The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Impact of Covid-19 on agriculture (Volume 4)

    Impact of Covid-19 on agriculture (Volume 4)

    By Samuel. J. Samuel

    As at 16th May, 2020, the coronavirus COVID-19, which is still ravaging the world, has spread across 213 countries and territories. It has been reported that the virus has affected 4,644,996 people across the globe and it has recorded 308,964 deaths, representing 15 per cent while 1,769,907, which constitutes 85 per cent, have recovered from the infection,

    In a bid to curtail the spread of the virus, many countries around the world adopted the stay-at-home strategy, locking down people while economic activities were practically at a standstill It has been almost six months since the first case was recorded in Wuhan, China. Experts, authorities and governments across the world are still engaging in in-depth researches and intensive fact-findings with a view to proffering a cure to the pandemic.

    One salient truth Covid-19 has taught us is that the world is changing. Although this change had already begun prior to the pandemic, it appears that the change will take place faster than we have thought as a result of the social-economic and political unpredictability being engineered by the plague. Trading across international boundaries and within localities of nations has forcefully evolved as a result of the pandemic. The pestilence has radically changed and redefined the way we buy, where we buy and how we buy in all ramifications of our human existence. Consequently, the world economy is going through a scarcity syndrome, where everything is in short supply, ranging from essential commodities to raw materials, with even the wealthiest of economies going through a dollar supply shortage. Scarcity is everywhere! Hence, money is beginning to take a new shape and a new name.

    Going by the social-economic volatility, being the spillover effect of the pandemic, it is obvious that Covid-19 will live with us for a long time. This is not being pessimistic; but rather, a bitter pill we must swallow. For the first time in the history of the oil industry, the unimaginable happened—oil prices crashed to the lowest level. Various giant multinationals across the world have reported heavy losses caused by the crash. ExxonMobil has reported loss after $3bn (£2.4bn) wiped off value of its oil reserves. The US oil company reported a loss of $610m for the Q1 of the year following the outbreak of Covid-19, compared to a profit of $2.4bn in the same months in 2019. So, when money fails, agriculture remains one veritable opportunity that could guarantee food security, create employment and stabilise global economy.

    In April 2020, the UN envisioned that 265 million people across the globe could be faced with acute food deficit as a result of economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic, especially in the agro industry. Since the outbreak of the virus in November 2019, the infection has affected every sector of the economy of great and small nations across the world, particularly food production, with even the most developed countries not spared). It shows that the disease is no respecter of persons or nations.

    The current population of Africa stands at 1.335 billion, representing 16.72 per cent of the total world population. (Source: UN, May 2020). Approximately 65 per cent of Africa’s population depends on subsistence farming (smallholder farmers). In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farms stand around 33 million, representing 80 per cent of all farms in the region. In 2019, agriculture contributed about 22.12 per cent to the total nominal GDP in the continent.

    The World Food Security’s High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on Food Security and Nutrition has unequivocally stated that Covid-19 pandemic is already affecting food systems and supply chain. In like manner, according to the World Bank, the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to cause recession for sub-Saharan Africa in 25 years with 7 per cent decline in agricultural production and 25 per cent decline in food imports. Consequently, it is clear that, as global citizens, we are having a much more probable devastating crisis, called acute hunger, in our hands if collaborative efforts are not geared towards arresting the situation.

    In Africa, women grow 70 per cent of the food as smallholder farmers. Calestous Juma, an internationally recognised authority in the application of science and technology to sustainable development worldwide, once used an African woman with hoe in her hand to depict the backbone of agriculture in Africa. No doubt, such portrait is a quintessential of strenuous task.

    In 2019, according to the UN’s projection of the fast-growing African population, it has been projected that its population is expected to double by 2050, from 1 billion to nearly 2.4 billion people. Logically, it means that Africans must, in all ramifications, embrace the use of advanced agricultural machinery not only to replace the traditional hoe and cutlass, but also as an intrinsic part and indispensable factor to meet accelerated food production. Most of the developed countries that thrive in agriculture have continued to prioritise the role in which modern machinery plays in sustainable food production across every area in the agriculture sector.

    Findings have shown that the levels of mechanisation on African farms still remain below expectation, despite various advocacies by experts on the importance in food production chain. Based on a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Africa has less than two tractors per 1,000 hectares of cropland as compared to South Asia and Latin America that have 10 tractors per 1,000 hectares. This development points to the fact that the absence of mechanised agriculture results in low production in many aspects of the food production system in Africa.

    In 2019, according to a report by African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa at present spends a huge sum of $35 billion yearly on food imports, a situation which has been projected to rise to $110 billion by 2050. Such discouraging development is not unconnected to lack of access to modern machinery for farmers. According to AfDB president, Akinwumi Adesina, “Technologies to achieve Africa’s green revolution exist but are mostly just sitting on the shelves. The challenge is a lack of supportive policies to ensure that they are scaled up to reach millions of farmers,”

    Globally, agricultural machinery is a highly integrated universal industry that fosters multifaceted sustainable farming across the world. For instance, in 2018, Europe constituted 64 per cent of the world’s exports of agricultural machinery, with a net balance of over €4bn. In 2017, the European production of agricultural machinery was worth a total of €41bn, up by 6.4 per cent on 2016. Also, in 2017, the European production of agricultural tractors was worth €6.5bn. (Source: Eurostat, 2017, formatted by AXEMA). Findings have also revealed that many farmers across the world rely on agricultural machinery produced in Europe, with tractors accounting for €16.6bn. (Source: Trade Map, 2018, formatted by AXEMA).

    In the Asia-Pacific region, Government’s drive towards the promotion of farm mechanisation with financial support to farmers has been a key factor responsible for the growth in utilisation of tractors in agriculture.  In 2018, the Asia-Pacific region dominated the world agricultural tractors market, accounting for more than 60 per cent revenue share. Hence, the promotion of agricultural mechanisation is not unconnected to the rapid development in the sector.

