The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Ogun backs CBN’s verification of farmers

    Ogun backs CBN’s verification of farmers

    Our Reporter

     

    Ogun State Government has thrown its weight behind the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) farmers verification.

    This is coming ahead of the commencement of the farming season.

    The CBN has ended the farm mapping exercise for verified Anchor Borrowers’ subscribers across the 20 local government areas.

    The exercise was aimed at authenticating claims of subscribers as regards farm land areas indicated in their different local government areas. A minimum of one hectare of farmland is expected of each subscriber.

    Speaking during the exercise, Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Adeola Odedina said the verification was critical if the farmers are to benefit from the support of the apex bank.

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Dotun Shorunke, the Commissioner, who led a monitoring team to some local government areas including Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Yewa-North and Imeko-Afon Local of the state, assured the verified subscribers of the provision of improved seedlings for optimum outputs, just as their farms also would be insured against unforeseen circumstances.

    Read Also: NGO empowers cocoa farmers in Ondo community

     

    He   expressed satisfaction with the level of clearing done in Apojula, Odeda Local Government Area on the land to be allotted to cassava farmers who do not have farmlands but have been verified for the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

    He  added that the scheme was targeted at capturing 23,000 cassava farmers across the 20 LGAs in the state.

    The Project Manager,  Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP),  and Secretary of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, Ms Taiwo Ayansanwo, said the scheme was meant to help farmers increase their capacities. She encouraged more farmers to embrace the scheme to reduce poverty.

    She assured that the scheme will not be limited to cassava farmers, but all other aspects of the agricultural value-chain. ‘’We will soon be training the farmers on how to achieve good agronomy for maximum farm produce,” she assured.

     

  • Towards farm mechanisation

    Towards farm mechanisation

    With land and water resources, including labour force shrinking amid increasing food demand, mechanisation and modern post-harvesting operations can boost food production. Already, there are moves to address the deficit in functional tractors as well as  agric engineering professionals’ capacities, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

     

    Agriculture is still predominantly at the subsistence level in Nigeria, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    With farmers cultivating between one and two hectares of land, using mostly hoes and cutlasses, the result is poor food production.

    A transformation from small-scale subsistence farming to mechanised, more commercially- viable farming is, therefore, essential, according to experts.

    The mechanisation level on farms across the country is very low with about 25,000 tractors, comprising private and public sector ownerships.

    The Tractor Owners Association of Nigeria estimates that about two million functional tractors are needed to effectively meet demand by farmers.

    Speaking in Lagos during the Origin Automobile internship programme, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressed the need to raise agricultural productivity to boost food security and generate jobs for youths.

    Represented by the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investments, Mrs. Solape Hammond, the governor underscored the importance of  capacity building and investments in mechanisation-based solutions for resilient agricultural development.

    According to him, one of the advantages of mechanised agriculture is that it can attract youths to farms and reduce Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate.

    The  Chairman, Origin Group, Samuel Joseph Samuel,  said access to mechanisation would reduce drudgery and promote sustainable agronomical practices.

    He said farmers needed greater access to affordable yield-enhancing inputs to increase productivity, profitability and sustainability of their farms.

    Read Also: Female farmers push for gender parity from Fed Govt

     

    To support the mechanisation goal, bridge the tractor and agriculture equipment deficit, Origin Group has established an online tractor service platform – Tractor on the Go (TOG) Limited – to serve farmers in any part of the country.

    Samule said tractor service providers and farmers have been brought together on a common platform.

    He said farmers across could now hire tractors through a mobile app known as TOG.

    So far, he said his organisation                                                                                                                                  has dealt with 700,000 farmers, adding that tractors have been registered on the mobile app.

    Besides, Samuel said a tractor hiring centre has been planned for each state. This, he said, is to enable farmers who cannot afford tractors to access such service at affordable rates.

    He said the centres would be located in the commercial agricultural production areas, not in the cities. He said there will be a minimum of two tractors for any person or group interested in tractor hiring services.

    Samuel also said there is a training component, which involves capacity building for youth in tractor operation and farm equipment servicing and repairs.

    The General Manager, Origin Automobile Works Limited, Mr. Olakunle Dabiri, said the company’s primary focus  was the  provision of advanced mechanisation technology solutions aimed at eliminating the persistent high human drudgery by providing manufacturing, sales and servicing of farm machinery.

    In line with this, the company  established Origin Automobile internship programme to train and develop a home-grown team of agric engineers and other professionals for local manufacture, support and development of tractors.

