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Tag: agric sector

  • BMGF, AFAAS support agric sector

    BMGF, AFAAS support agric sector

    The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), in partnership with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), hosted a stakeholder event focused on supporting the development of a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for a Digital Agricultural Extension Services (DAES) solution to empower smallholder farmers in Nigeria.

    The stakeholder convening in Lagos, on Tuesday, was part of the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and fostering food security in Nigeria.

    It brought together stakeholders from the public, private and development sectors to explore innovative solutions that address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and support Nigeria’s food security ambitions.

    BMGF supports innovations in agriculture that help smallholder farmers in developing countries increase their productivity, adapt to climate change, and achieve economic security. It works to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can lead healthy and productive lives.

    AFAAS is a continental organisation that promotes effective agricultural extension and advisory services to empower smallholder farmers across Africa. Through partnerships and innovation, AFAAS aims to create resilient agricultural systems that drive sustainable development.

    The initiative, according to both partners, represents a significant step in addressing critical challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Nigeria, who contribute up to 90 per cent of the country’s food production.

    These smallholder farmers face barriers, including limited access to advisory services, fragmented private sector solutions, and underfunded public extension systems, which limit their ability to adopt innovative practices and access markets effectively.

    Read Also: Nigeria, Saudi target deals in energy, agric sectors

    The proposed PPP DAES solution aims to bridge these gaps by leveraging financial sustainability, user-centred design, and tailored solutions to deliver agronomic, market, and financial information at scale.

    This system seeks to ensure long-term viability while aligning with Nigeria’s agricultural goals of self-sufficiency and import substitution by prioritising private sector leadership.

    The event also showcased findings from a scoping study on DAES solutions and highlighted innovative delivery methods that are low-cost, scalable, and site-specific.

    Participants explored how these solutions can enhance access to real-time, localised support for agro-businesses and farmers, fostering productivity, traceability, and market access for key value chains, including maize, cassava, and cocoa.

    Senior Programme Officer, Digital Agronomy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Tawanda Hove, said the Gates Foundation was deeply committed to supporting Nigeria’s journey toward agricultural self-sufficiency.

     “Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the nation’s food security, and empowering them with the right tools and information is essential.

     “Today’s discussions are pivotal in building a sustainable, user-focused advisory system that aligns public and private sector resources to deliver transformative impact,” the Programme Officer said.

    During the event, stakeholders also reviewed findings from a scoping study and examined elements of proposed operational frameworks and funding models to ensure the system’s financial feasibility.

    Discussions also highlighted the importance of inclusivity, with plans to integrate technologies such as Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and smartphone applications to make the platform accessible to all, particularly women and underserved communities.

    Also speaking at the event, AFAAS’s Silim Nahdy, said, “We believe that the future of agriculture in Africa lies in leveraging technology to bridge the gaps in knowledge and resources.

    “Through collaborative efforts like today’s convening, we can design innovative, locally relevant solutions that empower farmers and build resilient agricultural systems across the continent.”

    The event concluded with key outcomes, including commitments from private sector participants to co-invest in digital solutions, consensus on user-centred product features, and strengthened stakeholder collaboration.

    These milestones set the foundation for the final development of the DAES product profile design with a sustainable business model.

    The convening represents a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s journey to transform its agricultural sector through innovation and partnership, unlocking new opportunities for smallholder farmers and fostering economic resilience.

  • Lagos, FAO, others to improve agric sector

    Lagos, FAO, others to improve agric sector

    Lagos is seeking the partnership of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), African Union (AU) and other development partners  in uplifting the agricultural sector  as part of its development agenda. The focus is on increasing food production, improving per-acre yields, cultivating disease-free crops, and enhancing capacity building.

    The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya, emphasised the importance of utilising modern machinery and fertilisers to improve yields, as well as constructing food storage facilities and hubs to minimise post-harvest losses.

    Similarly, she  said  the construction of cold storage facilities  and meat processing plants is planned to enhance the productivity of livestock and fisheries sectors besides making their output more competitive in the international market.

    She pointed out that the future of agriculture production and food security depended on advancements in technology, favourable policies, and strong leadership. It was essential to form partnerships with donors and the private sector to accelerate the attainment of objectives.

    She said the collaborations with  the private sector  will involve a targeted exchange of technology, skill development, and information sharing on current agricultural practices such as technology, high-yield seed varieties, and crop management techniques.They must have a focused transfer of technology, capacity building and knowledge sharing on all modern agricultural farming trends including technology, advanced line seed variety and cropping techniques.

    With the establishment of  an agricultural engineering department,she noted that  utilisation of modern agricultural machinery stands as an imperative for augmenting agricultural productivity.

    She underscored the need for looking at possible actions which can help the country achieve sustainable agriculture and food security.

    Read Also: Lagos, FAO, others to improve agric sector

    According to her, the  ministry’s   policy aims to increase farmers’ income and enhance food security. To achieve these goals, she said the ministry will continue to promote rural development,increase the welfare of farmers and fishermen, innovate agricultural technologies,  manage farmland resources, modernise infrastructure, upgrade facilities, and expand cooperation with  development partners.

    She  reiterated that the government will continue to  promote a farming system with diversified local produce to increase food self-sufficiency .

    According to her, the  ability of farmers to have timely access to crop inputs such as feed, seed and products for use in pest management, while maintaining rigorous regulatory requirements, is extremely important.

    She said the government is determined to  promote   small-scale fisheries  and other sectors in which the state has competitive advantage in the context of food security and poverty eradication..

    She further added that the government was making efforts  to develop  accurate data, empowered communities, and a thriving agricultural sector with  contributions from  crop and livestock, fisheries and aquaculture,  She highlighted  the significance of accurate and accessible data for strengthening agriculture  statistics as the  sector plays a critical role in food and nutrition security, employment creation, and income increase,

  • Closing agric sector’s skills gap to boost production

    Globally, the future of large scale agriculture lies in the adoption and integration of modern technology to boost food production. Consequently, there is need for more skilled and qualified workforce to adopt and make use of budding tech innovations designed to boost food production. The increasing demand for tech-savvy specialists across the food production value chain has put authorities in agric sector on their toes. Already, efforts to equip the next generation of Nigerians with relevant skills have taken centre stage, Agriculture Correspondent, DANIEL ESSIET, reports.

