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Tag: Agric

  • Nigeria, South African firm seal N224.17b agric, real estate deal

    Nigeria, South African firm seal N224.17b agric, real estate deal

    The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), manager of Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund, has signed a $700 million (about N224.17 billion) real estate and agriculture deal with South Africa’s Old Mutual Investment Group (OMIG).

    Under the deal, signed in Abuja at the weekend, NSIA will partner with South Africa’s OMIG UFF Agri-Fund to establish a $500 million real estate co-investment vehicle and a $200 million agriculture co-investment vehicle.

    NSIA’s Managing Director, Uche Orji said the deal would cover retail assets, especially office buildings.

    He said: “The objective is to invest $500 million in commercial and retail assets, especially office buildings and hospitality facilities. The vehicle is expected to have initial commitments of up to $100 million each from NSIA and Old Mutual and is targeting a total commitment size of $500 million with deal origination and execution to be undertaken jointly by both parties.

    “(For that of agriculture), both parties will make commitments for an initial vehicle size of $50 million ahead of the targeted size of up to $200 million, with deal origination and execution to be undertaken jointly by NSIA and UFF Agri-Fund. The aim of the agreement is to improve Nigeria’s food security and promote rural economic development to capitalise on the growing opportunities that the Nigerian agricultural industry provides.”

    NSIA and OMIG’s interest in the real estate and agriculture sectors Orji explained “is underpinned by a shared vision of the significant opportunities presented by both sectors, given a number of advantageous socio-economic trends prevalent in Nigeria”.

    On the significance of the agreement, Orji said: “The real estate and agriculture sectors offer considerable potential for economic growth in Nigeria. Our commitment in these sectors is underpinned by the economic imperatives of urbanisation, population growth and enhancement of liquidity for the sectors. The real estate vehicle once created alongside the agriculture vehicle will be configured to address some of these issues. The NSIA will continue to serve as a catalyst for private sector involvement in key sectors of the economy by exploring partnerships with credible entities such as Old Mutual Investment Group and UFF Agri-Fund.”

    Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun said the  agreement signing “marks a critical milestone towards delivering on NSIA’s broader mandate to invest in key sectors of the economy. It is consistent with the Administration’s concerted efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy away from oil and attract investments into other core sectors which can stimulate sustainable growth.”

    OMIG CEO, Diane Radley, said the partnership with NSIA is a critical step in the development of OMIG’s commercial real estate and agriculture strategies in Africa.

    “As the largest manager of real assets in Africa, we have a deep belief in the opportunities in agricultural and real estate investment across the African continent. Our dealings with agriculture as an asset class have shown that it has already gained huge momentum globally but is still in its infancy in Africa. This presents a significant investment opportunity for both local and international investors,” she said.

    This experience, combined with NSIA’s significant local knowledge and capacity in the real estate and agriculture sectors of the Nigerian economy, Radley said allows for a formidable partnership that can add significant value to both partners’ clients as well as the development of the Nigerian economy.

    For the NSIA – Old Mutual $500million Real Estate Co-Investment vehicle, the vehicle will be established as a private investment holding company, with joint ownership between NSIA and Old Mutual Property (OMP). Each party will commit an initial $50 million-with the opportunity to increase capital commitment to $100 million each, as and when further funding is required.The Vehicle intends to seek third party investors.

    The vehicle will offer investors an opportunity to access high yield retail and commercial real estate investment opportunities in Nigeria, leveraging NSIA’s market presence, with an experienced co-sponsor real estate team.

    Old Mutual Property is considered to be a leading developer of real estate in Africa with over 40 years’ experience in developing landmark shopping centres, industrial parks and major office blocks on the continent.

    With estimated assets under management (AUM) of $1.3 billion as at April last year, Old Mutual Property is one of the specialist boutiques within Old Mutual Investment Group, Africa’s largest private sector investment manager with over $44.6 billion in AUM.

    NSIA’s investment will be made through a wholly owned subsidiary, NSIA Property Investment Company Ltd (NPIC) while OMP’s investment will be made through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Assets will be substantially de-risked, either through leases or robust downside protection.

    The vehicle is expected to have substantial development impact in a number of ways including: to cater for the rapid population growth and urbanisation of the major cities in the country that require such projects; direct and indirect employment benefits due to liquidity created for developers to pursue subsequent construction projects; open up the real estate market and the economy for inflow of greater investments and; absorb the current demand in the market for commercial office spaces allowing for increased business productivity in the economy.