    The programme, which involves local and foreign, will run for six months.

    Dabiri said the  programme  gives participants the know-how and confidence to start their business, adding that there is a market for farming mechanisation services.

    However, low performing participants would be dropped out of the programme at any time once their assessment exposes such.

    He said 50 graduates have been induced into the internship programme. The target for this year, according to him, is 150.

  • FG to train over 50,000 agricultural extension workers-Minister

    FG to train over 50,000 agricultural extension workers-Minister

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has restated Federal Government’s commitment to train more than 50,000 agricultural extension workers to boost agricultural production in Nigeria.

    The minister disclosed this during a 3-day Annual National Stakeholders Review and Planning Workshop on Wednesday in Zaria.

    Represented by Mr Frank Satumari, Director of Extension of the ministry, Nanono said Nigeria was faced with the issue of aging in agricultural extension services.

    He noted that the young officers were not being trained to take over from the senior officers that were retiring.

    The minister said there was Youth and Gender Division in the Department of Agricultural Extension where the ministry used to train women and youth in the agriculture as part of the activities to revamp extension services.

    He said the ministry would also strengthen partnership with the private sector for in-depth analysis into the shortfall of extension workers with a view to addressing the challenge.

    He expressed optimism that the target of training the 50,000 agricultural extension workers would be achieved before the expiration of the tenure of the present administration.

    “I assure you that in the next two years there will be drastic departure from what we are seeing now,’’ he said.

    READ ALSO: N-Power: FG to train 20,000 youths– Osinbajo

    Nanono recalled that the collaboration between the ministry and the training partners, Sasakawa Africa Association and Sasakawa Global 2000 SAA/SG2000 started in 1992.

    He explained that the partnership was to provide a platform for extension service delivery, using extension approaches and tools that are demand-driven and market-oriented.

    He added that the issue of crop post-harvest handling and access to market is also part of the training package.

    “The workshop has always been timely in that it complements the agenda of the ministry where smallholder farmers are target of farmer’s education activities in the crop value chain that the ministry is promoting,’’ the minister said.

    Prof. Sani Miko, Country Director, SAA/SG2000, said the workshop was aimed at getting feedback from previous year’s activity implementation efforts from partners.

    He added that the workshop would present SG2000 activities for the year 2020 for better contribution from the key stakeholders towards addressing perennial problems affecting smallholder farmers along the value chains.

    Also, Mr Maina Binus, Programme Manager, Gombe State Agricultural Development Project (SADP) while speaking on behalf of the Programme Managers of State Agricultural Development Project, lamented that the SADP were relegated to the background in the various states.

    He advised government and key stakeholders to revive the SADP in order to address many social and economic challenges in the country.

    (NAN)

  • NAHCO to life agric export

    Daniel Essiet

    Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (Nahco Aviance), has re-affirmed its commitment to the growth and development of agricultural export.

    This is as the company expanded its facilities to boost the volume of export of products it handles by 68 per cent. The development became important following the Federal Government’s border closure policy, which made the need for Nigeria to produce enough for her consumption as well as export imperative.

    The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nahco Aviance, Mrs. Tokunbo Fagbemi, made these known at the “Africa Agric Expo,”co-sponsored by the handling firm.

    At the event, which was the maiden edition, Mrs Fagbemi explained that the company’s aim was to halt the rejection of Nigeria’s export goods  over inability to meet international standards.

    Read Also: We’ll make NAHCON a global brand, says chair

    Assuring stakeholders of a brighter and better year, the Nahco Aviance boss revealed that the handling firm was ready to partner other agencies and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to reduce the wastage of agricultural products, especially as a result of lack of equipment to preserve them.

    She said, “Nahco Aviance has increased its volume of export of agricultural products by about 68% having spent about $2 million to expand its facilities whilst improving on security for exported products.

    “In a few months, we are building a state-of-the-art cold storage hub for both existing and potential clients, including our new Clients that want to transship their goods through Nigeria with a bit of packaging.

    “Our findings from the airlines revealed that a lot of Agricultural products exported are destroyed by the time they get to their destinations, which is largely caused by inadequate storage facilities. We just got an approval to develop a facility in our packaging warehouse, which will tackle that challenge because it will help exporters to package their products at a particular temperature rate to reduce the incidence of rejection in the International markets.”

  • How to transform agriculture for growth

    A workshop, themed Unlocking productivity and investment opportunities across Nigeria’s Agribusiness value chain held in Lagos, has provided a platform for key stakeholders in the sector to suggest ways of transforming the sector. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Stakeholders have given an overview of the constraints in their businesses and made proposals on how the government can respond to their needs.