    For Nigeria’s agric sector, a new dawn beckons. This is coming on the strength of a strategic partnership between Nigeria and Morocco in the provision of quality education, research, and training to support a world-class fertiliser industry.

    It was learnt that as part of this promising collaboration between both countries, at least, three Nigerians are already participating in an International Masters in Fertiliser Management Programme in Ben Guerir, Morocco.

    One of the lucky participants, Mr. Nnaemeka Odionye, is currently being exposed to new automation technologies designed to boost productivity in the agricultural sector, from software that can assist with early pest detection, robotics, and artificial intelligence systems to grow crops,

    Odionye is optimistic that his training will prepare him for the job of the future, especially in Nigeria where the adoption and integration of modern technology to boost food production has become imperative.

    Speaking, an expectant Odionye confirmed that he and other post-graduate students enrolled in Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco, are exposed to world class education that will equip them to pursue global careers in agriculture.

    “We are exposed to several agricultural and food industry technologies e.g. fertigation (when nutrients are incorporated into irrigation water) and precision agriculture (the use of technology to obtain environmental and crop data so as to deliver the right dose of nutrients to plants to increase productivity),” he said.

    He also said the university’s laboratories are equipped with lots of equipment for real time analysis.

    He said: “I am also aware that new laboratories are being set up for the new masters’ students in molecular biology.

    “Academically, it has also been fantastic. The curriculum, seminars, workshops and teaching aids are well tailored to meet the programme’s description. The laboratories are as good as you find in prestigious universities in the world, with cutting edge technologies to carry out the latest research in soil fertilisation and related fields.”

    Under the partnership, graduates under the agriculture faculty also deal with automation in agriculture and the demand for technology in greenhouses. They are taught how to use robotics and automation in greenhouses to create a positive impact on the sector and emerging technologies, including robotic harvesters and decision support systems.

    These must be why Odionye described the programme as “a game changer.” According to him, the opportunity for networking has been awesome, as he and he and other participants have had the opportunity of meeting experts not only in the fertiliser industry, but in the global food industry.

    He also said UM6P is the only school in the world with a specific programme in fertiliser science and technology. “I believe the opportunities out there for us are limitless. I have developed a passion to contribute to reducing global hunger and poverty.

    “I intend to increase small holder farmer’s income in Nigeria and Africa by improving fertiliser use efficiency through the recommendation of specific soil nutrients for different regions and crop varieties across Africa,” Odionye said.

    Toyib Aremu, another beneficiary of the Nigeria/Morocco partnership, is also enjoying a full scholarship at the Moroccan university. He said he hopes to deploy knowledge gained from the programme to help revolutionise Nigeria’s agriculture and enhance food security.

    According to him, the school brings international academics and industry experts to take participants through various aspects of tech innovation in the agric sector. He added that studying with students from other African countries such as Kenya, Egypt, Uganda, Malawi, Liberia, Rwanda and Morocco exposed him to the cultures of other people.

    Aremu said UM6P, which is funded by the state-owned Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP), provides an example for Nigeria in terms of building quality human capital and equipping the next generation of Nigerians with in-demand skills at the tertiary education level.

    He said although, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is currently sponsoring students abroad, he is looking forward to a time when it will invest more in local institutions.

    Aremu said such investment was necessary because tech innovation in agric had the potential to drive Nigeria and indeed, Africa’s economic transformation through more formal and efficient smallholder farmer value chains. It will also reduce food imports and increase agric exports.

    Odionye and Aremu personify the renewed thinking by industry experts and authorities in the agric sector in favour of the adoption and integration of modern technology to boost food production. This,  it was gathered, is in line with global trend that supports skilled and qualified workforce to adopt and make use of budding tech innovations to boost food production.

    Experts speak

    For instance, the Director-General, Premier Agribusiness Academy, Mr. Toromade Francis, said agric businesses are increasingly looking to groom future specialists, especially at a time when technology is disrupting businesses faster than companies can cope with.

    Francis, who spoke at a forum in Lagos, noted that the integration of technology into agriculture industries is already having a significant effect on the sector in terms of both the structure of the workforce and the increase in productivity that tech innovations facilitate.

    According to him, technology is a significant factor in increasing the industry’s ability to grow more food. As a result, there is a big demand for specialists across the agricultural production systems with skills in managing the technological system used in food production.

    Francis said attaining a high level of skill in the new redefined specialties could be the best way to secure a dynamic, rewarding career in the future.

    He said the agric industry needs professionals exposed to efficient operating practices, new technologies, and increased levels of partnership and collaboration across the supply chain.

    Francis said employers are hungry for well-trained supply chain graduates, with skills that are continually growing and changing, adding that technology is having greater impact on agribusinesses.

    The Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Dr. Paul Ilona, also in the agric sector, said there are many Nigerians who lack the technical proficiency needed to do certain jobs.

    According to him, this is despite the fact that the agric sector presents tremendous opportunities for personal, enterprise and national growth and development.

    This is more so considering the fact that as more companies expand globally, they are also increasing their international assignments and relying on expatriates to manage their global operations.

    The belief is that there is a labour market failure that results, in part, from the accelerating rate of change in the global economy–making it harder for the skills supply system to keep up with rapidly changing demand.

    According to development experts, the education and training system continue to turn out graduates whose skills are not always a match for available opportunities.

    While there is shortage of locals to help international companies successfully launch new ventures and gain advantage over competitors, most of them generally bring in their own experts from other locations to lead projects on a short-term basis, rather than rely on local talent.

