The Nation Newspaper

Category: Agriculture

  • ‘Agric contributed 40% to GDP in 2018’

    The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) has said the agricultural sector contributed 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year and employed 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

    The institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Aliyu Umar stated this during the yearly research review meeting held at NCRI Badeggi in Niger State.

    He said: “Statistical profile of agricultural sector contribution to the  economy growth and sustainable development is impressive, reflecting that the sector has contributed 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product and has employed about 60 per cent of the population of Nigeria.”

    Umar declared that with this statistics, the sector plays a significant role in the growth and development of the country.

    He advocated that  diversification through agriculture should be approached frontally, emphasising on more effort from governments at all level.

    In her keynote address, the  Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Pessu, called for more investment in research to sustain the economy, adding that new technologies, input and techniques that lead to increased agricultural productivity and food security were developed through research.

    She stressed that the country should not only make agricultural development a priority, but also make it a reality.

    “Apart from putting in place the right policies, the government needs to invest in agricultural research and provide basic infrastructures for its growth and development, “ she said.

    She suggested more effective collaboration among government, academia and industry.

     

     

  • Ogun Cooperative Societies get N26m grant

    Twenty-SIX agricultural cooperative societies from six  local government areas in Ogun State have been supported with N26million   grant, to improve their farming techniques and increase food supply in the state.

    The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina, presenting cheques to beneficiaries in Abeokuta, advised them to use the grant for the right purpose and ensure every member of the cooperative benefited from it.

    According to her, the grant was the highpoint to round up a three -day Agricultural Production Improvement course  for Ogun State Agricultural Cooperative Societies in six local government areas under the 2015 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS)-LGAS Track Project.

    The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Adekunle  Hassan said the training programme, organised by the Office of the Special  Assistant to the President (OSSAP) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Ogun State Government, in collaboration with  a Management Consulting firm, Kunle Akiode& Co., would be extended to other local government areas, adding that beneficiaries would be monitored by government officials to ensure judicious  utilisation of the grant.

    The Assistant Secretary, Farmers Association of Nigeria,  Ogun State Branch, representing Ifo Local Government, Mr  Paul Adekunle, described the programme as an eye opener for members, as many of them had been exposed to new, better and easier  farming skills, includ

  • Reps to investigate fish importation licences

    The House of Representatives is to investigate all licenses granted for fish importation within the last one year, it emerged on Tuesday.

    The lawmakers expressed concern over incessant issuance of fish importation licence by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, regretting that the situation is turning Nigeria into a dumping ground for fish products to the detriment of local fish farmers and economy.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Jonathan Gaza (PDP, Nasarawa), who noted that there have been calls by various sections, including the National Assembly, to ban the importation of fish into the country as it has a negative effect on the economy.

    The ban becomes imperative because the effect of the imported fish on the  health of the Nigerian consumers cannot ascertained, since the total health status of all the fish imported into the country all the time could also not be determined, he noted.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila empowers fish, vegetable farmers

    He said  the Minister of State for Agriculture during a meeting with the Ijebu Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja sometime in August 2017, stated the Federal Government will stop issuing fish importation quota to importers  because the venture was no longer sustainable.

    Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf (APC, Osun), who noted the importation is meant to fill the gap as a result of inability of local farmers to meet the demand of consumers, said: “We have production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes, but our need is about 4million tonnes.

    “That is the gap those given licences are supposed to fill.

    “As legislatives, all we can do is to talk, in the area where bills are being returned with speed of light. The executive must show the commitment”.

    He called on the Federal government to subsidize the agricultural sector by a minimum of 50 percent.

    On his part, Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) said: “Is there a shortage of fish in this country? Do we have a national plan to fill this gap? This is an investigative matter.

    “If demand is greater than supply, there is a shortfall and we need to investigate. When you suggest ban, it’s for local industry to thrive. This motion will unravel a lot. Policy formulation should start from the House.”

    Muhammed Monguno (APC, Borno), the Chairman Committee on Agriculture, recalled that there was plan by Federal government to end importation of fish.

    He said: “It is true that there is deficit in our production, hence importation. Over the years the fishery sector has been neglected by successive governments.

