The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • Border Closure: CBN appeals to Rice millers, stakeholders not to increase price

    By Agency Reporter

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has appealed to members of Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) and other stakeholders in the rice value chain not to increase the price of rice over boarder closure.

    Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor said this in a statement issued and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja by Mr Muhammed Tijani, Media Assistant to RIMAN’s Chairman.

    Emefiele also called on them not to hoard rice as a result of the closure of the boarders in order to increase price, adding that such acts were unpatriotic.

    The CBN governor said that the boarder closure was meant to promote the growth of the Nigerian economy and ensure that the country attained food self-sufficiency in the rice value chain.

    He said that this was for the benefit and wellbeing of the citizenry.

    He said that imported rice into the country were chemicalised for preservation, therefore not good for the consumption.

    Emefiele said that there was need to increase rice production and discourage hoarding leading to price increase, while calling on rice millers to support government’s effort in the rice value chain sector.

    He said that hoarding rice with a view to increase the prices of rice would bring hardship to Nigerians.

    He said that the CBN under his leadership would support rice millers to stem off smuggling in the country and grow the rice sector for food self–sufficiency.

    Read Also: CBN unfolds guidelines for indirect payment system

    Emefiele called on Nigerians to support the government action on closure of the boarder, adding that government took the decision in the best interest of Nigerians as it was meant to secure the country.

    He said that this would also secure the health of the citizenry from heavily chemicalised products that were injurious to the health of the country.

    Mr Peter Dama, the RIMAN Chairman assured the CBN of the supports of its members on the Federal Government’s action on boarder closure.

    He said that its members would not succumb to pressure to reverse the policy on boarders’ closure.

    He urged the CBN for financial support to build capacity and expand milling activities to stimulate further growth in the rice sector.

  • Cashing in on the cashew nuts boom

    Industry players seek way out of sector’s problems, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Cashew nuts are some of the crops fuelling growth in the agricultural sector.

    Experts say almost three million tonnes are harvested worldwide yearly.

    According to Mordor Intelligence, an international market intelligence and advisory firm, the cashew market was valued at $9.9 million last year, and is projected to reach $12.7 million  by 2024.

    Among all the cashew producing nations, the firm said African countries contributed 56.5 per cent of the global production with  Ivory Coast leading the way with yearly production of 725,000 tonnes.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), cashew nuts are Nigeria’s third-biggest agricultural export this year.

    NBS said an estimated N8 billion was generated from cashew nuts exported in the first six months of the year.

    It also noted that Vietnam, India, Tanzania, Russia and Netherlands were Nigeria’s biggest markets for cashew nuts in half-year 2019.

    With output of just 200,000 tonnes this year, however, Nigeria lags behind the top three producers.

    According to analysts, the estimated area under cashew plantations in Nigeria varies between  200,000 and 300,000 hectares.

    About 70 per cent of the local production is commercialised of which about 90 per cent is exported in  form of raw nuts.

    For the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), the sector is lagging behind due to lack of investment but it is closing the gap  with big ambitions.

    NCAN is making efforts towards increasing the export value of the intensively-processed cashew nuts and byproducts.

    The Association said it focused on the key gaps inhibiting growth in the business. Closing these key gaps would help to rebuild the sector’s potential, stimulate growth, and enable smallholder farmers to raise their incomes and yields, while creating jobs for youths and raising incomes for women.

    Consequently, NCAN is to sign a N3.6 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with foreign investors to boost the cashew value chain.

    Its National President, Mr. Ojo Ajanaku, said the MoU would provide over N50 billion yearly investment opportunities.

    Ajanaku said: “NCAN wants to increase annual production of cashew from N50 billion to N220 billion by 2020. The targeted investors are local off-takers of which we have about 20 in Nigeria, while targeting about 15 off-takers that are from foreign countries.”

    He said: “At present, Nigeria is producing over 200,000 metric tonnes of cashew yearly and out of the 100 per cent of cashew that goes out, 60 per cent is from Kogi State. The aroma is what the world wants. We have the market place but we need a strategic plan on how to harness it.”

    Despite its efforts, Nigeria’s cashew industry is also being confronted with numerous difficulties as the growth rate of farming production has yet to keep up with the growth rate of the processing industry. The output of raw cashews only met about 20 per cent of the demand for export processing of the  businesses.

    In addition, competition in the industry is becoming fiercer, with the penetration risks posed by potential opponents, especially those from China, East Africa and Thailand and Cambodia.

    Also, the consumption demand is increasing with stricter requirements in terms of quality and food safety.

    To the economy, stakeholders said the cashew boom presents an unexpected but welcome opportunity to diversify agricultural exports beyond cocoa beans and rubber. It will also help develop the country’s agro-industry. However, to realise its potential, Nigeria has to process and add value to its raw cashews.

     

    Ogbomoso cashew

    plantations

     

    The Chief Executive, Hastom Nigeria, Mr. Debo Thomas, said there was no alternative to increasing productivity.

    According to him, if growers are able to increase productivity and investors can establish processing factories, Nigeria could regain high production levels.

    For him, there is room to further develop the industry, such as processing cashew apple juice.

    He said efforts were needed to achieve prosperity through the sector.

    His vision is to transform Ogbomoso’s cashew sector into a significant foreign exchange earner creating jobs and substantial wealth for Nigerians.

    He said his organisation is working hard to support the industry to achieve yearly productivity of 500,000 raw cashew nuts.

    He cultivates 600 hectares of cashew in Ogbomoso.  At the farm, are many cashew trees.

    Buoyed by his success, he plans to plant 500 new trees. He has plans to cultivate another 1000 hectares.

    Thomas said the productivity of the cashew trees is increasing and the plan is to support the industry to reach the historic level of 500,000 tonnes of nuts yearly.

    For this reason, he is converting every available farm land in the town into cashew plantation.

    He said the government should support the private sector to help the curved, nutrient-packed nut to recover its past glory.

    Even though improving the productivity of plantations is a good measure, it is definitely not enough because to raise the added value in the country, production must be accompanied by an equal increase in processing capacity.

    For him, the cashew model today should be different—instead of using major processing units, as was the practice about 15 years ago, the country should be using small units that can process between 1,000 and 5,000 tonnes of cashew nuts more efficiently.

    He said his organisation intends to focus on cashew processing to boost the performances of the sector and related exports.