    This is perhaps, why Ilona noted that the Nigerian economy is currently experiencing a structural and long-term talent development issue. This is not limited to Nigeria though, as most countries in Africa are facing the same challange.

    Impulse accelerator programme to the rescue

    An international non-profit organisation, Mass Challenge and UM6P in Ben Guerir, Morocco, has launched the “Impulse Accelerator Programme” to support start-ups in Nigeria and the rest of Africa.

    The global programme aims to pool resources, integrate and accelerate start-up projects the incubator will be fostering across the continent. It was designed to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills set to develop and grow start-ups.

    Impulse Programme Director, Adnane Soulimani, said: “The programme was dedicated to start-up businesses, fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs with their projects through its acceleration programme.”

    The programme is going to groom African start-ups and create opportunities for talented Nigerian and international students interested in tech jobs.

    Soulimani said the programme was determined to instil entrepreneurial spirit through outreach programmes in different parts of Africa where youths will be exposed to inspirational talks and workshops teaching skills necessary for entrepreneurship.

    The start-up journey, under the guidance of seasoned entrepreneurs and network of corporate partners and investors, doesn’t only give students and graduates the confidence required to jump-start their entrepreneurial ambition, but also helps position their venture for long- term success.

    It was gathered that Morocco’s tech sector has matured radically, especially in agri-tech, which has skyrocketed in the region. With new start-up incubators and accelerators, the north African country has made a name for itself as Africa’s start-up powerhouse.

    Performance Manager, OCP SA, Sara Sabor, said the goal was not only to open up possibilities for entrepreneurs, but also cultivate a new generation of active job creators rather than job seekers.

    According to her, Morocco has made significant economic and social progress, which has raised the aspirations of Moroccans, especially its young people.

    OCP, she noted, was investing in youths to ensure they have the skills needed to drive the economic transformation, while unleashing the job-creating dynamism of the private sector.

    The immediate past Director, Agriculture School, UM6P, and coordinator of Agro Biosciences Research in Benguerir, Morocco, Prof. Faouzi Bekkaoui, said with more mouths to feed, the need to churn out more innovators to work in crop agriculture has never been more compelling.

    He said there is the urgent need for African countries to figure out how to grow more food faster, with fewer resources, by developing new technologies to scale up the planet’s food production mechanisms on a sustainable basis.

    Bekkaoui believes the country and the rest of Africa need competent hands to facilitate production of high-value crops. And to help the continent achieve this, he said the university created an agriculture department.

    According to him, the department includes a new school of agriculture, fertiliser and environment sciences (ESAFE), focused on both education and research, alongside an experimental farm featuring a 110-hectare living lab in Benguerir, with nurseries and greenhouses.

    To create tailor-made solutions adapted to the diversity of all African soils, the institution is also creating an experimental farm in Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast, while also exploring similar centres in different areas in the continent.

    The goal of ESAFE, according to Bekkaoui, was to train students and professionals in agriculture who will contribute to food security by advancing research and improving fertiliser, crop products, water and soil management.

    According to him, the Executive Master’s Programme in Fertiliser Science and Technology has been developed in collaboration with the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), alongside contributions from the International Plant Nutrition Institute, the University of Georgia and Morocco’s OCP.

    The aim, he explained, was to give employees a thorough understanding of all aspects of the fertiliser industry.

    An important pillar of the university’s agricultural research is an ongoing project to analyse and map soils in countries throughout Africa to better understand their needs and help make more appropriate fertiliser for them.

    Under a pact with African universities, teachers and professionals across the country are benefitting from world class educational investment, gaining tangible, in-demand skills and knowledge that will re-shape the country’s workforce and boost economic growth.

    Commenting on the multi-year partnership agreement the OCP sealed with IFDC and UM6P, OCP Chairman and CEO Mostafa Terrab said: “This important partnership with IFDC confirms and advances our ambition to mobilise world-class resources in research and innovation for the benefit of Africa in general.”

    For President and CEO of IFDC, Albin Hubscher, the partnership “will accelerate the development and large-scale production of more efficient fertiliser to increase smallholder productivity and incomes while respecting the environment.”

    He added that the partnership was unique because it invests in public good, which is the building of the next generation of African scientists and professionals to drive the growth of the agric sector and feed the continent.

    The collaboration will develop science-based interventions, produce a large body of scientific publications, and create the next generation of trans-disciplinary trained scientists who can bridge the gap between science and implementation.

    Digital jobs

    This is a $100 million initiative by the Rockefeller Foundation that seeks to impact the lives of one million people in six African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, and Egypt.

    The initiative does this by catalysing Information Communications Technology (ICT)-enabled employment and skills training for high-potential African youth who would not otherwise have access to sustainable employment.

    Launched in 2013, the initiative works in close partnership with stakeholders from the private sector, government, civil society, and the development community.

    In partnership with the Digital Jobs Africa Initiative, the World Bank has undertaken a number of activities to increase and enhance opportunities for digital job creation in Africa.

    This includes the development of an Information Technology (IT) park in Ghana, capacity building for digitilisation of public records, and online work/micro-work awareness building and training in Nigeria.

    Experts say the recipe for success in the country lies in its ability to increase investments in innovation, equip the workforce with relevant skills, produce higher-value goods and services, and expand trade.

    This, according to them, means ensuring that Nigerians, particularly youths, are well prepared to succeed as skilled workers and entrepreneurs in an increasingly digital and global economy.

    The consensus is that if the country does not address her talent and skills gap, it could cost the economy billions loss productivity, tax revenues, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    In other words, it has become imperative to address the skills gap, if the country wants to secure its place as a competitive player in the global economy.

    To make this happen, the Chief Executive, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, Bankole Oloruntoba, believes the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies would create employment opportunities across the supply chain.

    According to him, there is the need for policy makers and businesses to recognise the broad socio-economic opportunities and benefits that renewables can bring.