    “It is true that licences have been given by Ministry of Agriculture, steps are being taken, as steps are taken to fill in the gap and stop importation in the next few years”.

    In its resolution, the House also requested the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Bank of Agriculture to provide incentives to local fish farmers that would boost up production.

    The ad hoc Committee was given two weeks to carry out the assignment and report back for further legislative action.

  • Why Nigeria needs a blue revolution, by FISON

    The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) has called on the Federal Government to promote a blue revolution that will encourage more farmers to develop entrepreneurial agri-businesses.

    Specifically, the society called for commercialisation of culturing of herbivorous fish species, to tackle high cost of fish production.

    The society made the call in Lagos, during the National Fisheries Stakeholders Forum, tagged: Harnessing the potential of non-state actors in fisheries and aquacultural development in West Africa.

    Participants at the forum said aquaculture researchers should develop the herbivorous specie (grass-eating fish) and make them available to farmers, so that Nigerians would have various fish species to choose from.

    FISON’s National President, Dr Lukman Agbabiaka said Nigeria could not continue to propagate ‘fish eating fish’ policy, which was not helping the industry.

    Agbabiaka said fish is a major ingredient for fish meal production, which has a negative effect on the cost of production, and trickles down to the cost of retail prices of fish.

    “The cost of producing fish in Nigeria is very high; and this is due to the fact that fish meal, which takes over 70 per cent of the cost of production, is majorly from fish.

    “We should be looking at cultivation of herbivorous fish, which is the fish eating grass specie. We cannot continue to propagate fish eating fish, because that is what kills the sector.

    “Over 70 per cent of production goes into fish feeds; but grass will be cheaper to cultivate, and the grass-eating fish is very delicious,” he said.

    Agbabiaka urged stakeholders in the sector to diversify into other value chains, especially the shell and scale fish sections, because of the opportunities embedded in the sections for economical relevance.

    A  former Director, Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), Mrs Folake Areola, said the herbivorous fish species, such as grasscarp should be considered.

    According to Areola, the grass carp specie is very delicious and commands a high market price in the international market, compared to other culture fish species.

    “We need to commercialise production of the grass cap, to expand the local and international markets. There is no focus on the specie even though it is in Nigeria.

    “There is also mallet, which most coastal communities already know, and people love their taste and flesh; so, what are we waiting for to develop that specie? Nigeria needs varieties,” she said.

    Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Babatunde Olusegun, said that there was a demand gap of about 2.4 million metric tonnes of fish.

    According to Olusegun, Nigeria currently produces 1.1 million metric tonnes of fish, while the annual demand is 3.5 million metric tonnes, giving room for importation to close the deficit.

    He called for private sector partnership to create an enabling environment through well-thought out policies, to guide the growth of the industry.

     

  • Boosting agric through start-ups

    A new development is taking place in the industry. Start-ups are growing agribusiness and providing jobs for youths, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The agriculture industry is witnessing a revolution – the establishment of agritech startups.

    One of them is Farmcrowdy, which provides an investment platform for farmers to raise  capital.  The public can invest as little as N30, 000 to support various agricultural projects, such as raising poultry and growing crops.

    The firm’s co-founder and CEO, Onyeka Akumah, was  a senior employee of Jumia, which he quit to start Travel Best, a logistics firm.

    In 2016, he and other co-founders established Farmcrowdy.

    The  group works with  investors, who support farming.

    Once investors have selected their projects and transferred funds through its e-payment portal, they can monitor the projects through the online dashboard  of the platform.

    At the end of the project, the crops are harvested and the investors receive a share of the profits.

    In its first year, the startup worked with 900 farmers.Today, it has 11,000 clients.

    The group has established Farmgate Africa (FGA), another  platform to integrate the supply chain of crops.

    He said Farmcrowdy took the initiative to establish the digital food aggregator to boost market linkages.

    Leaning on the experience and  expertise of the Farmcrowdy Group, Farmgate Africa, will, in the next two years, focus on deploying funds across various markets.