    In Ogbomoso, Thomas is building a processing factory. The goal is to process 11,000 tonnes of nuts yearly. He is building warehouses, where cashew nuts will be aggregated in sacks for processing.

    Outlining problems that the sector has been facing, Thomas said the presence of few farms in different parts of the country is affecting productivity.

    He, however, added that there was no alternative to increasing productivity.

    Thomas said Nigeria needs to be self-sufficient in cashew production, which will also boost the country’s economy.

     

    Roles of India and Vietnam

     

    India and Vietnam’s rising needs for raw cashew nuts have also fuelled the growth of cashew farming in Nigeria.Vietnam is the world’s leading cashew nut exporter, but the industry relies on imported raw materials.

    It has about 300,000 hectares under cashew and an average output of 350,000-400,000 tonnes yearly, meeting only about 30 per cent of processors’ demand.

    Thus it imports over one million tonnes of raw cashew every year from many countries, mainly in Africa. Vietnam’s cashew industry has invested in 500,000 hectares of plantations in Cambodia with the vision of turning its southwestern neighbour into a major supplier. The Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) has pledged to provide technical support to Cambodian farm owners to reach a yearly yield of one million metric tons of raw cashew nuts by the end of 2028.

    In 2017, Vietnamese businesses spent over $2.5 billion importing more than 1.3 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts for processing.

    As the top world exporter of processed cashew, India also imports about 60 per cent of raw cashew for processing from Africa and Asia.

     

    Devt challenges

     

    Although Nigeria produces at least five per cent of the world’s cashew supply, fewer than seven per cent of raw cashew nuts are processed domestically. Experts attribute this to lack of finance to upgrade or build modern processing facilities.

    The industry still faces several challenges, including shrinking cultivation area and unstable output. Aging trees and abnormal weather conditions have decreased yields, and many farmers preferred other crops for higher profits, which has reduced the planted area.

    The Director-General of Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, listed the major factors limiting cashew nut production in Nigeria as old age of most trees, deforestation, low yielding varieties, dominance of small holdings, dependence of most farmers on wild varieties, land acquisition problems, high cost of input, climatic conditions, disease, pest and fire outbreaks, high post-harvest losses, infrastructural constraints and quality, and market price of the product.

    Ibrahim, however, noted that the agency, vested with the mandate to promote development and utilisation of Nigeria’s industrial raw materials, has made several interventions over the years and entered various strategic partnerships to boost the nation’s cashew production.

    Improving opportunities through cashew value chain

     

    Thomas urged the government to consider cashew as a strategic crop in rural development, and should have policies to promote the cashew industry’s further growth.

    He said boosting cashew production would create enterprises and processing factories.

    He said thousands of farmers and workers would enjoy improved livelihoods thanks to cashew trees.

    Through crowd farming, he said his organisation would develop large cashew fields in Ogbomoso and improve cashew yield and quality. He pledged to purchase cashews from farmers.

    He said finding answers to yield and quality questions, and proper investments were important for the cashew industry to reach sustainable development.

    He said government’s policies, business participation and community’s support are integral for sustainable agricultural development. Seed is the first problem that needs to be improved to increase yield and output. About 80 per cent of the 300,000 hectares of cashews are old and the seed varieties needs to be improved. Agricultural promotion policies, including policies on application of new varieties and advanced farming practices, are very important, he said.

    Cashew re-cultivation, according to him, is not only the task of farmers but also the government and the agricultural sector.

     

     Stakeholders’ react

     

    Stakeholders have urged the government to allocate sufficient funds and put forward necessary schemes to increase production of cashew nut in the country.

    They said Nigeria’s cashew subsector has strong potential for growth if the value chain, and especially local processing, can improve.

    They said what the industry needs is enough quality stocks for farmers, inputs, and better extension services, improved  cashew storage and upgraded processing technology, expanded  access to markets with better roads, raising environmental and social standards, and local banks encouraged to lend to smallholders and processors.

    Stakeholders also urged the government to start restoring plantations that were no longer as productive or efficient as before.

    This requires a development strategy to enable the industry to develop in a sustainable way in the coming years.

    They want support to increase the rate of fully processed nuts to satisfy the requirements of customers and boost domestic consumption.

    In addition, reviewing and tweaking cashew zoning plans, replacing aged cashew trees and developing high-quality seedlings and advanced farming techniques are vital, the stakeholders added.

    Also, modern technologies and equipment should be used and products diversified to meet the increasing demand from customers.

  • Cashing in on the cashew nuts boom

    Industry players seek way out of sector’s problems, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Cashew nuts are some of the crops fuelling growth in the agricultural sector.

    Experts say almost three million tonnes are harvested worldwide yearly.

    According to Mordor Intelligence, an international market intelligence and advisory firm, the cashew market was valued at $9.9 million last year, and is projected to reach $12.7 million  by 2024.

    Among all the cashew producing nations, the firm said African countries contributed 56.5 per cent of the global production with  Ivory Coast leading the way with yearly production of 725,000 tonnes.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), cashew nuts are Nigeria’s third-biggest agricultural export this year.

    NBS said an estimated N8 billion was generated from cashew nuts exported in the first six months of the year.

    It also noted that Vietnam, India, Tanzania, Russia and Netherlands were Nigeria’s biggest markets for cashew nuts in half-year 2019.

    With output of just 200,000 tonnes this year, however, Nigeria lags behind the top three producers.

    According to analysts, the estimated area under cashew plantations in Nigeria varies between  200,000 and 300,000 hectares.

    About 70 per cent of the local production is commercialised of which about 90 per cent is exported in  form of raw nuts.

    For the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), the sector is lagging behind due to lack of investment but it is closing the gap  with big ambitions.

    NCAN is making efforts towards increasing the export value of the intensively-processed cashew nuts and byproducts.

    The Association said it focused on the key gaps inhibiting growth in the business. Closing these key gaps would help to rebuild the sector’s potential, stimulate growth, and enable smallholder farmers to raise their incomes and yields, while creating jobs for youths and raising incomes for women.

    Consequently, NCAN is to sign a N3.6 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) with foreign investors to boost the cashew value chain.

    Its National President, Mr. Ojo Ajanaku, said the MoU would provide over N50 billion yearly investment opportunities.