    In January 2020, the Nigerian government disclosed its plan to drive mechanised agriculture by full technology package transfer, covering all stages from agricultural production to industrial processing, packaging and marketing. The Federal Government also disclosed plans to borrow $1 billion to boost mechanised farming. The said loan which will be borrowed from Deutsche Bank (DB), Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and Islamic Development Bank is said to be used to purchase farming equipment for local farmers in the country. According to Sabo Nanono, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria is expected to use the funds to purchase 10,000 units of tractors, 50,000 units of assorted implements and equipment for assembly in Nigeria. The Minister emphasised that Nigeria should have not less than 60,000 tractors, adding that mechanisation is the top priority for Nigerians. To buttress the need for increased mechanisation in Nigeria, he further stated that currently “only seven tractors are available per 100 square mile in Nigeria, unlike in Kenya that has 700 tractors per 100 square mile.”

    In related development, on 14th May, 2020, the Nigeria Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the sum of $1.2billion loan for agricultural mechanisation in which part of it will be used to establish 632 tractor serving centres across the country. While such effort is commendable, it is important to stress the fact that the growth and development of agriculture on the back of technology will be better strengthened if local technological capacities are well developed and financially supported by government at all levels. Of course, it requires time to grow organically. The corresponding growth will bring about technological innovations that are beyond the supply of tractors, as new skills are being developed that will support radiation, maintenance and home-grown technologies.

    Just as I mentioned earlier, one critical lesson Covid-19 has taught us is the drastic change in international, national and local trading. Therefore, while the Nigerian government is making effort to promote mechanisation, the need to develop local technology remains sacrosanct as far as expanding mechanisation agriculture and sustainable food production are concerned. Findings have shown that most smallholder farm operations in Nigeria are still done with the use of hand tools. Very few Nigerian farmers have access to modern machineries, particularly tractors. This is not unconnected to poor market access. Therefore, increasing access to tractor services remains an indispensable factor to facilitate mechanisation.

    Nigeria is blessed with many seasoned indigenous tractor manufacturing companies that are doing excellently well. What is required is government’s support that will help to expand capacities that can compete rigorously at the international standards. A company like Origin Group, a twenty first century consortium, committed to delivering integrated agricultural infrastructure and mechanisation technology solutions for Nigerian farmers, sub-Sahara Africa and the world, should be supported to expand its capacity. In this sector, the country also has Aneuti Limited, Bertola Machine – Tool Ltd, Debo Farm, Donakosy, Mantrac Nigeria, Hello Tractor, Green Food Supply & Ventures Nig. Ltd, etc. These are Nigerian companies that specialise in the assembly and supply of a wide range of agricultural machinery and farming equipment. There is no doubt that these companies have the capacities to grow the industry and at the same time create jobs for millions of people if they are financially backed up by the government.

    Tractors remain the most common and biggest investment in machinery and equipment in the agriculture sector. However, buying a tractor is a major investment for an individual farmer. One of the major initiatives to promote mechanisation is the Tractor-On-The-Go (TOG tractors) App. It is a platform that connects farmers to farm equipment just by using their phones while equipment owners can also display their equipment on the platform whereby they can supply their services to farmers, regardless of distance or location.

    Modern agricultural machines remain the way to go for a more sustainable, efficient and environment-friendly farming sector not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa and the world at large. It is important that the private sector support all segments of the agro-food chain, particularly machinery and solutions. Tractor-On-The-Go (TOG tractors) App is the answer.

    It is high time our policymakers looked inward if we are really determined to survive the change that has drastically come upon the world, especially in terms of advancement in agriculture. Hence the need for adequate funding in this critical sector cannot be overemphasised. In 2020 fiscal Nigeria’s budget, the agriculture sector with its over 45 MDAs received a meagre allocation of 138.48billion, representing 1.3 per cent of the total budget. The development indicates a declining share of the sector’s budget to the national budget from 1.5 per cent in 2019 to 1.3 per cent in 2020. It is unfortunate that this amount falls short terribly to the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) benchmark that stipulates the commitment of at least 10 per cent of the national budget to the agriculture sector. At the Second Ordinary Assembly of the African Union in July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique, African Heads of State and Government endorsed the “Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security in Africa” (Assembly/AU/Decl. 7(II)). The Declaration contained several important decisions regarding agriculture, but prominent among them was the “commitment to the allocation of at least 10 per cent of national budgetary resources to agriculture and rural development policy implementation within five years”.

    It is obvious that it will take a dynamic and competitive agriculture sector to ensure food security for our people, and contribute to sustainable rural and overall economic growth and development. There is no doubt that Nigeria has the capacity to produce efficiently not only to feed its people, but also Africa and the world at large if its potentials in this sector are strategically harnessed and utilised. What the government needs at this critical period are innovation, aggregation, food gap technology and meritocracy. There is an urgent need for the government to reinvigorate the food and agriculture sector for the economic independence of the country.

    We have seen how countries that are technologically advanced quickly went into mass production of essential goods to block the gap created by covid-19. The situation in our hands calls for attention to the need for industrialisation. The impediment to actualise the African union agreement on agriculture and food security is the absence of home-grown mechanisation technology. The time has come that we looked inward to meet the challenges that lie ahead of us.

    “Sustainable agricultural mechanisation can also contribute significantly to the development of value chains and food systems as it has the potential to render postharvest, processing and marketing activities and functions more efficient, effective and environmentally friendly.” – Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

     

  • POST COVID-19: Agriculture as solution to eonomic crises

    POST COVID-19: Agriculture as solution to eonomic crises

    James Edet

    That the novel coronavirus pandemic has devastated the global community is not in question. The compelling lockdown of human activities around the world, in the bid to mitigate the spread of the virus has brought so much disorder, shocks and disruption to economies, wrecking unquantifiable havocs in many ramifications.

    With the continuous plummeting of economic activities, great danger lies in wait, as there are projections of even more disruptions if there are no pragmatic measures to manage post COVID-19 calamities.

    Long after the COVID-19 pandemic may have been subdued, countries around the world would have to be at their bests to restore normalcy in their domains, and chief among the major concerns would be economic revival.