    On the NSIA-Old Mutual $200 million agriculture co-investment vehicle, the NSIA and Old Mutual Investment Group are establishing a $200million co-investment vehicle targeting the agriculture sector in Nigeria.

    NSIA’s commitment to the vehicle is $25 million, with matching capital from Old Mutual bringing the first close to $50 million. Additional capital of $150 million is then expected to be raised from third party investors, bringing the Vehicle to a final close of $200 million.

    The investment focuses on primary production, processing, and logistics. It will have an important social investment component, investing in rural development, food security, import substitution, and other areas in the sector that are beneficial to Nigerians with the NSIA and UFF African Agri-Investment managing the Vehicle.

    UFF African Agri Investments (UFF) is the agriculture management company of Old Mutual Investment Group, Africa’s largest private sector investment manager with over $44.6 billion in assets under management.

  • Agric revolution: Fertilizer supply to the rescue

    Agric revolution: Fertilizer supply to the rescue

    Even before the recent attempt to link urea fertilizer producer Notore Chemical Industries Plc (Notore) to sabotage of Nigeria’s national security and economy, the fertilizer maker and distributor had stepped up its campaign to revolutionalise the agric sector through local supply of fertilizer. The move, seen as a shot in the arm of the ongoing agric transformation agenda, promises to enhance food production and food security. CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports.

    The management of urea fertilizer producer Notore Chemical Industries Plc (Notore) is literarily up in arms. Recent statements credited to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) that it was involved in activities that sabotage Nigeria’s security and economy did not go down well with the company.

    For one, the allegation, which specifically accused Notore of being a conduit for explosive materials used by militants, came at a time the fertiliser manufacturer said it was working assiduously to give the current administration’s agric transformation agenda the required push.

    Apparently livid over the weighty allegations, which it strongly denied, Notore on Monday said as a Nigerian company with predominantly Nigerian shareholders, it had always been committed and focused on supporting initiatives of the Federal Government, and championing the African Green Revolution, especially Nigeria’s.

    “Our attention has been drawn to various publications in the media containing serious allegations about Notore. In the publications, Notore is alleged to be sabotaging Nigeria’s national security and economy by being a conduit for explosive materials as well as being “unpatriotic.”  Notore is constrained to refute the allegations in the strongest terms,” the company said.

    Stating that it does not produce, import, or in any way use nitric acid, Notore said it has worked and continues to work with government agencies to ensure that its products move strictly through its controlled distribution channels directly to official distribution partners and then into the market.

    The company, in a statement made available to The Nation, also said it is the premier producer of urea fertiliser in sub-Saharan Africa; that it has been in production for over six years and it remained committed to its core goal of enhancing food production and food security in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

    Notore said part of its strategy to achieve this goal is to focus on sales of fertilizer in the local market via its extensive, controlled and award-winning distribution channels. It also has and uses extension workers who are committed to the training of local farmers on best practices and the creation of ‘test plots’ to showcase the benefits of effective use of fertilizer on crops.

    It listed other strategies to include the creation of an effective and efficient distribution channel to ease access to fertilizers for the farmers, as well as boosting production capacity to meet the ever increasing demand of the Nigerian farmer.

    The Onne, Rivers State-based fertiliser maker and distributor said over the past years, through its private extension services and controlled distribution channels, which include over 2, 500 Village Promoters, it has reached over three million Nigerian farmers who have been impacted positively with increased yields.

    The company added that as estimated by a 2013 report by Propcom-DFID, an innovative, market-driven initiative of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) that aims to reduce poverty in Nigeria, over 33 per cent of smallholder farmers in seven selected northern states learned at least one improved farming practice from Notore’s activities. This led to increased yields and income.

    That is not all. The fertilizer producer also said it worked with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, some selected states, and International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) in designing and implementing the fertilizer voucher program between 2009 and 2012.

    The programme, it stated, greatly improved the administration of the fertilizer subsidy programme by increasing the reach to target beneficiaries from a previous 11 per cent to as high as 60 per cent.

    “The success of this voucher programme became the basis on which the Federal Government created the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) e-wallet program, which sought to improve agricultural productivity through the effective and efficient delivery of farm inputs such as fertilizer, which increased yields.

    “It is through these and other activities that Notore has helped and continues to help build Nigeria’s agricultural and economic landscape, which has a direct impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” the statement stated.