    It  will focus on beef processing and developing aggregation capacities across maize, soybean, sorghum and dried-split ginger for markets across Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United Kingdom (UK).

    Akumah said: “Launching Farmgate Africa gives us huge joy with the expectations placed on us to continue to innovate and build new solutions driven by technology to finance agriculture. We have received a lot of feedback from farmers and major agro buyers who need to fund market access to agro-commodities but are constantly held back because the market place is unstructured. Farmgate Africa is our response to this need.”

    Farmgate Africa is led by Kenneth Obiajulu,  one of its co-founders. It will bridge the gap between rural farmers and the market place, by providing major processors and international buyers the opportunity to purchase commodities directly from local farming clusters through technology.

    The startup has identified major processors and international buyers for commodities. It has also identified production clusters and built relationships with local farmers.  The processors will also  place orders on the platform. In addition, Farmgate will deliver commodities to major processors.

    Obiajulu said   growth capital and farmland resources are critical to farmers and agro entrepreneurs looking to grow into viable farming businesses.

    The system, according to him, allows Nigerians fund the buying and selling of what farmers’ harvest. This will give every farmer that has produced high quality farm produce the opportunity to sell to major buyers through Farmgate Africa’s portal.

    He said Farmgate Africa platform will serve to build relationships between local farmers and major processors, aggregating commodities while paying attention to the unique specifications of the buyers.

    Obiajulu said: “Our business model is one that brings the farmers closer to the processors by eliminating several layers of intermediaries. By doing this, Farmgate optimises market access to African farmers and also improves their income by at least 30 per cent.”

    Obiajulu explained that Farmgate would focus on four key sectors in the next two years:    beef processing over 5,000 metric tonnes of carcass beef with a major partner in the Southwest and developing aggregation capacities for over 100,000 metric tonnes of maize for onward delivery to a major processor.

    Others are developing aggregation capacities for over 40,000 metric tonnes of soybeans for delivery to a major processor and for over 3,000 metric tonnes of dried split ginger for onward export to the UAE and Britain.

    Vice-President, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) Emmanuel Ijewere said Farmcrowdy has a lot of potential.

    As farmers face declining commodity prices and tighter farm margins, he said such startups will only succeed if they can prove to farmers that they can deliver more value per acre through actionable insights.

    He reiterated NABG’s commitment to work with the private sector with the goal of improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers in Nigeria.

    The Country Director of Techno Serve, Dr. Larry Umunna, said the organisation helps farmers and agribusinesses better manage their own crops and finances.

    Umunna said the organisation is ready to partner Farmgate to ensure farmers are introduced to improved agricultural interventions.

     

     

  • Sida, FAO, ECOWAS partner to protect West Africa’s forests

    The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have joined forces to protect West Africa’s forests and help safeguard the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them.

    A  statement from FAO said the e three institutions will carry out a five-year project aimed at strengthening sustainable forest and land management, addressing transboundary forest threats, maximising the livelihoods of forest-depended communities, and building climate resilience across 15 countries in West Africa. The project – to be implemented by ECOWAS with financial support of over $8 million from Sida and technical support from FAO – will improve knowledge of forests dynamics, support legal reform, establish and share best community-based forest practices across the region. It will be key to the rolling out of the ECOWAS-led Convergence Plan for the Sustainable Management and Use of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa adopted in 2013 by ECOWAS to mobilize political, institutional, financial and technical support to address transboundary forest issues across ECOWAS’s 15 member states.

    Read Also: ECOWAS Bank to raise 25b francs in Q1

    “We are very pleased to be partners with ECOWAS and FAO on transboundary forest management in West Africa. It is a very important project for the people and governments of the region, but also for the global efforts to stop climate change and loss of biodiversity,” said Sida’s Head of Regional Development Cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ulla Andrén.

     

  • IAR&T is 50

    The Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training  (IAR&T), Ibadan, Prof  James Adediran, said his organisation has provided a centre of excellence for farmers to support research in the sector.

    Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to herald the institute’s 50th anniversary, Adediran said the establishment of the institute ushered in a revolution and helps the nation combat hunger and provides ample food security.