    Today, the novel coronavirus has increased the rate of unemployment and compounded the challenge of hunger and poverty among peoples around the world. The scenario in Nigeria, is even more complicated, as the national revenue has nose-dived, in response to the sharp drop in the prices of crude oil in the international market. Thus, reducing hunger among citizens through aggressive investment in agriculture would be the most plausible point to begin the economic revival strategies of political leaders. Food is the most important basic need, which people need and will always need.
    In addition to employing agriculture to fighting hunger in post COVID-19 era, the sector may also become the beautiful bride in shoring up domestic economies. Agribusiness may be the way to go, as part of measures to bridge the revenue gap occasioned by dwindling prices of crude oil.

    While many states and even nations may not have kick-started their post COVID-19 economic agenda, Akwa Ibom State is already making strides that would stand her out as a leading economy in post COVID-19 era. Since the inception of his administration in 2015, Governor Udom Emmanuel he has continued to emphasize his commitment to ensuring that 80% of local food consumption comes from within the state. And, to underscore his determination in this regard, he inaugurated a Technical Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency.

    With about 3,240 hactres of cassava plantation across the state, cultivation of over 1,200 hectares of rice, revitalised cocoa plantation, the establishment of a fertilizer blending plant, empowerment of farmers through various loans and grants, among other laudable initiatives, the Governor has raised the bar in subsistence and commercial agriculture. Today, Akwa Ibom is on the verge of agricultural revolution that will further boost her economy.

    The capability of the Akwa Ibom government to provide basic food items as palliatives for the citizens during the recent total lockdown of the state was a clear testimony to the purposeful leadership and foresightedness of Governor Emmanuel. Tons of garri, rice, flour and beans were distributed in about 3,000 villages across the state. It is imperative to note that garri, rice and flour were all produced in Akwa Ibom state. One can only imagine what could have happened if state was not capable of meeting her own basic food needs.

    Although the coronavirus pandemic is still raging, Governor Emmanuel, in his forward thinking characteristics, apart from ensuring that immediate challenges are adequately catered for, has gone ahead to inaugurate a post-COVID-19 Economic Reconstruction Committee, comprising members who have proven their mettle in different spheres of economic endeavours. The import of this initiative is that Akwa Ibom would not come out of the COVID-19 era blank and empty, in search of what to do or how to begin.
    A major agenda for the Committee is the development of workable templates for the diversification of a mono economy dependent on petrodollar, to a more sustainable economic expansion programme anchored on the rich agricultural resources of the state and the allied agro based industrialization initiatives.

    There is no doubt that with the foresight, ingenuity, humongous investment and the enabling environment that Governor Udom Emmanuel has brought to bear in his agribusiness vision for the state, Akwa Ibom people can now look ahead for a better and more secured economic future, in spite of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, and the attendant economic crises the world is currently witnessing.

  • Furore over weevil-infested rice

    Furore over weevil-infested rice

    The dust is yet to settle over the 1,800 bags of rice which the Oyo State government received from the Federal Government and attempted to return without success. While the state described the rice as weevil-infested and unfit for human consumption, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) which supplied the rice insisted that the rice supplied was good and so could not be the one being showcased by the state as weevil-infested. Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE examines the facts and the fiction surrounding it.

    Nigerians were surprised on Friday, April 24 when officials of the Oyo State government showcased plenty of weevil-infested bags of rice which they insisted were supplied them by the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as part of the palliatives being given to states by the Federal Government.

    A lot of people have many questions on the dispute. What could have made the NCS supply weevil-infested rice to Oyo State which is its host or landlord as is fondly described? Did the state government inspect and certify the rice before fetching the 1,800 bags from the NCS warehouse? If so, who signed for the collection? If the rice was truly later found out to be unfit for consumption, why did the state government choose the media as the channel of complaint? Did communication between the two institutions break down thereby necessitating exposing the alleged evil through the media?  These are some of the questions being asked by observers and analysts whose answers are not yet fully unveiled.

    Though the NCS is a federal agency, it operates in states and the Federal Capital Territory like others. The Oyo/Osun Area Command has operated from its Agodi, Ibadan headquarters for ages.

    The Area Comptroller is a member of the state security council. The office is only about 800 meters away from the state secretariat where Oyo State Governor sits to pilot the affairs of the state. This means that both of them are within each other’s stone throw and also work together for the security of lives and property in the state.

    But things went sour between the two on April 24 when the state government announced to the world with evidence that it received weevil-infested rice from the command. It released videos and photographs of the rice to back its decision to return the commodity.

    Following the announcement, Nigerians were taken aback, wondering why the Federal Government gave out such alleged dangerous products to the people of an entire state. While Governor Makinde and his team attracted sympathy and applause, the Federal Government and NCS got knocks from concerned citizens, further deepening the already existing distrust. But from the same warehouse, Ekiti and Osun states got 1,800 bags each. Neither of the states complained about what they received.

    The NCS’ response to the announcement showed it was embarrassed by the claim that the rice was unfit for human consumption. It expressed surprise that the release of the rice followed due process as officials of the state government led by the Commissioner for Agriculture inspected the rice on Monday, April 20, certified it okay and actually picked the ones they preferred the following day.

    In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr. Abiola Abdullahi-Lagos, the NCS also denied the photos of the said contaminated rice, insisting that it supplied fit-for-consumption commodity. It added that the rice received in good condition could not have suddenly gone bad within three days. It, therefore, urged Governor Makinde to dig deeper to unravel the facts around the rice.

    The statement read: “The attention of the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to some mischievous and deliberate falsehood being circulated in the media for reasons best known to their author(s) concerning the Federal Government’s palliatives given to Oyo State, among other states.

    “As a responsible agency of government whose functions include ensuring that nothing that could compromise the security, economy and general well-being of Nigerians are allowed into the country, we cannot turn round and be associated with giving anything that will negatively affect our people. We, therefore, wish to state as follows:

    “That in line with the Federal Government’s effort to cushion the hardship in the country, the CGC had directed the distribution of relief items, including bags of rice across the country through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management as palliatives to the vulnerable in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

    “As instructed, on April 20, 2020, the Oyo/Osun Area Command received high ranking members of the Oyo State government in the persons of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Jacob Ojekunle; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Saidat Bolatumi Oloko; Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness, Debo Akande; the representative of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development in Oyo, Mrs. M. O. Lasisi and other members.

    “They visited the command twice on the same day to inspect the bags of rice that were available for allocation.