    Ajanaku said: “NCAN wants to increase annual production of cashew from N50 billion to N220 billion by 2020. The targeted investors are local off-takers of which we have about 20 in Nigeria, while targeting about 15 off-takers that are from foreign countries.”

    He said: “At present, Nigeria is producing over 200,000 metric tonnes of cashew yearly and out of the 100 per cent of cashew that goes out, 60 per cent is from Kogi State. The aroma is what the world wants. We have the market place but we need a strategic plan on how to harness it.”

    Despite its efforts, Nigeria’s cashew industry is also being confronted with numerous difficulties as the growth rate of farming production has yet to keep up with the growth rate of the processing industry. The output of raw cashews only met about 20 per cent of the demand for export processing of the  businesses.

    In addition, competition in the industry is becoming fiercer, with the penetration risks posed by potential opponents, especially those from China, East Africa and Thailand and Cambodia.

    Also, the consumption demand is increasing with stricter requirements in terms of quality and food safety.

    To the economy, stakeholders said the cashew boom presents an unexpected but welcome opportunity to diversify agricultural exports beyond cocoa beans and rubber. It will also help develop the country’s agro-industry. However, to realise its potential, Nigeria has to process and add value to its raw cashews.

     Ogbomoso cashew plantations

    The Chief Executive, Hastom Nigeria, Mr. Debo Thomas, said there was no alternative to increasing productivity.

    According to him, if growers are able to increase productivity and investors can establish processing factories, Nigeria could regain high production levels.

    For him, there is room to further develop the industry, such as processing cashew apple juice.

    He said efforts were needed to achieve prosperity through the sector.

    His vision is to transform Ogbomoso’s cashew sector into a significant foreign exchange earner creating jobs and substantial wealth for Nigerians.

    He said his organisation is working hard to support the industry to achieve yearly productivity of 500,000 raw cashew nuts.

    He cultivates 600 hectares of cashew in Ogbomoso.  At the farm, are many cashew trees.

    Buoyed by his success, he plans to plant 500 new trees. He has plans to cultivate another 1000 hectares.

    Thomas said the productivity of the cashew trees is increasing and the plan is to support the industry to reach the historic level of 500,000 tonnes of nuts yearly.

    For this reason, he is converting every available farm land in the town into cashew plantation.

    He said the government should support the private sector to help the curved, nutrient-packed nut to recover its past glory.

    Even though improving the productivity of plantations is a good measure, it is definitely not enough because to raise the added value in the country, production must be accompanied by an equal increase in processing capacity.

    For him, the cashew model today should be different—instead of using major processing units, as was the practice about 15 years ago, the country should be using small units that can process between 1,000 and 5,000 tonnes of cashew nuts more efficiently.

    He said his organisation intends to focus on cashew processing to boost the performances of the sector and related exports.

    In Ogbomoso, Thomas is building a processing factory. The goal is to process 11,000 tonnes of nuts yearly. He is building warehouses, where cashew nuts will be aggregated in sacks for processing.

    Outlining problems that the sector has been facing, Thomas said the presence of few farms in different parts of the country is affecting productivity.

    He, however, added that there was no alternative to increasing productivity.

    Thomas said Nigeria needs to be self-sufficient in cashew production, which will also boost the country’s economy.

    Roles of India and Vietnam

    India and Vietnam’s rising needs for raw cashew nuts have also fuelled the growth of cashew farming in Nigeria.Vietnam is the world’s leading cashew nut exporter, but the industry relies on imported raw materials.

    It has about 300,000 hectares under cashew and an average output of 350,000-400,000 tonnes yearly, meeting only about 30 per cent of processors’ demand.

    Thus it imports over one million tonnes of raw cashew every year from many countries, mainly in Africa. Vietnam’s cashew industry has invested in 500,000 hectares of plantations in Cambodia with the vision of turning its southwestern neighbour into a major supplier. The Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) has pledged to provide technical support to Cambodian farm owners to reach a yearly yield of one million metric tons of raw cashew nuts by the end of 2028.

    In 2017, Vietnamese businesses spent over $2.5 billion importing more than 1.3 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts for processing.

    As the top world exporter of processed cashew, India also imports about 60 per cent of raw cashew for processing from Africa and Asia.

    Devt challenges

    Although Nigeria produces at least five per cent of the world’s cashew supply, fewer than seven per cent of raw cashew nuts are processed domestically. Experts attribute this to lack of finance to upgrade or build modern processing facilities.

    The industry still faces several challenges, including shrinking cultivation area and unstable output. Aging trees and abnormal weather conditions have decreased yields, and many farmers preferred other crops for higher profits, which has reduced the planted area.

    The Director-General of Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, listed the major factors limiting cashew nut production in Nigeria as old age of most trees, deforestation, low yielding varieties, dominance of small holdings, dependence of most farmers on wild varieties, land acquisition problems, high cost of input, climatic conditions, disease, pest and fire outbreaks, high post-harvest losses, infrastructural constraints and quality, and market price of the product.

    Ibrahim, however, noted that the agency, vested with the mandate to promote development and utilisation of Nigeria’s industrial raw materials, has made several interventions over the years and entered various strategic partnerships to boost the nation’s cashew production.

    Improving opportunities through cashew value chain

    Thomas urged the government to consider cashew as a strategic crop in rural development, and should have policies to promote the cashew industry’s further growth.

    He said boosting cashew production would create enterprises and processing factories.

    He said thousands of farmers and workers would enjoy improved livelihoods thanks to cashew trees.

    Through crowd farming, he said his organisation would develop large cashew fields in Ogbomoso and improve cashew yield and quality. He pledged to purchase cashews from farmers.

    He said finding answers to yield and quality questions, and proper investments were important for the cashew industry to reach sustainable development.

    He said government’s policies, business participation and community’s support are integral for sustainable agricultural development. Seed is the first problem that needs to be improved to increase yield and output. About 80 per cent of the 300,000 hectares of cashews are old and the seed varieties needs to be improved. Agricultural promotion policies, including policies on application of new varieties and advanced farming practices, are very important, he said.

    Cashew re-cultivation, according to him, is not only the task of farmers but also the government and the agricultural sector.

     Stakeholders’ react

    Stakeholders have urged the government to allocate sufficient funds and put forward necessary schemes to increase production of cashew nut in the country.