    The Nation also learnt that as part of its commitment to Nigeria, the bulk (about 75 per cent) of Notore’s production of fertilizer is focused on the Nigerian market. And because Nigeria largely has only one planting season, the majority of this production is sold locally during this peak season, while Notore only exports limited amounts of fertilizer during the dry season.

    Indeed, during the dry season, there is essentially zero demand for fertilizer in Nigeria. But, Notre, it was learnt, continued to work aggressively with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to encourage and stimulate farming in Nigeria during the off-season in order to further its core goal of increased food production and food security in Nigeria.

    For instance, the compny has been a key partner in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Program aimed at increasing the local production of key crops. During the recently completed pilot of the rice anchor borrowers’ program in Kebbi State, it supplied all the urea fertilizer used in the programme.

    The result of the intervention was visible, as it delivered the requested fertilizer for the programme within a very short period to all the locations in which the program was implemented in the state. In continuation of that program, it has also committed to supplying all the urea fertilizer required for the program during the current rainy season in all 11 target states.

    “Another example of Notore’s aggressive efforts to stimulate farming in Nigeria is its successful onion intervention in Kebbi State. In 2010, an unprecedented severe case of onion twister disease in Kebbi State, similar to the recent tomato crisis, crippled all farming activities involving onions. As of the time of Notore’s intervention in 2010, onions were in short supply with high demand, thereby raising the price to an all-time high of N40,000 per bag,” the statement noted.

  • UK firm to certify agric exports

    A United Kingdom-based GLOBALGAP Licensed Farm Assurer, Best Produce International (UK) Limited, has launched a programme to facilitate the certification of agricultural exports under the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBALGAP Standard).

    GLOBALGAP standard, formerly known as Eurepgap, is an integrated farm assurance process used in EU countries, United States and other parts of the international markets to serve as a business to business tool and it is a private commercial certification process for export of agricultural produce to EU countries. It is a producer export tool to suppling to top supermarkets throughout Europe and Walmart Group in USA.

    Best Produce International (UK) Limited, the GLOBALGAP Licensed Farm Assurer for Nigeria is collaborating with 3T Impex Consulting, Africa’s  trade and commerce consulting and training firm, to train and capacity build Nigerian farmers, farmers groups and exporters in Nigeria in GLOBALGAP certification processes to change the face of Nigerian agricultural exports.

    While several African countries boast of GLOBALGAP Certification of their agricultural produce for export, Nigeria oddly is the only major African market without such certification. There is no farmer or exporter in Nigeria with such certification whereas other African nations from the last count, could boast of at least 1,846 GLOBALGAP-certified companies in Kenya, 1,797 in South Africa, 355 in Cote d’Ivoire, 124 in Ghana, 9 in Cameroun, 146 in Burkina Faso and 671 companies in Egypt.

    The EU recently decided on a three-year extension of the ban on Nigeria’s dried beans. Nigeria has also witnessed continuously large rejection of its agricultural exports.

    The  GLOBALGAP Standard is designed as a practical tool to reassure consumers about how their food products are produced from farm to processing and to their tables.  It also offers small scale farmers and exporters who go through the certification process, the” passport” to export their produce to international markets.  It is a business-to-business tool that reassures the large scale retailers and consumers that their agricultural produce are produced in line with international standards.

    Managing Director, Best Produce International (UK) Limited, Mrs Patricia Obichukwu FRSA, said the certification of agricultural produce for exports  will enable producers and exporters to freely export their products directly to the EU supermarkets.

    Lead Consultant, 3T Impex Consulting, Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo, said the collaboration with Best Produce International (UK)would help to stem the tide of international rejection and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian agricultural exports in the  global markets.

    Obichukwu noted that when Nigeria focuses on agriculture as the main plank of its economic diversification,  establishing local gap and, ultimately, Nigeria GAP at long run for the process of certification will create massive employment opportunities for the country, enhance foreign exchange generation, create wider access to regional and international markets, enhance the development of  businesses through advanced quality control management while ensuring food safety and food security for the country.

  • ‘Agric data vital for sustainable development’

    Nigeria must improve the quality and quantity of its data on agriculture if it is to continue meeting the demands of a growing population, a consultant to the World Bank, Prof Abel Ogunwale, has said.

    Ogunwale of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTHEC), Ogbomoso, stressed that strengthening agriculture statistics is crucial to long-term development of the sector.