    Indeed, globally, the renewable sector employed 11 million people at the end of 2018, according to the sixth edition of the Renewable Energy and Jobs series of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

  • Agriculturist seeks incentives for investors in agric sector

    The General Manager, Shonga Farms Holdings Limited, Mr Adebayo Sangobiyi, has appealed to the federal government to create more incentives for investors in the agricultural sector.

    Sangobiyi, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin at the weekend, also urged the state and local governments to encourage more youths to embrace agriculture.

    He said through proper supervision by government officials, quality materials would reach farmers and prospective farmers.

    “It is unfortunate that the agricultural sector is yet to be properly developed to improve the nation’s economy,” he said.

    On the ownership of Shonga Farms, the Shonga farms boss clarified that only 25 per cent of the holdings belong to the Kwara Government.

    He explained that the remaining 75 per cent belongs to five banks with each of them having 15 percent holdings in the farm.

    Sangobiyi noted that the establishment of the farms is segmented into dairy, poultry and mix-cropping units.

    He added that they were collaborating with different organisations in selling produce from the farm across the state.

    According to him, the farm is supporting many farmers with necessary equipment, seedlings, fertiliser and provide the market to sell their produce.

    Sangobiyi also called on the Federal Government to step up campaign on its ‘Green Alternative’ in promoting agriculture in the country.

  • Fed Govt urges BoI to increase lending to agric sector

    Fed Govt urges BoI to increase lending to agric sector

    The Federal Government has called on the Bank of Industry (BOI) to increase its lending rate to the agricultural sector. This is part of its strategies to accelerate the diversification process of the nation’s economic base.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, made this call during  a visit by the management team of BoI led by the bank’s Acting Managing Director,  Waheed Olagunju in Abuja. He said there is urgent need to boost productivity along the agricultural value chain, particularly with the attention of the current administration focusing on diversifying the economy away from oil.

    Ogbe said: “There is a lot of disenchantment in the country as a result of the huge level of unemployment. I commend the management of the bank for its zeal in the development of the financial institution.

    “I will like to request your bank to see what you can do to assist us in financing young people in agro processing business. Young people are finding it difficult to access loans. If we want young people to live and achieve their aspiration, we need to do what we can to shift the focus by creating a platform for them to access loan and become entrepreneurs.

    “The degree of frustration and disenchantment among the youth is very high and it’s time we did something to make funding available for businesses. Government would put in place adequate mechanism as well as the needed support to ensure that the loans are repaid by borrowers.

    “To achieve this, the ministry is planning to build an agro-processing park for young people, which will assist in reducing some of their operating costs. We are also trying to move industries to the villages so that people don’t have to migrate into the big cities for  jobs.”

    Responding, Olagunju said the request by the minister was in line with the objective of the bank in reducing the level of poverty and unemployment in the country.

  • Reps seeks development of agric sector

    The Federal Government has been asked to take steps to develop and diversify the agriculture sector in the country.

    A member of the House of Representatives member representing Bali/Gassol federal constituency of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Chede made the call in Abuja.

    Chede noted that genuine diversification of the country’s economy from crude oil to agriculture needed commitment of enough resources to the agricultural sector.

    He insisted that for the youth to be attracted to agriculture, government should not relent in its strategy to mechanize the sector.

    The lawmaker noted that reliance on crude implement for subsistence agriculture is no longer fashionable.

    He said, “It’s not that the youths are running after politicians. I know that by the time this government puts in more resources to agriculture, it would attract them.”

    On the current economic hardship, he said the present administration is embarking on strategies to ensure the wellbeing of every Nigerian.

    He appealed for patience to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

    Chede also called on Nigerians to be law abiding in the interest of peace and good neighbourliness for the progress and development of the country.

  • FCMB enhances funding for agric sector

    FCMB enhances funding for agric sector

    First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc has reiterated its readiness to enhance funding for agricultural sector and value-chain segments of the sector in the interest of the economy.

    The lender said the crash of crude oil prices has created opportunities for financial institutions to support non-oil segments of the economy, especially agriculture and its value chains.

    The bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Ladi Balogun said  with Nigeria’s favourable climatic conditions, vast arable land and fertile soils, agriculture funding is critical as it will play significant role in the nation’s drive to achieve sustainable development.

    “Agriculture not only ensures food availability, but remains instrumental to effective jobs creation, value addition, wealth creation as well as spurring economic development. We believe that as desirable as agriculture is to economic well-being, Nigeria is yet to maximise the potentials inherent in the sector,” the bank chief said.

    The fall in crude oil prices, according to him, has affected both the naira and inflation statistics as the country imports the vast majority of goods and services consumed locally.

    Balogun said relegation of agriculture to subsistence farming, non-prioritisation of agribusiness at various levels of governance, poor state of research and storage facilities, extension and disjointed value chains are some of the challenges hampering the sector.

    The bank chief said a major component of the bank’s sustainability principle is on agriculture and helping farmers to reduce the level of poverty among them as part of its financial intermediation role for national development.

    He said the bank’s intervention has resulted in better access to financial resources by deserving individuals, organisations and companies. It has also led to improved processes, better output and profitability and enhanced confidence in the ability of the financial services sector to drive economic growth.

    Also, Chairman, Tractor Owners and Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN), Alhaji Danladi Garba, praised the lender for providing a N300 million facility to the group for the acquisition of tractors distributed to farmers in Kaduna State.

    The bank also collaborated with Doreo Partners to launch a support programme for farmers, known as Babban Gona or ‘’great farm’’, which is an agricultural franchise model, where farmers are trained and offered specially packaged loans to carry out their farming activities.

    The bank has also collaborated with the International Financial Corporation, (IFC) to promote agribusiness and education sub sectors of the economy.

    “By the agreement, the IFC was to route more lending to private businesses involved in the agribusiness sector, which, as already stated, is a key driver of the country’s economic growth. The bank  reasoned that continued credit availability for agricultural-based businesses would help maintain the sector’s growth momentum. The package was a long-term senior loan of $50 million and a convertible loan of $20 million aimed at supporting the bank’s growth strategy and helping it increase financing of small and medium enterprises,” the lender explained.