    They said Nigeria’s cashew subsector has strong potential for growth if the value chain, and especially local processing, can improve.

    They said what the industry needs is enough quality stocks for farmers, inputs, and better extension services, improved  cashew storage and upgraded processing technology, expanded  access to markets with better roads, raising environmental and social standards, and local banks encouraged to lend to smallholders and processors.

    Stakeholders also urged the government to start restoring plantations that were no longer as productive or efficient as before.

    This requires a development strategy to enable the industry to develop in a sustainable way in the coming years.

    They want support to increase the rate of fully processed nuts to satisfy the requirements of customers and boost domestic consumption.

    In addition, reviewing and tweaking cashew zoning plans, replacing aged cashew trees and developing high-quality seedlings and advanced farming techniques are vital, the stakeholders added.

    Also, modern technologies and equipment should be used and products diversified to meet the increasing demand from customers.

  • World Bank Commences 200kms Rural Agric marketing project in Ekiti

    The World Bank has said Ekiti would soon join the list of states that will benefit from the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in year 2020.

    The World Bank Team Leader, Engr. Fahard Ahmed, made this disclosure in Ado Ekiti on Saturday when the World Bank team and the National office of RAAMP paid a visit.

    Ahmed said with the existing robust relationship between the World Bank and Governor Kayode Fayemi, the state was in a good position to join the project by January 2020.

    He added that his team was impressed with the magnificent settings of the Ekiti RAAMP office and the readiness of its staff to hit the ground running once the project agreement and all other modalities were completed between the World Bank and Ekiti State.

    “Ekiti State was added to the list of other 22 states on the project because Fayemi made a special request to the World Bank and the request was expressly accepted”.

    Fayemi appreciated the World Bank for accepting to include Ekiti State on the project.

    Read Also: World Bank, IFC agree to support Nigeria’s devt

    Fayemi, represented by the Senior Special Adviser on Road Transport and Infrastructure and the State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, revealed that the World Bank initiative when it begins would connect and upgrade about 200 Kms of Ekiti rural roads to the urban centres and market places across the state in its first phase.

    According to Adunmo, the project would also provide easy transportation of farm produce to various markets in the state, thereby removing the pain and agony the rural farmers faced on a yearly basis.

    “The initiative will also enable us to provide basic amenities at some abandoned farm settlements thereby encouraging our farmers in those areas to focus on their agricultural activities and better their living conditions,” Mr. Adunmo said.

    On the World Bank team are Engr. Fahard Ahmed, World Bank RAAMP Task Team Leader (TTL); Mr. Shailendra Jha, ILO Representative, Engr. Aminu Mohammed, Representing the RAAMP National Coordinator and Mariam Chinda, National Project Secretary.

  • In search of ways to eradicate rabies

    Rabies is a serious threat to livestock production. Experts under the aegis of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) are exploring ways to eradicate the disease, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Rabies is a global threat to human health and   livestock. A global study on canine rabies estimates that it causes 59,000 human deaths, over 3.7 million disability-adjusted life years and $8.6 billion in economic losses yearly.

    The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said livestock are at risk of exposure and greater efforts were needed to eradicate the disease.

    In Nigeria, rabies endemic has been  reported mainly in dogs and occasionally in livestocks from all the geo-ecological zones of the country. Approximately 55,000 people, according to studies, die yearly from  the disease. Also rabid dogs account for about 94 per cent of confirmed human infection.

    Experts said detection of rabies virus antigen in puppies between five and 10 weeks and in apparently healthy dogs shedding the virus in their saliva have been reported in some parts of the country.

    Speaking during the World Rabies Day, the  immediate Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Lagos State, Dr. Alao Mobolaji  said in 2017, two human rabies deaths  were  reported at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He  said: “The first was  a 49-year-old man, who resided in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu was bitten by his three-month-old dog, which he bought six weeks before the incident. He died a few hours after he was admitted at the hospital.

    The second patient was a 33-year-old man from Ajara in Badagry, who came to the hospital presenting with a history of restlessness, agitation, hydrophobia and aerophobia six months after a dog bite. He was given a tetanus shot and not rabies  after the dog bite. The dogs in both cases were reportedly acting erratic when the incidences occurred.”

    Mobolaji said occurrence of the disease in puppies was of grave public health consequences.

    He said people love puppies, especially children, who are fond of carrying and playing with them, are also faced with the risk of exposure to rabies.

    He said review of the dog anti-rabies vaccination is recommended to ensure effective immunisation and for the overall safety of the vulnerable members of the public.

    On record of dogs and other domestic animals kept in Lagos State and capacity to monitor the pets, he said: “‘Unfortunately there is no coordinating action against rabies in Nigeria and that for us is heart breaking. The only one being taken is the one we are doing by enlightening the public. We have lost adults too to dog bites. There was a time two bankers died. They were attacked by dogs and they were brought to us they showed signs of being bitten by dogs and they died eventually. Of all I know we are the only one enlightening the public and we need to sensitise the public. With estimation we have about two to three million dogs in Lagos State alone. And you know they are the closest to man. They do a lot of things for us. They protect, they can lead the blind, and they are used to check for narcotics. They serve different purposes but mostly they are used to safeguard the environment and a lot of people use them for economic gains. What we actually want the public to know is that they are the main carriers of the virus and every dog needs to be properly vaccinated against rabies annually. That is the number one step to preventing dogs against rabies. Every dog owner has the responsibility of vaccinating the dog, talking about taking the dog to the veterinary clinic and gets it duly vaccinated against rabies. The bats, monkeys, raccoons are natural reservoirs of the virus. Often times, we see bats taking nocturnal flights within the cities. These are times some of them even drop into the compound and, unfortunately, our dogs may pick them as easy preys and eat them. That is how most of them get infected. One of the things we discovered in our studies of the Meiran incident was that there was regular nocturnal flights of bats in that area and often times they drop into the compounds and that is where the dogs in that community get infected. It is important to know that when people see bats especially children; they must not play with them. You would see children throwing them up and down, playing with them. It is dangerous because these bats are natural reservoirs and if the dogs get in touch with them they can get infected. When you see such bats, best thing is to destroy them by burning them and keep them away from children and dogs.”

    According to him, dog-mediated rabies disproportionately affects rural and economically disadvantaged communities. By preventing rabies at its source, he said the government can help protect those who lack access to effective rabies treatment.