    Adediran insisted that the institute has lived up to its expectations as a centre of excellence in agricultural research since it was established half a decade ago.

    He noted that the institute has achieved monumental feats in the areas of soil, crop and livestock research, improved farming systems among others.

    He said: “We then ask ourselves, have we done enough to showcase and even celebrate at 50? I can confidently say yes, in that our breakthroughs in agricultural research are based on the level of resources available for our use. I am convinced that despite the above challenges, IAR&T has lived up to expectation as a centre of excellence in agricultural research.’’.

     

  • Edo secures N5bn loan for rice, maize production

    Edo State Government has secured N5bn loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme for rice and maize production across the three senatorial districts.

    It is targeting to harvest 17,000 tonnes of rice and 11,000 tonnes of maize by cultivating 6,600 hectares of land at the end of planting season in 2019.

    Giving a breakdown of how the loan would be expended, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Agriculture, Food Security and Forestry, Prince Joe Okojie, said N2.2bn would be used for crop production, N2.3bn for land development and N100m for irrigation.

    Prince Okojie spoke to newsmen after sensitising 200 farmers at Illushi, Esan South East local government area on how they would assess the loan.

    He explained that N1.2bn would be used to cultivate rice in Iguoriakhi, Iguomon, Illushi, Warrake and Agenebode while Maize would be cultivated at Usugbenu, Sobe and Ekpoma.

    He said: “We hope to produce millionaire farmers this year. We do not anticipate a drop in the price of rice.

    Read Also: Edo debunks fake recruitment exercise

    “We are hoping that we are able to produce about 17,000 metric tonnes cultivating about 4,400 hectares of rice farm.

    “We took about N5bn under the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme. About N2.2bn is for crop production, N2.3bn is for land development and N100m for irrigation.

    “We are not doing cassava now but maize. We are looking to cultivate about 2,200 hectares and we are hoping that we will be able to harvest approximately 11,000 metric tonnes.

    “We have engaged a lot of agronomists. We have employed the services of NIRSAL (Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending) that is going to be our technical partner and they are going to bring on board, a lot of agronomists that will help us.

    “We are trying to see how we can deploy best practices for the cultivation of the crops this season and hope that we get better yield than the one that we got two years ago.”

     

     

  • Plant trees, Ogun residents told

    Residents of Ogun State have been urged to plant trees in their compounds to beautify the environment and mitigate the effects of global warming.

    A Director in the State Ministry of Forestry, Dolapo Odulana, made the call at a rally for schools and selected areas in Abeokuta metropolis, to mark the International Day of Forestry.

    He said the purpose of the rally was to sensitise people on the benefits of forest preservation and the need to prevent indiscriminate felling of trees.

    Read also: When will Ogun West produce governor?

    Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘’Forest and education’’, Odulana cautioned that deforestation would have a devastating impact on the people, as trees help to mitigate harsh environ-mental condition.

    “The forest is no doubt a veritable tool to mitigate the challenges of the environment and this is why we encourage everybody to raise at least a tree,’’ he said.

    If you and I would raise a tree, it will make a big difference in the environment”, he said.

    Places visited included: Ita-Oshin, Panseke, Itoku, as well as Abeokuta Grammar School, Egba.

  • Boosting agric via demonstration farms

    Stakeholders are seeking the establishment of demonstration farms to provide hands-on training, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Co-founder, PS Nutraceuticals, Samson  Ogbole, a young agro entrepreneur, is teaching Nigerians  how to  cultivate yams and potatoes without sand.

    A biochemistry graduate of the Igbinedion University, Edo State, Ogbole trains farmers on his demonstration farm. He organises demonstrations to show farmers technologies.

    The visit to a demonstration farm allowed prospective farmers to share concerns  on new techniques, technology and crops.

    At demo farms, farmers learn   how to use their hands and machines, such as sprayers and cultivators. Farmers and trainers can exchange information and ideas.

    The immediate past Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA),  Dr. Samson Odedina, loves  to train people on agrobusiness, including how to manage their farms, dry and store grains, and use machinery.”I am a farmer, and I have great passion for farmers. I want to help farmers and make a better life for them,” he said.