    “The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller, H. U. Ngozi led them to the warehouses where they inspected the bags of rice, checked expiration dates and expressed satisfaction and readiness to evacuate their allocation.

    “Before leaving the command on their second visit, they pleaded to be given those from a section of one of the warehouses they considered “fresher” and this was granted.

    “Subsequently, on April 21, 2020, the Oyo State government’s team came with their vehicles under the supervision of Mr. Jacob Ojekunle, Mrs. Saidat Oloko, Mrs. M. O. Lasisi and other top officials, in the presence of the Customs Area Controller, other officers and members of the press to witness the loading and exiting of the 1,800 bags of parboiled rice allocated to their state as palliatives to the vulnerable.

    “Incidentally, in the process of loading, few bags fell at different times and burst open in the presence of Mr. Ojekunle and Mrs. Lasisi and there was no time that any of the burst bags of rice had weevils in them.

    “The warehouse had no signs of weevils, neither were there signs of weevils on the loaders or on the trucks under the scorching sun.

    “The three states: Oyo, Osun and Ekiti took delivery of the bags of rice allocated to them, returned their landing certificates to show delivery to its final destinations. They also showed appreciation to the CGC for his magnanimity.

    “Contrary to allegations by Oyo State government, Osun and Ekiti states have not complained about their allocations.

    “The command is, therefore, surprised, even embarrassed to hear, three days later, that the rice allocated to them was infested with weevils and unfit for human consumption.

    “The command wishes to reiterate that weevils do not hide, and in the process of loading the vehicles, traces of weevils would have been noticed on the floor, on the bags, on the loaders or on the trucks bearing in mind that the entire process was in the presence of the CAC, Oyo State government’s high ranking team and men of the press with full video camera coverage.

    “The command is also aware that for whatever reason, some pictures of bad rice have been circulating the social media. We disassociate ourselves from such false images and we suspect foul play on the part of the handlers of these allocated 1,800 bags of rice. The state government may wish to dig deeper.

    “It is surprising how bags of rice that exited the command headquarters in good condition suddenly became so bad after three days as being circulated on the social media.”

    But the state government stuck to its gun. It said the NCS misrepresented facts in its statement because it was impossible for anyone to play pranks with the rice between the command headquarters and the food bank which is about only 2,000 meters distance.

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor Mr. Taiwo Adisa, told The Nation that the officials that inspected the rice were not members of the technical sub-committee which tests and certifies items and all products donated to the state. He said the officials only inspected to confirm that the said rice was available at the command, adding that it was the technical committee that detected the status of the rice after conducting a test on it.

    On whether the state government contacted the NCS to inform it of its discovery, Adisa explained that there was no need for any informal communication, stressing that the decision to return the rice was conveyed in a letter to the NCS on Friday morning before an open announcement was made later that day.

    The CPS further explained that only the committee was in the position to communicate to the Customs since it is the one in charge of the gift, not the governor. Besides, it was not a security issue on which the Customs Comptroller and the governor relate.

    Adisa said: “We did not have any communication before the letter and announcement that Friday. The communication has to be in writing because there is a department that handles the rice distribution. That’s why we sent the letter on Friday morning. So, the issue is not a direct relationship one.

    “Inspection is different from examination. They only ascertained that the rice was there and where they would take it to. It is not their business to technically inspect the rice. Only people with the technical knowhow did it and found out it was not fit for consumption.

    “It is our procedure that any food taken to food bank is examined by the technical committee which declares it fit or unfit. Some other foods would have fallen into this trouble but the committee on food security prevented it.

    They expected the NCS would have done the technical testing and certified it. So, they only went there to see and receive what was given. It is not their business to undertake technical test.”

    The rice was eventually returned last week but the Customs refused the lorries entry into its premises. Abdullahi-Lagos said the command would only take delivery of the rice if it receives a directive from the national headquarters to do so. The decision to release the rice, he said, came from its headquarters; hence its collection can only be directed by the headquarters.

    That some bags broke during loading and weevils were not seen in them and that the state officials inspected the warehouses without sighting weevils may have strengthened the Customs’ position.

    Now that the rice has been returned to the food bank of the state government, it is not yet known what action will follow. But the good news is that weevil-infested rice from whatever source is not being distributed to the public.

  • Fayemi: Promasidor’s $5m investment on Ikun Dairy Farm boost for Ekiti economy

    Fayemi: Promasidor’s $5m investment on Ikun Dairy Farm boost for Ekiti economy

     

    EKITI State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi has described the $5 million investment (about N2 billion) by Promasidor Nigeria Limited to reactivate the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm in the state, as a major catalyst that would turn around the fortunes of the state when operational.

    Fayemi said the contribution has made Promasidor a core investor in Ekiti, saying production would have by now begun in the milk industry located in Ikun Ekiti in Moba Local Government, but for the lockdown caused by the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

    Fayemi, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital while receiving palliative food products donation worth over N34 million from Promasidor Nigeria, reiterated the readiness of his administration to revive some of the ailing industries in the state.

    He said the donation had further attested to the fact that Promasidor was committed to the growth of Ekiti State economy.

    Fayemi, represented by the Special Adviser on Investment, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, said the move would create more employment opportunities for the youth.

    The governor branded the donation as a testimony of the company’s belief in public-private partnership paradigm shift in the developing of any nation, saying the government alone couldn’t grow the economy to an enviable height.

    Fayemi said the reactivation of the ailing industry would be done in partnership with Promasidor Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria, will ensure daily production of about 10, 000 litres of milk.

    “The revamping of Ikun Dairy Farm, established in 1987, but abandoned by past administrations in the state, was part of the move by our administration to attract more investors to the state.

    “Let me reiterate the readiness of our administration to continue to provide an enabling environment for private industries to strive in the state. An arrangement had been concluded to revive Ire Clay Bricks Limited and other industries in the state.

    “I salute the host community for their unflinching support to the firm. I urge them to give more supports to the farm and ensure its success,” Fayemi said.

    He solicited the support of the people of Ekiti State on the success of the firm and assured them that the company would employ about 1,000 Ekiti indigenes when operational.