    Mobolaji said the proportion of dogs vaccinated was far below the number that is necessary to control the disease across the country.

    He said the association was determined to raise awareness about the devastating impact of rabies and the importance of prevention.

    He pointed out that there have been confirmed cases of rabies in animals mostly in dogs.

    According to vaccination of pets remains critically important not only to protect animals, but also to safeguard public health.

    On the efforts of the association to carry out mass vaccination of pets against rabies? He said: “We do it annually. The last one we did was at Ikorodu then we had one at Ajegunle. We chose centres close to where there is the latest incident of dog bite. The Ikorodu one was where the five year old Odukomaiya boy was bitten by a dog. The boy eventually died. Same Ikorodu was where a young boy was attacked brutally by a dog and eventually died. We also cried out that there is the need for animal laws for those that keep animals; domestic animals and wild animals alike. There are people that keep snakes, dogs, cats, monkeys, crocodiles in their houses now and there is a need for us to have laws so that people don’t fall victims. A lot of people are actually falling victims. There was a case of a guy just going on his own in Lekki and was attacked by seven dogs brutally. Also a four year old at Igando was attacked by two Alsatian dogs. They bit his scalp open and he had to be flown to India for surgery and he is living with that scar for the rest of his life. We have made calls to have a law to control the keeping of these animals at home.

    “The rabies vaccines are available in every vet clinic and so affordable. It is about N3, 000 and with that you get your pet immunised for a whole year. I don’t know anything more economical than that.

    “We have been liaising with the Lagos State Government on law reforms. At the national level there are different laws. The issue of Animal Disease Control Act it is at the top level of discussion at the National Assembly. It is all encompassing. It will regulate a lot of things. There are diseases animals moving within states carry from states to states especially Avian Influenza that is transmittable from birds to humans. It has been there for some years at the national level. But for Lagos State we have been discussing on the need to have a law to control the keeping of domestic animals. We have had advocacy in different places.”

    The Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Nigerian Veterinary Association, Dr. Balogun Stephen warned: “As long as we keep dogs in our environment we are actually playing with rabies. If the dog is not duly vaccinated the pet owner is not safe. He is playing with death because if the dog has rabies and if there is any situation that warrants the dog biting someone and once the clinical signs start manifesting in the victim, death is inevitable if appropriate preventive care is not taken. Certainly the person should just be waiting for death.”

    On what should be done, he outlined: “There should be no time wasting. Once there is a dog bite, take necessary action. Every bite should be taken seriously. This is how we advise people. My advice for dog owners is that they vaccinate their dogs against rabies, they should patronise vet doctors not those that call themselves dog doctors. There is nothing like dog doctors. These people go around. They don’t use the right vaccines. They go around and start injecting dogs and the dogs still come down with rabies infections. Dogs are of the most public health importance because they maintain very close relationship with man. They have access to the bush and to our homes.

    So if per chance any infected animal in the bush bites them they get infected. These carriers are what we call reservoirs. They include bats, wolves etc. because some people use dogs for hunting. Once they are bitten by these wild animals the dog comes home with the virus and it may take a long time for the dog to show signs. It may take up to 21 days and the owners may not know it is incubating the virus. Then at a time it gets to a furious state and the dog begin to bite, the owner may not think it has rabies. Another advice is that pet owners should not disregard any dog bite. Every bite is important. Once there is a bite, wash the surface of the spot with soap to disinfect the place, call your family doctor or health provider then call your vet doctor to examine the dog. If the dog is aggressive after ten days or if the aggression is progressing, it may be an infected dog. This happens also in the rural areas. In the city you can hear that someone has given an injection, how effective is the injection? First of all, like I mentioned earlier, wash the area thoroughly to disinfect it, wash vigorously with soap. There would be need for antibiotics as well so you call your doctor. A total of 44 dogs were vaccinated at the Iyaiye  Ojokoro Local Government Area.”

  • Rise of backyard farming

    Along with fresh fruits and vegetables, mini livestock, backyard farms are providing jobs, start-up programmes, knowledge and social connections, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Mrs Ngozi Chineze lives in Lafenwa, an Ogun State suburb. She is far from Shoprite or Spar, two major retail chains.

    This means, she is unable to source some of the family needs from either of these two supermarkets. But she is not complaining. A civil servant, she has joined a growing number of urban dwellers growing backyard farms. Like other urban farmers, she benefits from fresh veggies and increases her vitamin intake. A combination of raised beds is used to grow the produce. The urban farming model puts fresh, locally-grown fruit and vegetables on the table.

    She is happy to start a farm at her backyard, which provides her high-quality fresh, local produce.

    With urban farms, she believes a lot of young people who have the capacity, can make a living from growing crops and raising mini livestock.

    According to her, backyard farming helps to address a number of serious challenges, including public health and well-being concerns.

    She encourages people to take advantage of their gardens and growing things.

    Backyard farming – a term used to encompass everything from independent vegetable gardens – to  home beehives, chickens and more – is on the rise.

    And while backyard farming is on the rise, it is nothing new.

    Backyard farming seems to be an activity that many homes are really interested in.

    What started as a backyard gardening project has blossomed into a viable commercial farming.

    Founder, Jovana Integrated Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, has been raising mini-livestock in his backyard.

    Seen as the rabbit king, Onebunne is one of the leading rabbit farmers in the country and has built an extensive business, selling meat to hotels and local shops. He described backyard farms as vital resource for Nigerians living in areas with high levels of food insecurity.

    Agriculture and livestock farming, he said, could solve Nigeria’s food problems.

    His philosophy is to raise animals that can be eaten.

    He has had successes and costly failures.

    He has read and reviewed websites, articles, and blogs and watched videos on farming. His success has come from much trial and error.

    According to him, a growing industry is that producing small animals. These range from rabbits and squirrels raised for meat to animals such as mice rose for pets.

    He said: “Animals, such as guinea pigs and albino, are raised for research. These animals are used to test everything from drugs to toothpaste.”

    Onebunne is encouraging people to start backyard mini-livestock farms raising chickens, rabbit and guinea fowl.

    Some of his clients have built backyard pens and cages cobbled with discarded wood and corrugated iron.

    From backyard vegetable gardens to community spaces, front yard orchards, and window boxes, the National President of Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama said people should be encouraged to grow food where ever they are.