    Many farmers lack the basic things their counterparts outside the country take for granted, such as logistics, access to improved crop varieties, fertiliser and irrigation.

    Although some progress has been made, addressing these weaknesses by themselves is not enough.

    The Eco Bank Agribusiness Summit organised by Ecobank in partnership with Vanguard Newspapers, with the theme  Unlocking productivity and investment opportunities across Nigeria’s agribusiness value chain provided the platform to bring these issues to the fore.

    At the forum held in Lagos, one of the panelists and Vice-President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ijewere, elaborated on some of the challanges the industry was facing, including diseases and logistics problems.

    Ijewere said livestock farmers suffered a lot of losses in transporting cows from the North to the South.

    The Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, who was represented by the  Minister of State, Mustapha Baba Shehur, reiterated the government’s commitment to giving a new dynamism to the agricultural sector.

    He also spoke of the progress achieved in the sector and reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting the sector.

    This, he said, was through assistance to farmers to increase production of local crop.

    Nanono commended Ecobank and Vanguard Newspapers for providing a forum for stakeholders to seek solutions to the challenges in agricultural development.

    Ecobank Managing Director Patrick Akinwutan said there was an agreement with Nigerian Incentive Risk Sharing Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to invest another N70 billion in agriculture financing in the next three years.

    Akinwutan said the bank recognised agriculture as pivotal to the success of the economy and was determined to work with credible partners to open up the vast opportunities in the sector.

    He said this was why the bank  partnered Vanguard Newspapers to hold the summit.

    The Chief Economist and Partner, PWC, Dr. Andrew Nevin, stressed the need for the government to focus on initiatives that will improve the investment climate.

    According to him, growth has not been significant, attributing this to investors’ perceived concerns over risks.

    Despite this, Nevin said Nigeria has the capacity to become the sixth world food producer if the government doubled its efforts at achieving inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reiterated the commitment of the state government towards changing the face of the various agricultural estates and encourage youth participation in agriculture.

    The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya explained that the State Government was also collaborating with development partners like the world Bank to implement various agric-based projects in the State stressing that the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support Project (APPEALS) is one of such projects which would empower no fewer than 10,000 farmers in the State in the next four years.

    “All these initiatives and several others being promoted by this administration are meant to encourage private sector participation in the agric sector. It is very important that we pay special attention to the agricultural value chain because it is only through the value chain that we can maximize the potentials in the sector,” the Governor opined.

  • Using technology to boost food production

    Feeding Nigeria’s estimated 200 million population, according to experts, requires improved and widespread application of technologies, innovations and farmer education. Although Nigeria has recorded significant achievements in agriculture, stakeholders believe that rapid population growth will impact food production hence, the need to assist farmers to increase crop productivity via technology. This was the focus of the yearly Youth Leadership Series (YLS) held in Lagos, last week. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    With rapid population growth, increasing urbanisation and a shrinking rural labour force, food production methods need to be modernised if Nigeria is to feed 250 million people by 2050, analysts have said.

    According to them, one of the best ways to increase production is the use of technologies. To this end, the  growing use of tech applications is expected to help boost the overall productivity of the agriculture sector.

    Across the sector, agritech startups using technology to improve sustainability, efficiency, and profitability are showing impressive growth. They are leveraging technology to help farmers better manage potential risks and disasters such as droughts, pests and diseases.

    This was the focus of the yearly Youth Leadership Series (YLS) organised by Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

    The Stanbic IBTC YLS is a platform of engagement for the youth where business knowledge and experiences are shared. The third edition had the theme “Techricuture – The evolution”’.

    In his opening remarks, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Dr. Demola Sogunle, reiterated that technology and agriculture are critical sectors that have the capability of producing the next set of millionaires in Nigeria due to the vibrancy and profitability of the two industries.

    He said the core objective of YLS was to educate the youth on how to explore their innate potential to become better business leaders.

    According to Sogunle, “The Stanbic IBTC Youth Leadership Series is deliberately fashioned after our annual business leadership series which is a platform created to engage and empower emerging business owners to become leaders in their various fields.”

    During the panel session, the Chief Executive Officer and Lead Trainer, Farm lab, Samson Ogbole, explained how he is making a living with modern farms.

    Ogbole said he is popular for his innovative approach to agriculture through his soilless farming revolution where crops are grown in the air.