    Balogun views IFC’s investment as a stamp of approval on the bank’s strategy and commitment to good corporate governance and risk management.

  • Buhari urged to declare emergency in agric sector

    Buhari urged to declare emergency in agric sector

    A member of the Seventh House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi , has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare an emergency in the agriculture sector owing to dwindling oil revenues.

    He also backed the removal of oil subsidy as mooted by the Federal Government and supported by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    Faparusi described the fund as opportunity for some fraudulent Nigerians to amass ill-gotten wealth.

    Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Faparusi praised Buhari for the proposal to develop agriculture, mining and tourism sectors to fund the budget, adding that prompt declaration of emergency in agriculture would make the seemingly tall dream to come to fruition.

    Faparusi, who represented Ekiti South Federal Constituency 2 between 2011 and 2015, said the declaration of emergency in agriculture would afford the government an opportunity to give the sector an attention as an alternative to oil and to create more job opportunities for Nigerians.

    “Declaration of emergency in agriculture is long overdue. The President is facing two challenges now. One, oil revenue is fast dwindling and two, he proposed to finance the 2016 budget through other sources apart from oil and agriculture is the better alternative.

    “The emergency will help in voting more money to revive the sector. The late Obafemi Awolowo developed the Western Region depending on proceeds from cocoa, palm oil, rubber and coffee and looking at the vast opportunities in agriculture across Nigeria, the country tends to gain more if there is more investment in agriculture,” he said.

    Faparusi  lauded the Federal Government for saying that savings from oil subsidy removal would be used to develop agriculture and mining sectors.

    He described the proposal as the best for the country for now.

    The ex-lawmaker said every state in the country must join the fray to develop agriculture, tourism and mining sectors following the country’s plummeting economic fortunes.

    “Government pays more than one trillion naira annually on oil subsidy, despite what we witness is scarcity. The pump price is now sold for between N120 and N150 naira.

    “If the Federal Government can remove the subsidy and use it to fund agriculture, mining and tourism, this will palliate the sufferings of the people , because there will be employments, food security and low food price.

    “Payment of oil subsidy has not in any way paid off, except we are deceiving ourselves. With this dwindling oil revenue in the international market, the best option is to remove oil subsidy and develop other critical sectors to re-energise this dying economy,” he said.

    Faparusi appealed to all the civil servants at the state and federal levels to fully embrace farming programmes to be initiated by the federal government, to make Nigeria a beacon in food production globally.

  • Hospitality should partner agric sector —Mark Loxley

    Mr. Mark Loxley is the General Manager of Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. He has been running the hotel since inception in 2009. In this interview, OKORIE UGURU, he talks about  hospitality and tourism in Nigeria and the need for the government to pay closer attention to it. Excerpts:

    Could you talk a little about what is new in Southern Sun Ikoyi?

    The hotel property opened on June I, 2009. I have been here since the beginning of 2008 and the hotel has been operating for six years. We have completed the soft renovation on our ground floor areas. We changed carpet of the entire ground floor, the restaurant, bar among others. We’ve also brought in new furniture, upgraded drop lights. We also refurbished some of the furniture downstairs as well as the upstairs.

    We intend in the next 18 months to look towards rooms, upgrading refurbishment. I think this year has been quite a challenging start for the hotel industry due to the delayed elections and global downstream in oil price. We must all be optimistic that we have a change of leadership, new government and I think the result of the election has been well received by Nigerians and the outside world. I think people are focusing and looking towards coming back to Nigeria and there would be a strong drive in developing the non oil and gas sector.

    Hotels definitely, because of the added competitive nature of the industry in the last five years, will be focusing on services and making sure the added value is in place because unlike before there is a quite selection of hotels in Lagos. By August, we expect a much better second half of this year. I think second half of this year is going to be stronger for the hotel industry and we are going to see a lot of people coming back in to the business environment. We should always remind ourselves that any element of insecurity, fuel scarcity within the last few months, delayed elections are all impacting in our business. Also, we got to be very sure that we have clean hygienic environment and safety and security is paramount for anybody traveling to anywhere in the world, including Lagos.

    What are the things that have stood the hotel out in the last couple of years?

    We focus on our basic service identity and we make sure that the facilities and services are kept and well maintained. I think it would be nice to do a site inspection to see things yourself. We have the boardroom, two meeting rooms, a fantastic gym facility among others. If you look at what is in the hotel pipeline in the next two to three years, I can tell you that would be as strong as it has been.

    Another important factor is the maintenance of  products; our public areas or places guests are exposed to. That focus is always in line with our plan and we have done some in the first quarter of this year as I pointed earlier. We are looking at doing further refurbishments in the next 18 months.

    The hotel configuration remains. We still have 195 rooms and another point worth mentioning is that Lagos State has introduced a grading system  for hotels which is to regulate hotels more than what is done before and to give the general public a better idea of the true value of hotels. So, the grading system has started and we have been successfully graded as  a four-star hotel. The annual grading inspection is expected to continue as we move on. I think they’ve been a lot of initiatives by the Lagos Sate government to make sure the industry continue to move forward not just in terms of people and structures, but also to make sure the standards are maintained. We have a proper grading council in place and we were told it is a continuous system.

    When we look at the business profile, we focus on all segments of the market, including corporate, international and domestic travelers. We continue to draw people from ECOWAS areas. We would pay more attention to local events, sports and cultural events that we come across. We want to make sure that we remain aligned with activities within Lagos. Anything on the sporting cultural and side we try to partner and we continue to seek new business ideas because that is what everyone is looking for. When you have pressure in terms of rate, you need to look at new markets which are different from your regular areas. So, we would continue to draw in new people into the environment.

    How will the recent transition in Nigeria affect the hospitality business climate?