    Iyama said food security is important, adding that it is vital to support every effort to produce more food.

    He said backyard   farmers play in a role in fostering healthy, local food within the community.

    For him, the government needs to realise the inherent potential of urban agriculture in creating jobs and supporting food supply.

    Former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof Babafunso Sonaiya  said backyard farmers need to develop some concrete skills to be successful.

    He said backyard poultry is an excellent way to enhance the availability of and access to micronutrients and protein-rich foods.

    According to him, this is enabling families to produce eggs for home consumption and enhance their protein intake, while surplus production can be sold in the market or bartered.

    He emphasised the need for the government and the private sector to ensure poultry enterprises are encouraged.

    He said backyard poultry farmers must obtain the basic training  useful for rearing chicks, feeding, housing and disease management.

  • Tackling Hibiscus export ban to Mexico

    Hibiscus contribution to the nation’s export earnings has declined. This follows Mexico’s ban on exports from Nigeria. Stakeholders are advocating increased local production and improvement in food safety standards to change the tide of things, DANIEL ESSIET writes

    Over the past five years, agriculture has contributed an average of 30  per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). One of the commodities boosting foreign earning is Hibiscus, also known as zobo.  Hibiscus, a flower used in teas and cuisines around the world, is expected to lead the market for floral flavours through 2027, according to a new forecast published by Future Market Insights (FMI).

     Mexico is Nigeria’s biggest export market.

    In 2017, Nigeria earned $35 million exporting 1,983 containers of Hibiscus to Mexico, being the hub of Southern and Latin America, within nine months of that year, according to the  Coordinating Director, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, Dr Vincent Isegbe.

    The Director, Operations, AgroEknor, Adedoyin Adesanya, said Hibiscus is a major income earner for Nigeria. According to him, dried Hibiscus flower is used in the production of tea.

    His company engages in collection, cultivation, harvesting, processing and marketing of Hibiscus in Europe, Mexico and the United States.

    Earnings

    The Hibiscus Farmers Association in Jigawa said its members earned N3.6 billion from export of Hibiscus last year. The association’s Chairman, Alhaji Faruq Abdallah, said 15,000 tonnes of Hibiscus was produced in the state within the period under review, and that each tonne was sold at N240,000.

    Abdallah listed the major Hibiscus-producing areas in the state as Mallammadori, Kaugama, Gumel, Gagarawa and Birniwa local government areas.

    He said there were over 15,000 Hibiscus farmers in the state, noting that they sold the commodity to over 30 Kano-based companies.

    “These companies, through their agents, normally buy Hibiscus produced by our members and stocked in major markets of Gujungu, Hadejia, Mallammadori, Maigatari, Garungabas and Sara. They export about 98 per cent of the total Hibiscus we produce to Mexico, China, India and Sudan, where the commodity is used in manufacturing beverages, medicine and hair cream, among others.”

    He appealed to the Federal Government to expand the Cluster Programme to enable the farmers increase Hibiscus production. Abdallah said if the Federal Government could expand the clusters support from 50 hectares to between 80 and 100 hectares in every council, production capacity could be increased to about 30,000 tonnes annually.

    He appealed to the state government to provide more inputs for farmers to encourage more people to grow Hibiscus.

    The Coordinating Director, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, said from January to September last year, the agency inspected and exported Hibiscus to Mexico worth $35 million.

    Isegbe said the agency was strengthening the capacity of farmers in Jigawa and other states where Hibiscus was being produced to enhance the quality of the produce in line with global standards.

    Containers of hibiscus flowers rejected in Mexico

    Deputy Executive Secretary , Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Mr Peter Bakare said more than 40 containers of Hibiscus flowers were rejected in Mexico in 2018 as a result of impurities, adding that some farmers used lower quantities of chemicals.

    Ban on Nigerian Hibiscus flowers has left many exporters ‘technically’ out of business, as it is yet to be lifted. This has caused job losses in the agriculture value chain, even as many farmers depend on cultivation of the crop for survival.

    Experts  believe  Nigeria  has   lost $35 million (N12.6 billion) from the export of Hibiscus following the ban.

    Bakare said the association was working out stringent measures for commodities export to meet international standards to prevent loss of revenue due to rejections.

    He said that the measures would be put in place on exports because the country lost significant revenue, while many exporters suffered heavy financial losses because of the number of rejected exports from Nigeria.

    He said the association was faced with many challenges leading to rejection of its produces in the international market because of inability to provide sanitary standard compliance documentations.

     Challenges

    Adesanya said the major problem affecting Hibiscus was quality. “If the flowers are challenged, it will be rejected. The international market takes the issue of quality very seriously. Currently, the ban by Mexico is actually affecting us, because they account for 80 per cent of export from Nigeria and they are always ready to accept from Nigeria because of the quality?”

    To achieve good quality, the produce goes through four food safety standard stages – spreading and sifting, sorting and final, said Akintunde Adaraniwon. He added that through the first three stages, all unwanted elements that often lead to rejection in international market are taken care of.

    “Our fumigation chamber is being built and when completed, we’ll be able to ensure removal of all unwanted particles to make it available for international standard, he said.”

    On the cause of the ban of the product, Adesanya said: “People go into the business without knowing the nitty-gritty.They get into exporting rubbish-stones, sands and unwanted particles, with the aim of getting more money. When the Mexico door was closed, we had to survive, that is why we are doing our best. We are the first company to export Hibiscus from Port Harcourt Airport, Onne, and it was successful, the only difference compared to Lagos is the high cost. “High levies are charged in Port Harcourt, instead of the N140,000 fees for exporting a container, it shoots up to N200,000, including hotel accommodation and logistics. The extra cost affected our profit line. Kidnapping, insecurity and other challenges are responsible for exporters ignoring Port Harcourt Airport, but we took that risk. Operations there are very fast unlike Lagos.

     Efforts to address  the issue

    The Head, Media, Communications and Strategies Unit of the  Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr. Chigozie Nwodo,  said the organisation, NAFDAC and other agencies had reached an agreement on the use of methyl bromide in pre-shipment preservation for quality and standardisation of the flower .

    Consequently, farmers are advised that the healthy use of methyl bromide for control of agricultural pest remains permissible in Nigeria, especially for export of Hibiscus to Mexico.