    “Promasidor has made an initial investment of $5 million in the farm which will be invested to procure cattle, equip the Dairy farm, establish a farm to produce feed and renovate existing buildings.

    “At full capacity, this farm will produce over 10,000 litres of milk per day, over 1,000 Ekiti people will also be employed to work in the farm,” he stated.

    Earlier, on his company’s outreach project on COVID-19 containment in the country, especially on the products donations to Ekiti State government and others to cushion the economic pains and pangs of the lockdown, Chief Executive Officer of Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Anders Einarsson, said: ‘’Our outreach project will go a long way in helping the most vulnerable in our society who has as a result of this pandemic have been unable to go about their normal day-to day activities or have had their income disrupted.”

    “As a company who cares to the nourishment needs of everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, we deemed it necessary to step in and assist in the best way possible by ensuring food and nourishment should not be a worry for them at this time”.

    The company boss stated that the total cost of this outreach project is valued at  only N280million in cash and food products.

    Corroborating the Chief Executive Officer, Director, External Relations of the company, Mr. Andrew Enahoro said: “What Promasidor did was to give back to the society, especially the needy and the less privileged who are going through a lot of economic and financial stress at this time.”

    “Food is everything when we talk of food security that can bring a nation down, so what we’ve decided to do as you can see from our product donation is to, at least give a little back to the society especially to the needy and the less privileged who are going through a lot at this point in time”, Andrew Enahoro stated.

    Specifically, Promasidor, a leading food & dairy company has made a direct cash contribution as well as donation of its quality food products in the fight against COVID-19.

    While the food company donated N200million cash for the exclusive purchase of equipment and the setting up of isolation centers required in the nationwide fight against COVID-19 through the Nigeria Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID), it has also donated some of its quality products worth over Eighty million naira only (N80m) to Lagos and Ekiti State Governments respectively.

     

  • Addressing impact of COVID-19 on fish

    Addressing impact of COVID-19 on fish

    Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting fish and seafood trade. Future consequences will be far-reaching. Ahead of its yearly international conference to be held in Alexandria, Egypt, the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society has raised concerns on the impact of the pandemic on sustainable aquaculture, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

     

    For the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, fish and other aquatic foods are vital to the food system. The body believes that falling production and delayed stocking of aquaculture system will lead to lower supplies, access, and consumption of fish.

    As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread globally, the African Chapter of the global body has raised concerns on the need to curtail its impact on the fish production system.

    The industry has been dealing with a disruption of demand resulting in dire consequences for the supply chain of fish.

    The industry has been devastated by problems, such as decrease in demand from large-scale buyers, particularly, restaurants, and the shutdown of markets. Sales and prices of premium seafood products that are sold to restaurants have been hit hard.

    Fish farmers are incurring debts in feeding stocks as they are not harvesting, and are running into problems of importing brood stock.

    Disruptions in the seafood supply chain, falling production and decreased consumer demand are pushing up the price of fish and aquatic food.

    Stakeholders are calling for steps to strengthen aquaculture for sustainable development and future food security.

    This is because aquaculture also provides an important source of livelihoods for rural communities as well as creating job opportunities in related supporting sectors, such as input manufacture, construction, processing, and trade.

    Globally, fish consumption is projected to increase by 30 million tonnes by 2030 as a result of population increases and improved living standards.

    It is essential that this demand be met through the sustainable growth of aquaculture, which will contribute to the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, such as zero hunger, poverty alleviation and conservation and sustainable utilisation of natural resources.

    Foluke Areola
    Foluke Areola

    The President, African Chapter, World Aquaculture Society, Sherif Sadek, noted that the industry is facing difficult times because of the recent worldwide outbreak of the novel COVID-19, which has created so much chaos around the globe.

    His words: “Our aquaculture sector is beginning to feel the impact. International travel and trade restrictions will potentially dent our progress. In early March, there were only two laboratories in Africa — one in Senegal and the other in South Africa — that had the reagents needed to test COVID-19 samples.

    They have been working as referral labs for countries around the region. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected and to various nations in Africa and around the world who are battling relentlessly to contain the spread of this disease. I’m fully confident that we will continue to follow orderly steps that will fight to stop the spread of this virus.”

    Other stakeholders are calling for tailored solutions’ to COVID-19 crisis. They are seeking measures to improve their situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    During a webinar organised by the West Africa Region of the global society, a Fellow of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Deaconess Foluke Areola, said there were projections that the economic fallout of the pandemic could plunge more than half one billion people into poverty, with communities in Sub-Sahara Africa, North Africa and the Middle East expected to suffer the most. Her words: “Many farmers have fish ready for sale which cannot be easily disposed of as planned.”

    For fish farmers, she said stocking plans and harvesting projections were affected.

    According to her, purchase and transportation of fish seeds were frustrated due to movement restrictions.

    Transportation became a very big concern to fish farmers getting to their farms due to movement restrictions; purchase and movement of fish feeds, fish seeds for pre-programmed stocking of ponds became difficult, especially, for those who rely on the use of public transportation.”

    A major issue, she pointed, out was on fish feeds. She observed: “The greater percentage of fish meal used in Nigeria is imported.”

    To this end, she urged the stakeholders in the industry to begin local production of fish meals to meet demand. She added: “Nigeria is blessed with clupeids from inland fisheries and lantern fish from marine fisheries that the research institutions can be empowered to use in the production of fish feed meals -a major input in fish feed production.”

    She called on stakeholders to ensure the recertification of Nigeria to export catfish to the United States and certification of aquaculture products to the European Union (EU).

    She continued: “If fish products can be exported at this time. Those who cannot market their fish because of restriction in movement would have processed them for export. Other agricultural products are being exported from the country by air and sea even under the lockdown.”

    According to her, COVID-19 has offered opportunities for emergency food supply, adding that getting the quantity and qualities of aquaculture products to be included in the food packages for a balanced diet is important to the industry. Fish producers are banking on government support to sustain the industry.

    These include the Director, West Africa Region of the World Aquaculture Society, African Chapter Mr. Lanre Badmus.

    An expert, Benjamin Bockarie, said there was the need for measures to sustain the industry to provide an important source of livelihoods for rural communities as well as creating job opportunities.