    With the positive elections outcome as perceived by many people, I think everybody; especially the business community in general, is looking towards an improved second half of the year.  I think too we are going to see better opportunities in terms of occupancy and business activities. Though Lagos is a very resilient environment, we need to as a company improve our standards as we move forward because we have more competitors coming up. The great thing about the ongoing development of the hotel and tourism industry is that it is never intensive; hence there is a great opportunity in employment within the country. Every state is interested in attracting business into their environment. We tried to understand any new trend that is relevant to the environment and how much attention is on the non oil and gas sector, though we still have lot to do in our own environment.

    We also as a hotel make effort in terms of staff development and training. We also partner with educational institutions like YABATECH. We have like 12 students doing IT in the environment at present. We are not just committed to it but proud of the ongoing partnership. We are helping in the development of students.

    Security is the aspect that applies to any hotel anywhere in the world. I think Lagos or Nigeria is not an isolated example of a security focus because it is universal, especially when you look at the unfortunate incident in Tunisia recently. We’ve had unfortunate incidents in the shopping center in Nairobi, India a couple of years ago among others. Though we are more business focus in terms of corporate clients, we have all the appropriate security measures and actions based on sight. Also, we enjoyed a lot of support with the local police and community. We make sure we attend to issues in community and have good relationship with the DPO. Security is everybody’s responsibility and in that aspect we feel that we are on the right track. We take guidance from the local authorities too in terms of any further allegiance we need to possibly take.

    How do you see the prospect of hospitality business in Lagos?

    We are all optimistic in terms of the future growth of the industry in Lagos State, especially in Ikoyi. Even though Victoria Island is more dominance in commercial identity, we’ve seen a lot of buildings and offices coming up in Ikoyi. In the last five years we have seen offices moving to some certain areas here, especially Banana Island. I think the business community is growing and we are ready to embrace the pending competitors. I think everybody’s responsibility is to remain competitive. The world is still trying to adjust from the last economic downstream in 2008. If look at what is happening in places like Greece you would accept that there are many challenges out there. Even though we’ve had depreciation in the local currency, it is not as severe Ghana or Russia. However, everybody here is relying on the leadership of the day to make sure that we all move forward and the election is generated a lot of positive reactions from the business community outside and we want people to come back. From July, last year, it was Ebola and it wasn’t just Nigeria. Though countries like Ghana, Kenya, and the likes didn’t suffer one case, there were countries that had heavier casualties. I think that situation was handled extremely well by the Lagos State officials and it goes back to safety security and hygiene but it has always been part of our mandate as a company. The state and federal health inspections always visit. But the chapter is behind us and we have a lot more to fall too.

    We are embracing the new market tactics on social media. Asides for the corporate website there is an opportunity to market the promotional aspect of the business. The biggest challenge is the weekend and holidays and you need to attract more people into your environment. We need to bring in more business like any hotel.  We would be starting radio campaign again during the month of August. This is what we’ve done before so as to provide added value and attract people.

    The food reputation of any hotel is what would open the widow to the world. You can have fanatic rooms, uniforms and equipments but if your food quality is not to standard you going to battle to keep people in the front door. If your plate of food is not up to standard people would ask why they should spend so much money. So, we focus here to making sure our food is up to standard. We have people from different nationalities all over the world and we do special request too. We would be looking at the use of social media in the market and I think many other companies would be doing the same. We have a loyalty programme and we have hotels across Africa where you can redeem your points.

    What role do you think the tourism and hospitality industry should play in the effort to diversify the economy?

    The sector should embrace project opportunities because every hotel relies on its supplier. It would be key to support an agricultural sector where it would be more beneficial and cheaper to buy locally as opposed to imported products. I think they should naturally be partnership between the hotel industry and agricultural sector because the more we buy from them it helps the growth of another sector and it is cost effective. We can do a lot more in terms of partnering with some of the tourist facilities. There are many obvious ways the hotel could look at to support the tourist sector. In the past 8 years I have had the opportunity to travel around the country. So, there is nothing stopping us to recommend a day trip to our guests to go to Whispering Palms,  point of no return or Badagry to look at the slave trade museum. The sad the thing is that so many business people have come into this environment over the years and they’ve never been outside their hotels. They don’t get the true opportunity to look around. Though we have Lagos Water Regatta among others, those are annual events that come and go. I am talking about on a consistent basic, so it would be nice if some of the large hotels partner with some of the tourism facilities such as whispering palms among others. I am sure the big hotels would like to support this idea.

    What did you learn from the crises the sector experienced last year?

    Last year I think taught us all that we cannot rely on one particular market area. We need to be more diversified and look towards the local Nigerian community. You should look at what to do better to attract Nigerian guests into your hotel. So, when you are going through a lean period you can rely on your local content to support your business. I think a lot of hotels have realised that they must make sure the health and hygiene remains a consistent focus. We need to look at new business opportunities.

  • How agric sector can leverage ICT tools

    How agric sector can leverage ICT tools

    Things are gradually looking up for the agric sector. The agric transformation agenda is changing the fortunes of farmers, as most of them now have access to improved crop varieties as well as trainings to become better managers. Some of them are also moving into larger acreages, leading to improved food production. To sustain the tempo, experts say there is need to embrace Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools, otherwise known as e-agriculture. DANIEL ESSIET reports. 

    As an expert and key stakeholder in the agric sector, President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Tola Faseru, has been pushing for the deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to promote agricultural development. He tells whoever cares to listen that the use of ICT in agric, otherwise called e-agriculture, remains a strategic and ambitious way of modernising the agric sector by pushing possibilities into the hands of farmers and ultimately, achieving food sufficiency.

    Faseru told The Nation that with widespread connectivity to global markets and networks, using the Internet and related technologies, there was need for Nigeria to establish a comprehensive ICT infrastructure for the agric sector. He noted that through formal institutionalization of e-agriculture, which is a global practice where people exchange information, ideas, and resources related to the use of ICT for sustainable agriculture and rural development, Nigeria stands a better chance of using the agric sector to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.