    He  stated that the use of methyl bromide was sometimes set as a precondition for the treatment of agro-commodities intended for export.

    He said Mexico specifically requested the use of methyl bromide in the treatment of Hibiscus shipments

    Nwodo said the organisation has taken delivery of  containers of methyl bromide that will be used in pre-shipment preservation for quality and standardisation of the Hibiscus flower. He reiterated, however,  that  all agro-chemicals are potentially harmful, if used contrary to their original purpose or if applied arbitrarily.

    He said Nigeria would resume the exportation of Hibiscus shortly.

    A founding partner, AgroEknor, Timi Oke, lamented the ban on Hibiscus flower by Mexico. He said the action had crippled their businesses and led to massive job losses.

    To avoid rejection which most exports suffer, Oke said the company pays particular attention to the process of preparation, packaging and storage of flower picked on its farms to reduce the possibility of contamination and to assure clients of its commitment to high quality.

  • Group invests $70m to boost rice, sesame production

    Popular Farms and Mills Limited, a subsidiary of Stallion group has invested over $70 million to boost rice and sesame production.

    The Group Managing Director, Mr. Amit Kumar Rai,  said this during its  Seventh  supply chain meeting of stakeholders and its workers in Kano.

    He  said the group was targeting of 1.50 million tonnes of paddy rice yearly with investment of more  milling facilities.

    Rai reiterated that the group is determined to make Nigeria self-sufficient in the rice production.

    ‘’Our plan is to spearhead and lead the Nigerian rice revolution to self-sufficiency in rice production. We intend to achieve this through technical and farmers business skills training to over 24, 264 rice  out growers across the producing states and cooperatives, as well as empowering women and youths in the rice value chain.’’

    ‘’To sustain our vision statement of ensuring genetic integrity of rice, we have introduced fairly priced certified ‘popular seeds’ for our valuable stakeholders. We have collaborated National Agricultural Seeds Council for the purpose of producing and satisfying the locally released and grown genetic seeds,’’ he added.

  • Boosting the capacity of agric startups, others

    Premier Agribusiness Academy, a Lagos-based private manpower development organisation, is working to accelerate innovation in the agriculture sector. It is providing know-how, processes, technologies and expertise to help overcome challenges. DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Agric businesses have become the growth engine of the food industry, the Director-General (DG), Premier Agribusiness Academy, Mr. Toromade Francis, has said.

    TAs a result, there  is a need to accelerate innovation – by providing know-how, processes, technologies, and expertise to help overcome challenges, nurture development, and launch new products into the  market.

    According to him, the academy  will share the latest technologies and best practices with  farmers and agro entrepreneurs to drive  innovation in food production. Francis, who is also the business development consultant for Rome Business School and a facilitator at Lagos Business School, said the institution offered short executive courses, poultry management courses, aquaculture management and consultancy services to farmers.

    He said the programme was designed to deliver top quality agricultural training that would empower Nigerians with livelihood skills.

    Francis: “Academy network ozf technical experts will provide training, advice and support to growers. Demonstration plots and field trials will complement the work of the academy around the country  Through the academy, we can foster deeper relationships and collaboration with the industry, local government and the academia. Together, we will address common challenges facing today’s agri entrepreneurs.”

    He added:“The key is agribusiness. It is not enough to know the technical aspect of agriculture or study agriculture in school. To become successful and profitable in agriculture, there is a need for farmers to acquire knowledge of the business side of agriculture which is what Premier Agribusiness Academy offers.

    “All over the world, people are no longer talking about agriculture, the stress is on agribusiness because that is where profit lies.

    “For farmers to be profitable, they need to acquire knowledge of strategies to market their products effectively manage their human, capital and material resources. All these competences are what the academy offers in its courses.”

    The programme, according to him, will  cover  agribusiness value chain, risk assessment, farm produce branding, marketing, packaging, finance, business models and business planning to name a few.

    He urged farmers to take advantage of the academy’s forthcoming training on “Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills for Decision Making” coming up on October, at the Sheraton Hotels and Suites, Ikeja, Lagos to further increase their knowledge in agribusiness management.

  • Move to save seeds industry

    Private sector and government are working to boost farm yields and farmers incomes through quality seeds, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy and majority of Nigeria’s population depend on it. It contributes about 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for 70 per cent of some African countries’ employed labour force. Like other small business owners, farmers must purchase the inputs necessary for the production process. The chief operational expenses by farmers are on seeds. For crop farmers, net farm income is sensitive to the price of seed.

    But lack of quality local seed has left farmers totally dependent on imported varieties.

    On the average, the use of improved seeds and the right farming practices have enabled farmers to more than double their yields. One of them is Innocent Mokidi, an Abuja- based farmer.

    With imported seeds, Mokidi said smallholder farmers could realise the full potential of farming and also run it as a lucrative business.

    Mokidi said quality seed is one of the determinants of farming success, but that they are expensive, therefore, poor farmers at a disadvantage. He said for all the problems facing the local vegetable industry, the solution could start with one quality seed.

    To him, farming promises good income like other professions, but good inputs will go a long way to helping farmers achieve success.

    For him, adoption of improved varieties has become more significant in vegetable farming with particular emphasis on certain crops.

    He said seeds of improved varieties are important in raising yields and ensuring food security, proper nutrition and prosperity for not only smallholder farmers, but also for the general population.

    He said farmers had shown the willingness to try new imported improved variety seeds if offered to them, provided some guarantees or testings are made available.

    Role of large commercial growers

    Hybrid corn seeds are now imported by big agro business groups. The seeds imported include maize, watermelon, melon, strawberries, tomato, cucumber and soya beans. Many companies focus on imported seeds because they provide high yields which enable the companies and producers to increase their revenue and stay in business.

    The Executive Director of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Olufemi Oladunni, said the demand for imported seed maize is increasing due to the yields achieved by farmers who are privileged to plant them.

    Corn and soybeans have improved  resistance to herbicides, pests, or both. Due to their bolstered yield and the reduction in necessary labor, most big  farms view  their seeds as indispensable to their operations. To this end, there is increasing importation of corn and soybean seeds .

     Threat of counterfeit seeds

    Industry stakeholders believe the volume of fake seeds being sold in the market has been on the increase.