    He said data was vital for effective planning and strategy as they determine the nature of agricultural and rural development policies in the region.

    According to him, the  government needs reliable baseline information on determining the implementation strategies while availability of accurate comparable agricultural data would enable farmers to make better production and marketing choices. This, in turn, will boost productivity and incomes.

    He said the industry could not provide  reliable information on crop and livestock production, trade, stock, and animal feed to estimate food availability and address food vulnerability issues.

    He stressed that  accurate  and quality statistics  would  help the  overall effort to improve the sector’s competitiveness through raising productivity, product quality and the value added to the products.

    Ogunwale noted that agriculture is still the backbone of the economy, playing an important role in stabilising the macro-economy.

    However, he said there were some shortcomings, such as poor planning, unrealistic policies and lack of speed in applying technology in production.

    Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation Global Office (FAO GO) of the Global Strategy has  conducted a comprehensive exercise to capture all projects related to agricultural and rural statistics recorded last year .

    The results of the exercise would enable stakeholders to better understand the state of statistical capacity in agriculture, rural development and food security at global, regional, and country levels. It is envisaged that resource partners and implementers will be able to improve coordination, reduce duplication, align activities with institutional strategies and, ultimately, enhance country level activities.

    The GO compiled the list of global, regional and country-based projects from recognised sources of information on agriculture, food security, rural development, and statistical capacity-building. These sources include FAO’s Field Project Management Information System (FPMIS), the Partner Report on Support to Statistics (PRESS) produced by PARIS21, multilateral agencies, regional development banks, and bilateral government agencies. Projects encompass activities related to agriculture, food security, and rural statistics in the form of capacity development, data collection and information system projects.

    Last year , 106 active agricultural statistics projects were identified for a total amount of  $ 311,208,826. The amount reflects the entire lifecycle of a project, as long as it was active during any period last year. More than 40 per cent of the number of projects and total amount was allocated to the Africa region.

  • ‘How Osun farmers can access agric loans’

    In a bid to boost food production in Osun State and reduce the hardship that farmers go through in accessing agricultural credit facilities, the Osun Ajo Se Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in partnership with Association of Grain Processors and Allied Produce Farmers of Nigeria (AGPAPFN), organised a seminar in Oshogbo, to educate farmers on how to take advantage of agricultural credit facilities.

    The state Chairman of AGPAPFN, Agboluaje Mudasiru, said farmers, who should be the beneficiaries of agricultural credit facilities were either unaware of existing loan services or do not have information on the terms of loans. He gave such terms as loan requirements, interest rates, loanable amount and mode of repayment.

    Sterling Bank Plc’s Southwest Agric Officer, Latona Olabode Felix, who represented the Group Head, Agric Finance, revealed that the bank is a major financier of agriculture in Nigeria and is ever ready to partner with major stakeholders–both private and public in the sector to bring about agricultural development in Nigeria.

    Olabode highlighted the various Sterling Bank Plc Agric Credit Schemes and how farmers can access them. He, however, advised them to always ensure that they have their farm records ready, adding that farm records are not only useful in managing farm budgets but will also be needed to determine if farms are performing well, as required when applying for agric loans.

    The Chairman of Osun Ajo Se Foundation, Mr. Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, who commended Sterling Bank for its contribution to the growth of agriculture in Nigeria, said agriculture still remains a mainstay of the state’s economy, adding that if well developed, will provide the majority of the populace with employment, income and food. He said Osun Ajo Se Foundation is keen to ensure that farmers in Osun State are empowered.

    Over 2, 000 farmers have registered with AGPAPFN.

    Osun Ajo Se Foundation is a non-political organisation established by some indigenes of Osun State for the unity and economic development of Osun indigenes worldwide.

    Olugboyega Alabi, Chairman of Osun Ajo Se Foundation is an indigene of Ikire in Osun State. He was the  Group President and Chief Executive Officer of Eliezer Group, the companies he started from nothing to be leader in facility management industry in Africa before leaving to pursue his interest in agriculture and empowerment of people through Osun Ajo Se Foundation

  • Agric ’ll revive Nigeria’s economy, says Afe Babalola

    Agric ’ll revive Nigeria’s economy, says Afe Babalola

    •Warns on imminent food crisis

    Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has identified agriculture as the catalyst for the revival of the nation’s ailing economy.