    He said he became involved in soilless farming in 2014. Two years later, he founded PS Nutraceuticals, a firm that applies agricultural technologies to boost food production.

    The firm Nutracueuticals deploys various technologies, including hydroponics (plants in water), aquaponics (use of waste produce of fishes to feed plants) and aeroponics (plants grown in air) to grow crops all year round.

    Other successful entrepreneurs who spoke at the forum were the co-owners of the Wilson’s Juice Company, Seyi and Seun Abolaji. They gave insights on how they started their lemonade business with little capital and how it has grown over the years.

    The company started as a smoothie and fresh squeezed juice stand at Covenant University in Ota, Ogun state. Customers grew to love their lemonade so much that the business quickly focused on lemonade production. The big moment came in 2011, when Seun pointed out to Seyi that they should bottle the lemonade instead of just selling it in cups. Wilson’s Lemonade was born. Today, Wilson’s is the premier not-from-concentrate beverage brand in Nigeria.

    Since starting the company, the duo have raised about $200,000 with the help of family and friends and their own savings. The Wilson’s Juice has since drawn lots of attention from far and wide.

    They urged the participants to have a clear vision of their pursuits in life, adding that they should never be discouraged with their humble beginning.

    Another panelist was the founder, Wandeville Media, Miss Yewande Kazeem, who inspired the audience with her success story. She said: “The key thing is consistency. People will start appreciating you with time. Invest in yourself.“

    The Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who also spoke in a similar vein, encouraged the youths to brace up and contribute positively to the development of the country.

    He assured them that the government would continue to invest in the youth and set them on the path of success.

    In his closing remarks, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Plc, Dele Sotubo, advised the participants to imbibe the values and knowledge they have learnt from the conference.

  • Nigeria needs 700,000 tonnes of tomato for local market – NIHORT

    Juliana Agbo, Abuja

    The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has stated that 700,000 metric tonnes of tomato was required to meet national demand.

    Its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abayomi Olaniyan, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday at a two- day training workshop organised by the institute for critical stakeholders in tomato and telfairia production and value addition.

    Olaniyan, who said though Nigeria is currently producing 2.3 million metric tonnes as against 1.8 million produced two years ago, reiterated the needed to meet the three million metric tonne national demand.

    He decried that one of the major reasons for the deficit was post harvest loss, adding that about 40 per cent of tomatoes were often wasted.

    He said: ” Tomato production in Nigeria is still short of what is demanded particularly during the second and third quota of the year.

    “While about three million metric tonne is the national requirement, about 2.3 metric tonne is the production.”

    He added that tomato nursery practices was another reason for the deficit in supply, stressing that “tomato management is important for future development of the commodity value chain.

    READ ALSO: Pineapple helps to reduce risk of cancer, says NIHORT

    “Nursery is a basic need and prerequisite for producing quality seedlings. Putting efforts on quality seedling production offers scope for sustainable tomato production.

    “Additionally, nursery provides employment opportunities for technical, skilled, semi skilled and unskilled labour.”

    On telfairia, Olaniyan noted that the leaf was of high nutritional, medicinal and industrial value, adding that it was rich in protein, fat, minerals and vitamins.

    According to him, there is high prospect in production and marketing of telfairia within and outside the country, saying basic knowledge on value addition was important.

    He said the two day training would cover tomato value addition and processing among other things, to reduce seasonal glut and inconsistent year round supply.

    The NIHORT boss added that processing of tomato would help reduce the amount been imported into the country particularly “during lean season of tomato supply.”

  • Edo promises support to farmers

    The Edo State Government has said it will provide support to farmers in the state to cultivate rice, maize, soya beans and cassava on 10,000 hectares of farmland across the state, as part of commitment to boost food security and create wealth for farmers.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Joe Okogie, said this during an interview with journalists in Benin City.

    He reassured that the state government will in the 2020 farming season, support farmers across the three senatorial districts.

    Okogie noted that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has continually assisted farmers to go into commercial-scale farming so as to fortify the industrial base in the state, noting, “What we have done is to assist farmers to convert from subsistence to commercial agriculture. The farmers are happy about this development. We have also improved the food security programme in the state. We were able to harvest over 200 metric tons of rice paddy in the last year.

    READ ALSO: Edo partners LAWMA on waste management

    The governor’ aide added that the state government will continue to provide enabling environment to encourage private investors to participate in the state’s agriculture sector, adding, “What we intend to do is provide the enabling environment that will enable private investors come to the state to set up their business.