    While farmers may be able to cut their expenses for seeds by half, what they do not know, according to a World Bank Consultant, Prof. Abel Ogunwale, is that this thriftiness may cost them more than the price tag.

    He explained that utilisation of counterfeit seeds costs farmers the same amount of input but results in lower yield, saying counterfeit seeds deprive farmers of their livelihoods and lower their productivity.

    He added that individuals and organisations resorting to illegal seed practices are exploiting farmers.

    Constraints

    Oladunni argued that there’s no strong regulation at the moment, which is why players are encouraged to engage in the illegal practice. He wants the government to strengthen the law-enforcement powers of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in seizing illegal seeds in the market, saying that the demand for improved seed varieties is on the rise, as farmers are more eagerly adopting and have witnessed economic benefits associated.

     Using improved seeds to increase crops

    Scientists believe that using genomics and biotechnology in plant breeding lead to improved seed varieties that can help farmers to get higher yields.

    One of those scientists is Prof Martin Onuh of Imo State University, Owerri. He said plant scientists must constantly strive to improve crop plants in ways that directly benefit farmers and food processors.

    For the National President Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama, there are a lot of locally produced seeds that are good in quality, pointing out that local seeds have the highest acceptance among small farmers, mainly because they have been tried.

    He said local private seed companies are a critical player in delivering a green revolution, saying there is need for locally adapted well performing seeds as crops such as maize, sorghum, millet and legumes, such as cowpeas, have become more important.

    Promoting better plant varieties’ development

    Professor of Crop Production/Weed Science, Kaduna State University, Ibrahim Sodangi, said improved quality seed is not only the cheapest and basic potential of increasing yield, but it’s also fundamental in raising the efficiency of other inputs like fertilisers, agro-chemicals and agro-machinery.

    He said a greater percentage of improvement in agricultural production has come from the use of improved seed. He said, in essence, no agricultural practices such as fertilisation, irrigation, and so on can improve crop production beyond the limit set by seed.

    Role of National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC)

    Addressing African Farming‘s Second Agribusiness Summit in Abuja last month, the Director-General, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Dr. Philip Ojo, represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Folarin Sunday Okelola, said the Council was seeking the protection of the rights of breeders of new varieties .This, according to him, is an important trigger for the development of better plant varieties.

    He expressed hope that if properly implemented, it will encourage the creation and dissemination of new plant varieties.

    He said the council is promoting an innovative system of varietal selection with the aim of developing new genetic materials to meet the varied needs of small farmers, adding that NASC has commenced the use of National Seed Tracker to improve the seed system towards a sustainable food and nutritional security in the country.

    He explained that the seed tracker which has been designed to fit the needs of local farmers has the potential to transform the National Seed system, improve farmers’ revenue and uplift their social economics status.

    On how the App works, he said it provides real time information on seed variety, quantity and availability, while facilitating trade decisions and timely access to seed markets.

    Highlighting the place of improved seedling in the agricultural value chain, Ojo said private and international agencies engaging in programmes of production, distribution of seeds must get concurrent NASC approval and involve the Council from the planning stages.

    He highlighted the modification of penalty for adulterated seed dealers and infringements as one year imprisonment, or a fine of N1 million for first offender and N2 million for previous offenders. He said the penalties are to serve as a deterrent.

    Ojo said the Council would pilot the deployment of smart, tamper-proof and enhanced security certification tags, which would replace the old seed certification tags, “this is in a bid to ensure that farmers have access to only the best quality seeds in 2019 and beyond.’’ He said the initiative was launched with support of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

    He said this was done under the umbrella of the Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa (PIATA).

    “The initiative was introduced to enhance the efficiency of our quality assurance mechanism with the deployment of a tamper evident traceability system. It allows farmers and seed users to be able to reach the Council and get first-hand information on the authenticity of the seed they purchased from any vendor or source using SMS verification code.

    “The NASC certification tags will now have a scratchable portion with specialised electronic codes which the farmer will be able through SMS to send to a dedicated NASC number in our office. He will then receive immediate information on the genuineness of the seed he is purchasing. Seed producers will also be rest assured that their product cannot be counterfeited due to the NASC tag issued,” he explained.

    Ojo added that doing business without accreditation of the NASC, importation or exportation of seeds of any form without NASC approval, false labeling, selling of seeds in open container, are all infringements of the Seed Act.

    Need to certify seeds

    According to Rice Knowledge Bank, the purpose of seed certification is to maintain and make available to farmers high-quality and genetically pure seeds of superior cultivars. Certified seed is high in genetic purity, high in germination and vigor, and of good quality (i.e., free from disease and from damaged or immature seed).

    Classes of seeds

    Breeder seed – this is the seed of a new variety that has the highest purity and is produced, developed, controlled and provided directly by breeders or their institutions for further multiplication.

    Foundation seed – this is the progeny of the breeder seed, produced by trained officers of an agricultural station in conformity with regulated national standards and handled to maintain genetic purity and identity of the variety.

    Registered seed – this is the progeny of the foundation seed grown by selected farmers, handled to maintain genetic purity and identity, and has undergone field and seed inspections to ensure conformity with standards.

    Certified seed – this is the progeny of foundation, registered, or certified seeds, handled to maintain sufficient varietal identity and purity, grown by selected farmers under prescribed conditions of culture and isolation, and subjected to field and seed inspections prior to approval by the certifying agency. Harvest from this class is used for commercial planting.

     FAO links Nigerian farmers to certified quality seed

    About 5 000 farmers  receive seed and fertiliser in a series of seed fairs organised by Food and Agriculture Organisation( FAO) in Yobe and Adamawa states between  June 1 – 15. They were supplied with vouchers which they used to select their preferred seed in an open market setting. The fairs brought vendors and famers together, allowing FAO-trained out growers to directly market to farmers.

    Farmers participating in the seed fairs were selected based on their need for farming inputs like seed and fertiliser, their access to land and ability to farm during the 2019 rainy season. Vouchers were used to redeem the seeds of staple crops like millet, sorghum and cowpea, as well as high-value cash crops like groundnut. To enhance household nutrition, FAO developed specific vegetable kits including okro and amaranth seed for all farmers. A 25-kg bag of NPK fertiliser was also given to each of the 5,000 participants.

    The Seeds market

    “Overall, Nigeria now accounts for 60 percent of the total seeds marketed in West Africa,“ Ojo said.