    When Odedina set out to promote profitable  cassava farming, he did it with cassava demonstration plots across the campus. The college made available plots for students  and farmers. It was  a success story. The demonstration farms showcase agricultural techniques and technologies to improve crops.

    They also serve as a venue for research and testing of new methods alongside traditional ones.

    Depending on what’s being tested or showcased, he said demonstration farms could have various crops, livestock or poultry breeds, and fertiliser and technology.

    He said demonstration farms  allow the students to practise what they learn in the classroom under the supervision of their lecturers.

    Now the Rector of Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, Ogun State, Odedina still promotes demonstration farms.

    He said to be  successful, demonstration farmers must know how to plough, apply fertiliser, and herbicides and harvest.

    In addition to acting as a platform to educate farmers,  he said demonstration farms (model farms) foster innovation.

    The farms, according to him, im-proves business sustainability through efficiency in agrifood supply chains, boosting the competitiveness of farmers.

     

    Field demonstrations

    According to him, on-farm demonstrations serve as one of the most effective extension education tools.

    Although demonstrations require considerable time and effort, experts believe the payback comes when  farmers  adapt to practices they perceive to be effective and appropriate for local conditions.

    His cooperation with the farming  community in Akure has made much progress in recent years.

    Following this, exchanges have been strengthened and businesses have developed rapidly in the area.

    Niji Group Chief Executive Adeniji Kolawole said demo farms had created new opportunities for the uptake of business models in the agro-food industry to revitalise the rural areas.

    Inspired by the belief that informed and skilled farmers are essential to the sustainable future of the agriculture sector, Kolawole embarked on demonstration plots aimed at offering and sharing field experience to farmers, extension workers, agri-businesses, and other stakeholders including input suppliers, traders, processors, government institutions, and students within his green project  at Ilero, Oyo State.

    The demonstration plots, well-designed, stimulate farmers to experiment with innovative ideas, practices, and technologies that can improve and increase their income.

    Kolawole said there was need to  revolutionise the way innovations in agriculture and food are brought to market by bridging the present and future to grow a more diverse and sustainable farm economy and provide healthy food for all.

    He said demonstration farms established within farm states can transform agro-food industry as well as  create new opportunities for farmers to participate in the innovation value-chain.

    According to him, farm estates with demonstration farms  provide a platform farmers to incubate new technologies that include pilot trials, farmer feedback and guidance.

    He  noted  that  investing  on demonstration and model farms add value to farmer-members and provides a new collaborative opportunity for startups.

    He said his vision was about a transformed agriculture and food economy centered around farmers, innovation, and prosperity.

    The Vice President, Local Market Farming Development of OCP Group, Madam Fathiha Charradi,  said the demonstration project initiated by the company operates through centres of excellence that aim to help productivity and recourse use efficiency by implementing technology and know-how.

     

    Solutions

     

    She said the platform acts as an engagement for the public to encourage a better understanding of farming and pesticides.

    She explained that farmers are showcased the benefits of soil moisture, reducing erosion and improving inputsr during field demonstrations.

    Each demonstration plot  is visited by neighbouring farmers.

    The farmers  hosted on  demonstration plots see  agriculture as a productivity-enhancing, labour-saving technology.

    Meanwhile, the Enugu State Commissioner for Education,Prof Uchenna Eze said schools in the state must provide and maintain demonstration farms to ensure that pupils embrace modern agriculture.

    Eze said  a piece of land must, henceforth, be earmarked for farming in schools just as a field is provided for sports, adding that his ministry might reconsider fresh registration for schools to ensure that the school environment is conducive for different aspects of learning.

    According to him, education should be complemented with other activities aimed at developing every child’s talents in other areas of human endeavour.

    The commissioner explained that the new directive on provision of demonstration farms would form part of the requirements for registration of both public and private schools in the state.

    “For this singular reason, we have made it compulsory that the land for any primary school to be approved, henceforth, will be at least six plots of land.While that of secondary school must be nothing less than eight plots across board.

    ‘’This is to ensure that a piece of land is surely mapped out for the school demonstration farm in each school,’’ he said.