    “We are hoping to attract other investors who will come to build a mill a capacity to undertake the rice paddy we are producing. The only integrated mill we have is agro-tech in Ugboha, a private sector-led initiative. We will continue to encourage farmers in the state to keep producing.”

  • AWDROP partners govt to provide water for farmers, rural dwellers

    Our Reporter

     

    The  National Executive of Borehole Master Drillers Association (AWDROP) has concluded plans with Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono to assist in providing adequate water supply for rural farmers.

    The assistance is coming through a programme tagged: Agro-Rural Water Supply Support Initiative (ARUWASSI).

    Speaking during the meeting with the Minister, the National President, AWDROP, Michael Ale  noted that ensuring access to water  is essential to achieving  sustainable agricultural development  and commended the Federal Government’s readiness to explore underground water to address irrigation challenges.

    His words: “Nigerian farmers still find it difficult to practice all seasons farming, which makes it possible for farmers in developed countries to grow fruits, grains and, vegetables during the dry season.

    Farmers in the developed countries are able to achieve this because of effective management of groundwater. AWDROP has great expertise and potential in this area.

    Read Also: Unity Bank, farmers partner to boost cashew export

     

    We are excited with the current partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ( FMARD) though the ARUWASSI Programme.”

    He  added: “”This programme  has gained traction in the international groundwater fora and has received so much attention.”

    According to him, ground water has   powered countries to become self-sufficient in food production, and reduced poverty by creating jobs in rural areas.

    He also commended the National Assembly for approving the programme, adding that urgent changes are needed  on  the way water is used in farming.

    He reiterated the association’s  desire  to work with the ministry to ensure   the ARUWASSI Programme succeeds   for agriculture and rural livelihood.

     

  • Firm to increase maize cultivation

    Our Reporter

     

    Maize is an important food in Nigeria and the main ingredient in several well-known  dishes. It’s also used as animal feed and as raw material for producing starch.

    In response, the private sector has taken steps to increase production  as the population has put more pressure on food supply.

    To this end, an agro-based firm, H.O Corn, is set to increase maize cultivation to meet demands from industry and the public.

    The firm said it plans to cultivate 30,000 hectares of land with expected yield of 120,000 tonnes of maize to meet households and industrial demand in the year.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Harrison Andrew, said the 120,000 tonnes would be produced in two farming seasons, six months per season within the year, at 60,000 tonnes each.

    He explained that H.O Corn began maize cultivation in 2017 at Iseyin Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. He added that the company has increased its cultivation capacity to 30,000 acres, making it the largest maize farm in the country.

    Andrew pointed out that maize production has increased from 7.2 million metric tonnes between 2016 and 2017 to 10.2 million metric tonnes between 2018 and 2019.

    However, the Global Agricultural Information Network in its 2019 Report said the country is expected to consume 10.7 million metric tonnes of maize in the year.

    It added that the country is expected to import about 400,000 metric tonnes to meet maize demand within the year.

    According to Andrew, maintaining a steady increase in maize production will have a huge positive impact on the country’s  gross domestic product(GDP.)

    Read Also: Nigeria to benefit from $67b cocoa market

     

    “Over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s production goes into animal feed, especially for poultry, 10 to 15 percent is directly consumed roasted, boiled or prepared as porridge by individuals in households.’’

    “The balance is consumed by food manufacturing industries as raw material. This means that the demand for maize would continue to rise in the country,” he said.

    The CEO said that the 30,000 acres production capacity can accommodate 30,000 investors with a minimum investment of N100, 000 per lot and assurance of 50 per cent return on investment.

    “All interesting individual or company needs to do is fill the investor form at www.hocorn.ng and pay the minimum unit price of N100,000 and get N50,000 as profit at the end of a farming season.

    “An investor can pay for one lot or more, depending of his or her financial strength and is assured of getting 50 per cent of his investment as profit,” he added.

    He said that the company would increase the cultivation capacity to 50,000 acres next farming season to increase opportunities for investors and contribute to mitigating the eminent hunger crisis in the country.

    According to him, the initiative will contribute to the country’s agricultural industry and provide massive employment opportunities to Nigerian and ensure sustainable wealth creation through farming and education on wise investment.

    “H.O CORN produces and processes fresh and dry corn and supply to the local market, whose domestic consumption has continued to experience phenomenal growth over the years.

    “We use the latest technology in agriculture production and operate a complete line of modern machinery that include corn planter and combine harvester.

    “We believe that food should be of high quality, locally sourced, readily available and sustainable,” he said