage facilities.

    Odeyemi made the remarks during the celebrations of the 2025 World Post Day and the unveiling of “the Face of NIPOST 2025” initiative at the headquarters of the agency in Abuja.

    She said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Post for people: local Service, global reach,” was deliberately chosen to explain the trajectory of NIPOST since it joined the other 193 member countries of the Universal Postal Union, UPU.

    The NIPOST boss said the Agriculture programme known as NIPOST Agro-Infrastructure and Logistics Initiative (NAILI) was a flagship programme designed to align with the federal government programme to boost food security in the country.

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    Odeyemi said NIPOST is being recalibrated to provide effective and efficient logistics services across the World, saying “we are here to connect people, businesses, and communities through a robust, integrated network of postal and logistics services.”

    “We are committed to driving socio-economic development by ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to reliable and affordable postal services and a channel to access governmental services”, Odeyemi said.

    She said the National Addressing System was being developed in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) and other technical partners to replace the analogue numeric postcode with a digital postcode to facilitate efficient mail delivery, enhance government services accessibility, and emergency services.

    Odeyemi said, “The new digital postcode is Nigeria’s new alphanumeric code system identifying specific geographic entities that will enhance accuracy in geographical entity identification and is integrated into a digital map and GIS, acting as the backbone for urban planning and Nigeria’s digital economy.

    “This digital postcode, which will eventually be the technology on which the national addressing system will be built, will capture every part of Nigeria using a systematic framework for alpha-numeric characters from state, LGA, postcode districts, postcode areas, and postcode units.”

    Speaking on NIPOST’s collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Odeyemi said NIPOST introduced a 15 percent logistics discount for all registered MSMEs to benefit about 20,000 members as a way of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

    She announced that the 2025 World Post Day letter writing competition, which received over 1000 entries, was won by Adeyemo Jedidiah and Adewunmi Princess Boluwatigba of Methodist Girls High School, SaboYaba, Lagos State, and Okuwoli Elizabeth of ST. Jude’s Private Secondary School, Festac Town, Lagos.

    She added that the three overall national winners won the cash prizes of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000), Seventy-five Thousand Naira(N75,000), and Fifty Thousand Naira(N50,000) respectively.

  • Cocoa farmers remain in poverty despite record-high prices, report says

    Cocoa farmers remain in poverty despite record-high prices, report says

    Despite record-high cocoa prices, millions of smallholder farmers across West Africa remain trapped in poverty, according to findings from the Cocoa Barometer 2025, released on Wednesday.

    The biennial report paints a complex picture of the global cocoa industry, describing a sector simultaneously facing “bad, better, and with a lot of room for improvement.”

    Produced by a consortium of civil society organisations, the report revealed that while Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which account for over 60 percent of global cocoa production, continue to shape market prices, and Nigeria emerged as a rising producer projected to deliver 350,000 tonnes in the 2024/25 season, the benefits of soaring prices have not reached most farmers.

    “Farmer poverty is at the root of virtually all problems in the cocoa sector, from deforestation to child labour and gender inequality,” the report states.

    “Paying farmers fairly is both a moral and legal obligation, thanks to new human rights and environmental legislation. But political resistance in Europe is threatening the hard-won progress in regulation.”

    The report noted that forward-selling mechanisms have delayed the impact of price increases for farmers, even as yields fall due to aging trees, crop diseases, and erratic rainfall linked to climate change.

    According to the report, the situation is compounded by weak governance and a lack of supply management, which leaves producers exposed to market swings.

    The Cocoa Barometer 2025 further warned that high prices are driving new waves of deforestation as farmers expand into untouched forests to maximise profits, a trend that could trigger oversupply and another price crash similar to 2016.

    In addition, the report highlighted ongoing human rights abuses, with 1.5 million children still working in hazardous cocoa farming conditions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, and women who perform the majority of farm labour largely excluded from profit-sharing and decision-making.

    Farm workers and tenant farmers, it added, remain consistently overlooked despite being central to cocoa cultivation.

    It, however, attributed much of the sector’s fragility to weak governance and policy gaps.

    It stressed that the absence of transparent farmgate pricing systems and limited accountability mechanisms continues to undermine progress.

    Despite these challenges, the report stated that change is possible.

    It calls for collective action by governments, companies, farmers, and civil society to achieve systemic reform through fair pay and commitment to a living income for farmers.

    Others are environmental protection through a global moratorium on deforestation linked to cocoa. Inclusive governance, which will ensure both men and women farmers are co-decision makers.

    The Cocoa Barometer concludes that while new regulations and collaborative initiatives show that progress is achievable, the window for meaningful reform is closing fast.

    Without decisive action, it warned that the cocoa industry risks repeating its historical cycle of exploitation, inequality, and environmental degradation

  • Over 300 families get empowerment support in Ekiti

    Over 300 families get empowerment support in Ekiti

    Over 300 families, including  artisans, farmers, students, and traders in Ikere-Ekiti, have benefitted from empowerment and support packages championed by the Nigeria’s youngest member of the governing council, Barrister Abimbola Daramola. 

    The event, held at the Ikere Pavilion, Ikere Ekiti featured distribution of food items and vocational items tailoring machines, grinding machines, fumigation as well as sprayers to support  local households, artisans, and farmers. 