  • Notore grows revenue, posts N2.7b income

    Notore grows revenue, posts N2.7b income

    AGRIBUSINESS company, Notore Chemi cal Industries Plc, has posted N13.12 billion revenue and N2.7 billion operating income for the half year ended March 31, 2020, on the back of its strategic Turn Around Maintenance (TAM).

    This was contained in the company’s unaudited results for the Half Year Ended March 31, 2020, which reported a gross revenue of N13.12billion compared to N12.86billion for first half of 2019, representing a three per cent growth.

    A statement signed by its Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Onajite Okoloko, read: “The modest growth in revenue is attributable to some improvements in plant reliability derived from the ongoing TAM programme, which has begun to impact positively on Plant operations and resulting in some marginal increases in production volume during the period.

    “Operating expenses increased by 29 per cent to N10.43 billion during the period from N8.05 billion for the corresponding period of 2019H1 due mainly to a combination of increases in production activities, plant repair and maintenance expenses and the impact of naira devaluation. Operating income for the period was N2.67 billion, a decrease of 42 per cent as compared to N4.63 billion in 2019H1.”

    It said while COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant measures/restrictions put in place by various governments aimed at halting the further spread of the virus has had a negative impact on businesses globally, the impact of the pandemic on the fertilizer market and Notore in particular, remains minimal, as it operates in the “essential goods” industry.

    “The Nigerian fertilizer demand is quite robust and is expected to continue to grow considering the Federal Government’s strong and decisive policy focus on agriculture as one of the keys to unlock the diversification of the Nigerian economy. The domestic fertilizer market is yet to reach its full potential as the consumption of fertilizer per hectare of arable land in Nigeria is still far below the 200kg per hectare recommended by Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO),” it added.

  • Women in Ramadan

    Women in Ramadan

    Femi Abbas

    Perhaps, in no other month of Hijrah calendar are the roles of Muslim women (especially wives) as pronounced as in the month of Ramadan. Like in other months, responsible Muslim sisters display the roles of wives and mothers as well as those of the custodians of matrimonial homes. But much more than in other months, they mostly double or even triple the exhibition of their spiritual dedication in Ramadan.

    In that sacred month Muslim women fast like their men counterparts. They observe Salat five times daily like their male counterparts except if they are engaged in menstrual condition. They also join their male counterparts in observing Tarawih after the Iftar every evening. Some of them even attend Tafsir and public lectures during the days. Yet, they carry out their normal occupational functions like their male counterparts either in offices, shops, or farms. Yet, they never relent in carrying out their matrimonial duties.

    Even as some of them assist their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still take care of those husbands as well as their children and relatives domestically. At the time of the day when the husbands are knocked out or ‘locked down’ by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives are still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household. And at the time in the night when some husbands are engaged in Tahajjud, or are snoring in beds, the wives are already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.

    Some of these women are carrying pregnancy. Some are suckling their children while some others may have issues with peculiar ailments. And, among them are those who are knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur’an) like their husbands. Some of them are even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.

    And, yet, in all these activities, they never feel tired. Where and when they feel tired, they never show it. If any month has ever depicted the virtues of women in terms of strength and dedication, it is Ramadan. Well brought up women and responsible wives are the live wire of the matrimonial homes just as their husbands are the transformers through which the homes are powered with discipline. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was quoted as saying that “The best amongst you (men) are those who are best to their wives in treatment….”

    Therefore, if only for the reason of their matrimonial activities during the month of Ramadan, wives deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands. And, on the other hand, husbands should be further encouraged by their wives to groom the homes with comfort as a template for the future matrimonies of their children. Ramadan Karim!

  • The impact of COVID-19 on African farming (3)

    The impact of COVID-19 on African farming (3)

    Samuel J. Samuel

    Findings have shown that labour migration is an essential component that facilitates regional integration and economic development in Africa. Research on the impacts of immigration on the economy of developing countries carried out by the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveals that migrant workers provide supplementary labour force especially in areas where native-born workers do not readily consider viable. The studies further disclose that the inputs of these migrant workers contribute to the development of the formal sector of the economy thereby resulting in a positive effect on public finance.

    In Nigeria, most of the people that fall into the aforementioned sector of the economy are found in various groups and segments in the agriculture sector of the economy. Employment in agriculture in Nigeria was 36.38 per cent as of 2019. (Source: ILO estimate). The agriculture sector of Nigeria’s economy recorded the highest growth in the Q1 of 2019 across the major sectors in five (5) quarters. According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, agriculture sector grew at 3.17 percent in real term, up from 2.46 percent in the previous quarter. (May 21, 2019)

    Majorly, just as agriculture in Nigeria is made up of four sub-activities: Crop Production, Livestock, Forestry and Fishing, in like manner, the categories of people that dominate this sector fall into four categories, viz: the elderly (majorly the uneducated ones), young adults (educated/half-educated) and women (majorly the uneducated) in most parts of the country while the fourth group of people are migrant workers from neighbouring countries. Nigeria shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the West, Chad, and Cameroon in the East, and the Republic of Niger in the north. Farming is the principal source of food and income for Africans which makes up to 60 percent of all jobs on the continent. In Nigeria, most of the migrant farmers constitute more than 50-60 per cent of the workers that make agriculturists in Southern Nigeria. This has made the agriculture sector to rely heavily on the labour force of the aforementioned four groups of people.

    The migrants are cheap suppliers of the labour force for farmers who intend to expand their farm beyond one hectare which could be properly managed by a single farmer. However, the impact of COVID-19, which restricts movement, is, unfortunately happening between the seasons when farming is gradually beginning to pick up. This will consequently greatly affect these groups of workers. These farmers constitute more than 64 percent of the population and rely solely on agriculture for their means of livelihood. Any impact on the supply of labour force on them would have a disastrous effect. Normally, migrant workers are paid after the season with harvest stock. Some are paid by barter while some work, using their motorcycle and return to their villages where they start the business. The majority of the Nigerian labour forces (70-80 percent) are peasants working as subsistent farmers. Hence government must make a proper arrangement to ensure adequate mechanization and support for them.