    Faseru is not only in this growing strategic approach of using ICT to drive agriculture. Worldwide, e-agriculture has emerged as a strategic tool, drawing private capital and large-scale investment to projects that benefit small farmers and boost food security. The strength of the approach, according to Faseru and other experts, is its integration of investments, policy frameworks and local institutions and ability to bolster connectivity to improve the functioning of markets, improve agricultural opportunities, create jobs and catalyze improved governance along the value chain. All of these are ingredients needed to spur inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

    The consensus of experts is that Nigeria will advance the agricultural sector through integration with other industries such as processing, storage, logistics, and e-commerce. This is so considering that transactions now thrive mostly online between nations and the international markets, as companies are now deploying money and resources into e-commerce platforms to fuel their growth. This has expanded into many different industries, including agriculture and transportation. Already, an increasing number of sellers and buyers are emerging to improve online agro produce transactions through overseas destinations ordered through e-commerce platforms.

    However, while there are indications that e-commerce in agriculture is emerging as a lucrative area in the online shopping sector, the development of e-commerce in the agricultural sector still lags far behind other sectors, especially in Nigeria. This has prompted agitations by agric experts most of who say there is need to shift focus from the traditional factors of production to the use of modern technologies, market-driven innovation and knowledge, which are growth drivers.

    In addition to ensuring food security and safety, such paradigm shift would modernise the sub-sector to provide employment opportunities, generate higher income and ensure sustainable development through better agronomic practices, quality inputs, modern farming technologies and improved infrastructure.

    With current efforts at making farming a business and encouraging young people who are interested in modernised agriculture, Faseru emphasised that e-agriculture will improve access to information services and training on how to use them. He however, wants government to adopt a participatory approach to the development of an e-agricultural strategy by involving a wide range of stakeholders.

    The expert added that the government should seek advice from experts and various agricultural educational and research institutes and other professional organisations in the agric sector. For start, he recommends that major agricultural institutions be equipped with relevant ICT hardware with Internet access, while their staff be trained to use and maintain the equipment.

    Besides, experts are calling for data centres and community multimedia centres as part of the infrastructure package. The thinking is that such systems would provide rural development extension services to farmers in rural areas.

    Chief Executive Officer, Anjorin & Atanda Nigeria Investment Limited, Mr. Sunday Anjorin, is one of those excited by the prospects of changing the fortunes of farmers and the agric sector generally by developing and embracing the e-agriculture strategy. The goal of the strategy, he noted, should be geared towards building the competitive advantages of the agriculture sector so that the untapped growth potential can be maximised.

    According to him, continued increase in globalisation and integration of food markets has intensified competition in the agric sector and also brought unique opportunities. He told The Nation that e-agriculture strategy would have stronger impact as it would help to deepen potential market opportunities for exports and assist young entrepreneurs explore openings in the international markets.

    As Director, Africa Region, Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo pointed out, several types of activities related to e-agriculture applications are widely recognised today. Some of them, he said, involve delivering services such as market prices, extension services, technology, policies, programmes and projects using the Internet and related technologies. On the whole, he said e-agriculture provide end-to-end services to the agricultural value chain, bringing together farmers, input producers, transport providers, and banks/financiers.

    Adebayo expressed optimism that with e-agriculture working well, the industry will record more achievement than from conventional agricultural extension and farmer outreach programmes. This, he said, is because information given to farmers will be quick and timely. Besides, the outreach will be tailored to meet the needs of individual farmers. It is also cost effective. He added that with the social media and the key role youths are playing in agriculture, more opportunities for young agro entrepreneurs would be created.

    “The consensus of experts is that Nigeria will advance the agricultural sector through integration with other industries such as processing, storage, logistics, and e-commerce. This is so considering that transactions now thrive mostly online between nations and the international markets”

     

    HarvestPlus electronic

    (e-market) portal

    HarvestPlus, which leads a global effort to improve nutrition by developing and deploying food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals, is riding on its electronic (e-market) platform to attract investors and create markets for vitamin A cassava products.

    Located within the precinct of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, HarvestPlus Country Manager, Dr. Paul Ilona, said the organisation has linked major players and investors along the vitamin A cassava value chain to its e-market portal.

    He said through the use of the portal, HarvestPlus has been able to identify ulking agents, cassava stem traders, and investors who were then linked with farmers and cassava processors to create market for vitamin A cassava products. According to him, this strategy would do the magic of attracting investors to the business.

     

    SlimTrader

    SlimTrader, an e-commerce firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has partnered agro-chemical producer, Notore to streamline fertiliser delivery and collections.

    The firm also developed a mobile commerce platform called ‘MoBiashara’ (mo’ business in Swahili), specifically designed to serve fast-moving consumer goods companies. It is a mobile platform that enables people to purchase goods and services directly via their phone using Short Message Service (SMS), interactive voice response (IVR), or mobile web. It allows consumers to search for products from multiple providers and make purchases on their mobile phone using local payment providers.

    SlimTrader partners with trusted brands, whose distributors and retailers can upload their inventory onto MoBiashara, which also helps consumers to be certain that they are buying the genuine product. It brings the convenience of price comparison to basic feature phone users who lack reliable access to the Internet.

    When MoBiashara was initially launched, Notore was using it to enable farmers to shop for and purchase fertilisers from its accredited retailers. Retailers use the same platform to update their inventories via SMS in real time. Technologies used include mobile phones, SMS, IVR, and mobile web.

    SlimTrader charges a small percentage of the transaction value, which is charged to the merchant.

    MoBiashara is currently being piloted in Nigeria and the pilot is currently reaching several thousand users. Its greatest advantage is that everyone in the supply chain benefits. The main distributor incurs a significantly reduced supply chain credit risk and the retailer has reduced storage costs. These reductions in supply chain costs can benefit farmers with lower prices for fertilizer as well as a more efficient supply chain for them as end-users.

    Experts believe e-agriculture has the potential to increase profitability in agricultural markets by increasing sales and decreasing search and transaction costs.