    Babalola said the stark reality in face of the economic downturn occasioned by shortfall in oil revenue was that the citizenry must resuscitate the old glory of agriculture, which provided food, jobs and foreign exchange for the country.

    The legal icon, who is also a farmer, spoke at a four-day Agriculture Summit, organised by Ekiti State.

    He said the country was led into the predicament by what he called “misguided pursuit of oil wealth”.

    Babalola regretted the lack of interest by the younger generation in agriculture.

    “The trend has precariously placed Nigeria on the brink of a looming food crisis and rising cost of food prices,” he said.

    The former pro-chancellor of the University of Lagoslamented that Nigeria still imports food despite its huge agricultural potential.

    Babalola said the government, in collaboration with ABUAD, would organise a yearly agric festival to celebrate and encourage best farmers with awards and prizes just as the private university already started for best farmers in the 16 lcouncils of Ekiti State.

    He suggested that agricultural science be made compulsory and taught in elementary and secondary schools to stimulate interest in agriculture.

    Babalola said: “Universities must encourage students to study agriculture through reduction in school fees as exemplified by ABUAD, where there is 50 per cent reduction in tuition for students admitted to study agriculture.

    “In addition, graduates of agriculture must be empowered to practise their profession upon graduation just as ABUAD has been empowering its agriculture graduates with N250,000 for its initial start-up investment in any area of farming.

    “Across the country, each local government should be encouraged to ask different branches of families to come together and combine their lands, to work and generate large-scale industrial farming.

    “Also, local governments should encourage cooperative systems in each local government across states.

    “A pilot scheme can be initiated in each local government, whereby either 10 families or 10 cooperative societies will be assisted to acquire two hectares of land each for farming.

    “These two hectares of land will be inspected and supervised by a task force set up by the government in collaboration with ABUAD. The government will buy agricultural implements to plough the land for use during dry season.

    “Owners’ account will be debited for this job after harvest; the land will be ploughed and prepared against the rainy season. This singular pilot project will engineer food surplus in the society and money-making cash crops to provide wealth for families.”

    “For the government, no money will be lost and the government can recover all money invested.”

  • USAID moves to strengthen agric sector

    USAID moves to strengthen agric sector

    The United States (U.S) Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched two new partnerships with Babban Gona and Hello Tractor, highlighting the U.S. government’s agricultural and private sector strategy and promoting the development of agriculture.

    Under this $2 million two-year partnership, it is anticipated that access to smart tractors will increase. There will also be improved seeds and and profitable markets for over 45,000 smallholder farmers across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    During a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy, Deputy Chief of Mission Maria E. Brewer described the partnership as a co-investment in public goods.  “Innovation and entrepreneurship hold the key to unlocking Nigeria’s agriculture potential, and the U.S. government will continue to provide support in this direction,” said Mrs. Brewer.

    Under the Feed the Future initiative, USAID partners with the private sector to support smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Through these partnerships, USAID addresses development and business challenges by increasing access to improved agricultural inputs and mechanisation, better quality technical advisory services, and expanding market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

    These partnerships capitalise on the untapped potential of youth in agriculture and help build the capacity of young entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses, create secure jobs, and boost economic growth in Nigeria.

    Babban Gona is a company that addresses the challenge of smallholder farmers by forming strong cooperatives called Trust Groups, which enable maize, rice, and soybean farmers to gain access to new markets and sell at premium prices.

    The company provides member-farmers with services designed to optimise crop yields, production costs, and prices of agricultural outputs.

    This business model helps to increase profitability of smallholder farmers and contributes to household food security and improved livelihoods.

    Through the deal with USAID, Babban Gona will create positive impact for 20,000 smallholder farmers. On the other hand, Hello Tractor, which recognises the need among smallholder farmers for consistent and sustainable mechanisation services, designed a versatile Smart Tractor with eight attachments to serve their needs throughout the farm production cycle.

    Each tractor is fitted with technologies, which enable Hello Tractor to pair farmers in need of services with a Smart Tractor owner nearby via text messaging. The technology allows small landowners access to affordable tractor services to increase their productivity, while Smart Tractor owners are given the opportunity to earn additional income with their machine.

    Through the partnership with USAID, 24,500 smallholder farmers will gain access to tractor services. The partnership expects to train 100 youth entrepreneurs on the business of owning and maintaining a fleet of Smart Tractors.  In addition, some 15 young technicians will benefit from trade skills to repair Smart Tractors.