    Since the COVID-19 outbreak, its negative effects have continued to be felt in the life of everyone, especially in the agriculture sector and migrant farmers in particular. This is proof that many migrant workers depend on the economy especially in the agriculture sector. Findings have also shown that some businesses in Europe, particularly agriculture, are currently in a panic of further economic losses due to travel restrictions, especially on the selected category of migrants that are coming into the continent. For instance, Germany’s agriculture sector depends, to a large extent, on migrant workers from neighbouring countries like Bulgaria, Poland, or Romania. Germany also fears that the 2020 harvest is in threat due to border closures and health-related uncertainties.

    Migrant workers are mostly the biggest losers during economic disasters (COVID-19) because of their short-term contracts. Therefore, as the global economy begins to plunge gradually into recession as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, more migrant farmers are being prevented from going to the farm. African migrants residing in countries like Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Chad will feel the impact of the restriction more than other groups of people in the economy across West Africa. In the US in 2018, over 22 million people were employed in the agriculture-related field, representing 11 percent of the country’s employment. This shows how important this sector is, not only in Africa but also at the global level. Furthermore, growing demand in sectors such as agriculture, mining, and construction remains an important driver of economic migration in Africa. Consequently, the migration of low-skilled and semi-skilled workers has become a prominent feature of modern intra-African economic activity.

    In West Africa, robust labour demand in agriculture and construction has been the major driver of migration from neighbouring countries into Nigeria. However, contemporary economic migration in Africa preponderantly involves low-skilled migrants and it is largely concentrated in the agriculture sector. Systemic growth in a labour-intensive sector such as agriculture, which has a strong absorptive capacity for low-skilled migrants with a limited level of education, can create substantial employment opportunities for people. The ECOWAS protocol related to the free movement of persons, residence, and establishment has facilitated migrant mobility within the region’s labour markets. (Source: UNCTAD, based on University of Sussex, 2018, and World Bank, 2013).

    Also, findings have revealed that about 423 million people are living in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As people migrate from one country to another, seeking job opportunities, migrant workers have accounted for the biggest share of intra-regional movement. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 164 million people are migrant workers which signify 9 percent rise since 2013 when they numbered 150 million. According to the 2nd edition of the ILO’s Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers (2013-2017), the majority of migrant workers accounts for 96 million men while 68 million are women. Of the 164 million migrant workers worldwide, approximately 111.2 million, representing 67.9 per cent live in high-income countries, while 30.5 million which constitutes 18.6 per cent are found in upper-middle-income countries. The report further showed that 16.6 million migrants, representing 10.1 percent, live in lower-middle-income countries while 5.6 million, representing 3.4 percent, live in low-income countries. (Source: ILO)

    Furthermore, research works have also shown that the majority of Africans do not emigrate from the continent but largely migrate to neighbouring countries. For instance, according to the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), between 2015 and 2017, the number of African international migrants living within the region jumped from 16 million to around 19 million. (UN, DESA, 2017).

    In today’s world, the world is more connected than it has ever been. Information, commodities, and money flow faster across national boundaries, a development referred to as globalisation. It is obvious that many developing countries need migrant workers as a result of shortages in labour-intensive works such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Although migration comes with its multifaceted challenges, the onus is on policy-makers across the globe to formulate a comprehensive and integrated policy that will recognise and foster the potential that lies within these groups of workers. “We cannot ignore the real policy difficulties posed by migration, but neither should we lose sight of its immense potential to benefit migrants, the countries they leave, and those to which they migrate.” — Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General

    The Addis Ababa-based UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) proposed that job-creation policies on the continent focus on labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture. Many developing countries are of the view that a flexible migration process would be a rapid means of increasing their gains from globalisation. However, the challenge is to develop policies that are acceptable to both developed and developing countries and that will promote global rapid economic growth.

    Based on the foregoing, the Nigerian government must make migrant workers, especially those in the agriculture sector, part of its national and sub-regional economic development strategy. Of course, this would involve practicable economic policy to strengthen labour market establishments that govern intra-regional-migration and labour movement. Our policy-makers at all levels of government must rise to the occasion by formulating all-inclusive strategies that identify the significance of migrant farmers to the growth and development of the economy while necessary support should be given to them in order to promote productivity and foster competitiveness across the sector.

    stakeholder agree the smallholder farmer who constitute and contribute more thank 70% of Nigeria farming community and produce a larger percentage of Nigeria food needs are plague by the demon of poverty on the one hand and the other hand lack of mechanization that help reduce their suffering and increase profitability. Nigeria mechanization is known to be one of the least in the world. Government and state actors should seek to coordinate and collaborate better by tapping into local technology capacity that will accelerate mechanization expansion, technology can help to aggregate existing capacity and utilize same to increase farmer access. technology will no doubt reduce risk associated with mechanization financing thereby crowding investors to the sector. as we think of what to reduce the pains that will be inflecting by covid-19 we must  prioritise the need to utilise technology to close the gap hitherto created by the shortfall in the supply of migrant workers. A typical example is the Tractor-On-The-Go (TOG tractors) App. This platform can connect farmers to farm equipment just by using their phones while equipment owners can also display their equipment on the platform whereby they can supply their services to farmers, no matter how remotely connected.

     

    • Samuel is a Principal Partner at Sensale Research Group
  • Are National Assembly members now 5G and vaccination conspiracy theorists?

    Are National Assembly members now 5G and vaccination conspiracy theorists?

    By Andrew Agbese

    Today, Nigerians are locked down from food and means of livelihood not by our making but by the deadly COVID-19, which has since changed so many things globally. Firstly, it was the debate about which name to call it: COVID-19 or the China Virus (like US President Donald Trump will call it)? Then came the 5G chip drama from the likes of Sen Dino Melaye and other social media doctors without a license. While many of our people are dying, those who should guide us from danger continue to politicise what makes us cry.

    House of Representatives members resolved to open their chamber on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, cutting short their break as a result of the lockdown, to help us bring an end to job losses, hunger and other setbacks amidst the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, but what we got that day was a political drama. While PDP lawmakers came to sell their phobia for 5G and search for COVID-19 vaccine, the APC members were busy demanding for answers from their APC leadership in the Villa on the modalities adopted to reach the vulnerable and poor people in their constituencies.