    Also, several indigent students received N50,000 scholarships grant each while educational materials were donated to St. Gabriel Catholic Secondary School, Methodist N/P School, and Aseyori School, all in Ikere-Ekiti.

    The initiative, tagged: “Renewed Hope Grassroots Engagement,” also provided free fuel to more than 100 commercial motorcyclists, reflecting a holistic approach to community upliftment and economic empowerment.

    Daramola, who was recently appointed to the Governing Council of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, expressed gratitude to God, her family, President Bola Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and the people of Ikere for their support.

    She said the initiative was designed to give back to the community by equipping individuals with working tools, resources and support to enhance their productivity and foster self-reliance. 

    “Today is about home. Ikere raised me. I’m back to give thanks, give hope, and invest in the people who made me. Our people must be equipped not just with words, but with tools to work, learn, and build dignity,” she stated.

    She pledged to sustain and expand the empowerment drive, assuring that “this is only the beginning; we will do more, and Ikere will not be left behind.”

    Daramola commended the Young Professionals 4 Tinubu and the Office of the Personal Assistant to the President (General Duties), Mr. Wale Fadare, for their supports, urging other leaders and corporate organizations to emulate such efforts toward grassroots development.

    Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, lauded Daramola’s initiative, describing it as a demonstration of practical leadership that aligns with the administration’s vision for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

    “This is true grassroots leadership in action. What we’ve witnessed today is not just generosity but capacity building. Barrister Daramola is a shining example of the kind of leadership we need in Ekiti,” he said.

    The Governor also used the occasion to encourage residents to collect or update their voter cards ahead of the June 20, 2026 gubernatorial election to ensure full participation in governance.

  • Pests, erratic rainfall, high costs undermine Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming – Report

    Pests, erratic rainfall, high costs undermine Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming – Report

    Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming was marred by a combination of pest infestations, erratic rainfall, and surging input costs that dampened production gains despite farmers’ resilience, according to the 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) released on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The report, jointly conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), offers an in-depth evaluation of the country’s agricultural performance, highlighting both achievements and persistent challenges.

    Presenting the findings, the Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. Yusuf Sani Ahmad, revealed that over 19,358 hectares of farmland were affected by pests and diseases during the season, resulting in an estimated 22.5 percent yield loss in the impacted regions.

    He listed fall armyworm, rice blast, bacterial blight, streak virus, cassava mosaic, yam nematodes, cocoa black pod, and cotton smut as the most prevalent threats, adding that nearly all agro-ecological zones in the country were affected.

    “Maize, rice, millet, cowpea, cassava, and tree crops were the most affected,” Prof. Ahmad said, warning that the widespread nature of the infestations underscores the urgent need for stronger pest surveillance and early response systems.

    The APS also highlighted the burden of rising production costs on farmers. 

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    Despite improved fertiliser availability through government efforts, input prices surged. NPK fertilizer rose by 19.5 percent, from ₦43,500 to ₦52,000 per 50kg bag, while urea increased by 10.1 percent to ₦43,500.

    “These increases, mostly recorded in the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, have placed smallholder farmers under severe cost pressure. Affordability, not availability, has become the core problem,” he added.

    Fuel prices, transportation costs, and general inflation compounded the challenge, pushing maize and soybean production costs up by 29.2 percent and 36.8 percent, respectively.

    The report also revealed disparities in farm mechanization across the country. 

    While the North-West and North-Central zones recorded the highest number of functional tractors 808 and 793 units respectively several machines in the South-West and South-South were non-functional, limiting efficiency and widening regional gaps.

    “Mechanisation access remains uneven and heavily skewed toward certain regions,” Prof. Ahmad noted, warning that postharvest losses, especially in the South-West and North-Central, continue to erode farmers’ incomes despite gains in crop output.

    In addition, irregular rainfall, localised flooding, and climate shocks further disrupted farming activities. The APS reported a 35 percent decline in cultured fish production in the North-Central and North-East, where insecurity and environmental degradation also took a toll. 

    The South-South maintained relative stability due to its strong fisheries base, while the South-West recorded inconsistencies linked to volatile aquaculture conditions and weak data systems.

    Reacting to the findings, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the report presents both positive outcomes and warning signs for the sector.

    “The 2025 APS findings show encouraging growth in major staples and a welcome decline in food prices, but the persistent challenges from high input costs to pest outbreaks and postharvest losses demand renewed action,” Kyari said.

    He added that the government plans to institutionalize a Dry Season Agricultural Performance Survey to complement the wet season report, ensuring that agricultural planning becomes a year-round, data-driven process.

    Kyari also outlined plans to boost local fertilizer production, promote climate-smart agriculture, modernize mechanization services, and recruit more extension agents to support farmers.

    “We are determined to ensure that Nigerian agriculture becomes more productive, inclusive, and resilient,” the Minister stated.

    Although rice and maize production recorded modest increases of 2.66 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.

    The APS further stated that Nigeria’s agriculture remains highly exposed to climate stress, price volatility, and infrastructure gaps yet capable of adapting through consistent data, coordinated policies, and sustained investment.