    The creation of electronic markets that are expected to be more transparent and competitive than physical markets may attract more consumers.

    E-agriculture offers an alternative venue of promoting and marketing agricultural products that has a benefit of reaching extensive geographical populations and providing detailed product information at a relatively low cost.

     

    Fed Govt’s electronic

    wallet initiative

    The immediate past Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, sometime ago disclosed said Nigerian farmers now access fertiliser procured by the Federal Government via mobile phones or e-wallet. Government claimed that in 2012 alone, the e- wallet initiative saved the agric sector over N29.7 billion (US$188 million).

    At that time, Cellulant Nigeria Limited, the company running the e-wallet scheme, said the figure represents the amount that would have been lost by federal and state governments during the distribution of subsidised fertilisers, seedlings and other services. Its Chief Executive, Goke Akinboro described the initiative as a landmark success.

    “We are indeed, satisfied that we have helped start a revolution in the agric sector by bringing in seemingly simple and practical technology solutions, which have helped address age-long problems in the sector. We believe that this is the beginning of great things to come and we can only improve in years ahead,” he said, noting that the e-wallet scheme allowed government to effectively target its resources while providing an efficient accounting tool.

    According to Akinboro, the e-wallet initiative handled disbursement of subsidies valued at $294 million for federal and state governments into the wallets of farmers. The farmers used $52 million of the subsidy deposits and agro-dealers got US$50 million as matching funds from farmers, leaving about $192 million of unused funds, which would have been lost to corruption under the old scheme. The unused fund, he said, was returned to government’s purse.

    Akinboro added that in addition to saving money for the government, the e-wallet scheme’s greatest achievement was the fact that Nigerian farmers truly and directly benefited from government’s subsidy.

    However, with the departure of Adesina, there are fears that the e- wallet initiative would be short-lived. Perhaps, to prempt possible discontinuation of the scheme, a World Bank consultant, Prof Abel Ogunwale said if e-agriculture is adequately supported, farmers will access updated information to cope with challenges affecting production.

    He said the sector needs to improve delivery of quality information on farming techniques and practices, agricultural inputs and technology, agricultural markets/market information, science and research, data/statistics, environment, climatic changes and training and capacity building.

    Ogunwale also said research institutes need veritable e-agriculture platforms to enable agricultural experts and community members exchange opinions, experiences, good practices and resources.

    According to him, farming community members and other stakeholders need to interact with each other through regular forums and community networking to contribute to a range of resources to the platform, including case studies, success stories, lessons learnt, documents, links, learning resources, news and announcements.

    One of the areas farmers need to be connected is in soil testing. Soil testing, experts say, is important for any farmer to know what minerals their soil is deficient in and what type of fertiliser or other inputs may be used to increase soil health and fertility, yields, and resistance to pests and diseases. There is need for a soil testing service that provides results via SMS.

     

    Challenges

    As exciting as the new approach is, there are challenges. Faseru says, for instance, that he is concerned over how farmers and organisations will pay for obtaining and providing technical and market information through the use of ICT tools. Tariffs for ICT are still considered high.

    Besides, nationwide, there is serious limitation for ICT use, particularly in the rural areas despite the worldwide ICT revolution. The other issue is that government is not making serious investment in ICT.

    According to experts, the nation still suffer from poorly developed ICT infrastructural facilities including poor and limited number of telephone lines, most of which are still in the analogue mode.

     

    Bright prospects ahead

    Experts say that many factors would drive the use of ICT in agriculture in the next few years such as improved connectivity to mobile phones, Internet, and other wireless devices. Already, Nigerians are witnessing increased broadband Internet reach. Besides, affordability is improving dramatically.

    There is a National E-Agriculture Web Portal, which is a strategic initiative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), to showcase the essential features and key aspects of the food and agriculture industry in Nigeria.

    The portal also highlights the strategic and operational components of the agricultural value chain in Nigeria, particularly as it relates to the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government, as developed and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    The web portal introduces investors and other stakeholders to food and agriculture as regards finance, farming, agro-industry, distribution and logistics, as well as food security, nutrition, and consumption. Some of the most vital information required is locally developed and adapted to meet the requirements of the average user.

    It is presented to enable planning, research, development projects, investments and policy-making. There are also links to relevant sites – from related industry partners and stakeholders – for updated resources; news and information on various aspects are regularly updated.

    The National E-Agriculture Web Portal is relevant for the comprehensive and integrated Nigerian food and agricultural value chain; from farm to fork. Interactive mechanisms for audience contributions and stakeholder feedback are available via forms, discussion forums, and an agric-centric social network.

    The portal is accessible on various devices and platforms – Web and Mobile (Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows 7, and Java-enabled phones such as Symbian OS).

     

    To sustain the tempo

    On the whole, experts want the government’s e-agriculture initiative to create a multi-stakeholder, people-centred, cross-sectored platform that will bring together stakeholders representing relevant constituencies in the industry.

    They also want the government and agricultural support institutions to develop ICT initiatives to support a National Market Information System. Farmers and investors need functional services – from daily commodity prices, to virtual shopping cart and mobile applications – along with an extensive archive of market information from previous years.

    Experts also want government to explore the possibilities of an e-agriculture strategy, which will synergise agriculture and ICT in a more structured manner. The strategy should recognise the real and current challenges leading to low ICT uptake in the agric sector and seek to address these challenges to the benefit of all stakeholders.

    In pushing these recommendations, the belief is that agricultural activities are categorised under crop cultivation, water management, fertiliser application, pest management, harvesting, post harvest handling, transporting of products, packaging, preservation, processing/value addition, quality management, safety, storage and marketing. What this means is that stakeholders need information and knowledge about these phases to manage them efficiently.

    “We are, indeed, satisfied that we have helped start a revolution in the agric sector by bringing in seemingly simple and practical technology solutions, which have helped address age-long problems in the sector. We believe that this is the beginning of great things to come and we can only improve in years ahead”