    We watched how one lawmaker was denigrating the law to make Nigeria’s only infectious disease agency, the NCDC, not just a reactionary health institution but a proactive agency, as the NCDC could easily pass as a name of one of the low key political parties in the country than a well-established disease control centre. Hon. Uzoma said the law sponsored by some of his colleagues in the House will help NCDC to forcefully insert microchips in the body of Nigerians. What a warped logic! Are our lawmakers driven by social media stunts or professional drive? I think taxpayers money on their allowances is just wasted.

    Posing conspiracy theories and propaganda is now a newly acquired skill of our lawmakers. They can play party politics in their chamber, but should it be at a time when we are grieving over losses of lives and our struggle to rise above a disease that has so far got no cure? Do we continue to play party politics with human lives at this time? Even Donald Trump has since retracted his steps after the reality dawned on him. Today, his country, the US, is the worst hit in the world. Do we want to wait until we get to the same level as the US?

    Glancing through a copy of the new Bill as posted on the Internet, a careful look at the argument put forward by the Uzomas of this world would prove that he and his cohorts have no point at all. Section 30 of the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 that they hammered on has no direct or indirect bearing on the National Program on Immunization or vaccination at all. Rather, it only tries to ensure a good standing of individual immunization status at the point of entry into Nigeria. It clearly establishes a protocol or criteria for people (both citizens and foreigners) coming in and going out of Nigeria to ensure that they are fully immunised against the diseases that require immunisation.

    It provides that a person coming or going out of the country must be immunized against prescribed diseases. It also states that at any point of entry, there must be evidence of previous immunization status (the yellow card), the absence of which will necessitate such a person to be given immunization or vaccine against the disease at the point of entry, and the person may be subjected to quarantine or isolation if need be. It’s international best practice known to professional medic workers.

    Now, it says further that the Port Health Officer may return any person, not being a citizen of Nigeria, who arrives in Nigeria in contravention of the provision above (i.e without valid certificates of prior immunisation) (a semblance of Yellow Card) to their take-off point at the expense of the owner or agent of the vessel by which the person arrives Nigeria. The section also holds the owner, master or agent of any vessel accountable in ensuring compliance with subsection (1) in respect of any person on board his vessel.

    The attempt to hoodwink the Nigerian people that compulsory national vaccination of all citizens is part of this section is strange except if there are PDP and APC versions of the bill. From whence comes the insertion of vaccination chips or 5G devices in the human body? No surprise, those PDP lawmakers described COVID-19 China Virus after the comic American President. And yet Nigerian citizens from the South East and other parts of the country are yet to voluntarily return back home owing to their phobia for China. That many Nigerians do bribe port health officials for quick procurement of Yellow Card at the airport without proper vaccination does not mean such dangerous public health hazard should linger on.

    It would do us, as a country, a favour to realise that the NCDC and indeed our public health safety institutions should be scaled up to meet current realities, to ensure the safety of Nigerians and visitors to and from the country, and not what this set of lawmakers would want us to believe. At this age and time, we should feel sorry that we have conspiracy theorists as our representatives.

  • Increasing tomato production

    Increasing tomato production

    Efforts are top gear to ensure the production and supply of tomato in the country all year round, writes DANIEL ESSIET.

     

    Tomato is an important vegetable crop in Nigeria. It is  widely grown for home consumption and for sale. Its demand is high both for domestic use and markets.

    However, the lack of good variety seeds to buy is a threat to tomato farming and to the economy. This results in extremely poor yields, thereby making it unattractive for processors to purchase.

    To address this problem, a project aimed at producing more pest resistance, high yielding tomato that would last for many days on the shelf is on.

    The project is a colloboration between Olam Nigeria and  the World Vegetable Centre, a globally renowned research institute for the supply of 18 varieties of seeds.

    To support the government’s quest to attain self-sufficiency in tomato production and processing, Olam Nigeria embarked on a pilot farming project to boost production through improved seeds.

    Executing the project through its subsidiary, Caraway Africa Nigeria Ltd, Olam Nigeria acquired 20 hectares of land for this purpose and set up farms in Karfi, Kano State, as well as Masama and Guri, both located in Jigawa State. The farms are solely dedicated to the production of tomatoes.

    While the tomatoes were transplanted in October last year, harvest began in February this year.

    Olam Nigeria’s Vice President in charge of Farming Initiatives, Reji George, said preliminary results point to a bountiful harvest.

    He stated that each of the farms was on course to produce 30 metrics tonnes of tomato per hectare, as against the 7.5 metric tonnes per hectare which is Nigeria’s average yield for tomato.

    Read Also: Using technology to boost food production

     

    Reji added that the commercial pilot farming initiative, which Olam Nigeria is embarking upon through Caraway Africa Nigeria, was a precursor to a backward integration project for tomato paste production which will commence in March 2021.

    He said Olam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Vegetable Centre, for the supply of 18 varieties of seeds, exclusively for Caraway Africa Nigeria.

    George added: “We have also decided to go for an additional eight varieties of hybrid tomato seeds already existing in Nigeria, which have a higher yield potential, but which the farmers are not using because of the cost. We have selected tomato seed varieties, which produce fresh tomatoes as well as the variants which are good for tomato processing.”

    The tomatoes which are being currently harvested at the Caraway Africa Nigeria, Kano and Jigawa farms, are considered to be of higher quality than what is currently being produced by other farmers in terms of size, quality and weight.

    The tomatoes are products of the Nigerian hybrid seeds and the World Vegetable Centre seeds which were planted on a trial basis.

    The owner of Dogara Farms, Alhaji Uba Idris Dogara, who has been farming for 35 years, attested to the quality of the recently harvested tomatoes.

    He said: “I’m an old-time tomato farmer, but the method Olam brought to this place is looking better than the previous method we were using.

    “I have seen a lot of changes in their yields than what we have been getting before. There is a big improvement. This method is better than what we have seen.”

    The Farm Manager,Masama Farm, Emmanuel Agbo, and Farm Manager, Abur Farm, Mohammed Saulawa,  both owned by Olam Nigeria and located in Jigawa State, said the quality of the tomatoes have attracted farmers who have visited their farms, curious to know about the farming methods that have produced such yields.