  • Nigeria, South Africa to sign pact on post bank, agric

    Nigeria‘s Consul-General in South Africa Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke has said Nigeria and South Africa are planning to sign an agreement on a post bank and agriculture.

    She said the Federal Government was exploring an opportunities through a private consortium to link Post Bank of South Africa with NIPOST.

    “The Federal Government is exploring the opportunity through a private consortium to see how we can join Post Bank of South Africa and NIPOST of Nigeria. If the platform works, Nigerians in South Africa can go to post bank and pay money while their relations will get it in form of Western Union from the post office,” she said.

    Ajulu-Okeke also said an agreement being planned would enable the country to harness the potentials inherent in its good arable land to boost agricultural production.

    On the prospects for Nigerian companies, she said a South African firm is already interested in the huge rubber plantations in Imo, Abia and Edo states. She promised to harness every opportunity for the good of the country.

    “Abia, Imo and Edo states have huge rubber plantations and Plastic SA is going to Malaysia to import raw rubber. I made contact with them and they have gone to Imo and are preparing to visit Abia and Edo states with the possibility of importing rubber from Nigeria,” she added.

    Ajulu-Okeke further said the agreement would also open more opportunities for Nigeria to leverage on opportunities in South Africa.

    She urged Nigerians to explore the opportunities in South Africa by venturing into export business as some firms needed raw materials.

  • Agric products, others get boost, says SON chief

    Agric products, others get boost, says SON chief

    Nigerian agricultural and allied products now have a major boost in regional and international markets following a  harmonisation of standards exercise by the Africa Regional Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

    Thi is coming against the background of calls to make the continent’s agricultural sector competitive at globally.

    At a ARSO General Assembly, Tanzania, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Paul Angya, a member of ARSO, said the next step would be for the nation to prioritise its agricultural sector by making standards available to it.

    This, he said, would prepare our agricultural products to meet the standards stipulated by the association.

    Angya said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must realise the importance of standards application to their businesses, saying that the sector also has a vital role to play in ensuring that the nation’s non-oil exports are exportable.

    The SON boss said Nigeria had been applauded for its role in ARSO’s development, adding that the nation’s contributions were in the areas of technical work and policy administration.

    Angya said:  “SMEs must realise the importance of standards’ application to their own personal enterprises, the capacity of standards to improve their productivity and their profits. We have embarked on massive sensitisation and education. We have also engaged in training the SMEs.

    “We have trained them in standards application, management systems and they have realised that application of these standards will improve their overall profit margin. That is why they are coming in groups to join the band wagon of SON.”

    He said SON had discussed with institutions about supporting Shea butter producers and that the agency would inform the SMEs about the approval of the project.

    Also, an expert on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) of the ACP TBT programme of the European Union, Mrs. Idinakide Eva, said the programme was not only for women development, but also for the development and facilitation of trade.

    She noted that the programme had three dimensions, which include supporting quality infrastructure, supporting the private sector and disseminating information to support the development of relevant data uploading on the website of ARSO.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Ebonyi North, Senator Sam Egwu, said he had been better informed about the SON, urging Nigerians to adhere to standards.

    He said the Senate recently approved a bill to make it mandatory for all government procurements to be locally sourced to conserve the nation’s hard-earned foreign exchange and boost locally made products.

    According to him, there is need to understand the importance of SON as it obtains in other parts of the world.

    Meanwhile, the European Union (EU), through its expert on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) of the ACP TBT programme, has stated plans to equip Nigerian women with the requisite skills and support to boost Shea butter production.

  • China, UNIDO to invest in agric

    China National Construction and Agricultural Machinery Corp (China CMCA) has expresed interested in partnering  the  UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO ITPO ) to invest in Nigeria.

    The leader of the China CAMC Engineering delegation to Nigeria and General Manager, Mr. Yu Tao, said the firm is interested in investing in agri-business and infrastructure projects in the country.

    He said: “UNIDO has been working for the promotion of the well-being of the Nigerian people in agri-business, industrial development and other relevant areas for many years and I believe that we in China CAMC Engineering have a common goal to work together with UNIDO.

    “China CAMC Engineering is a publicly listed company engaged in industrial, agricultural and water treatment and communication projects across the world. Currently, we have 44 representative or branch offices around the world including Asia, Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific regions and in Africa – specifically Eastern African countries. Also, we have presence in South American countries.