The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agric

  • The Nation presents Agric, Food Summit, Awards

    Vintage Press, publishers of The Nation, is putting agriculture on the front burner with a summit and awards evening dedicated to the labour and harvest on the Nigerian farm.

    The Nation’s Agriculture and Food Summit and Awards will attract dignitaries from the government and the private sector, including heads of federal government agencies. It will be presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, as special guest of honour.

    It will take place May 10 at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel at 3 pm. The main lecture will be delivered by Professor Adebiyi Daramola, former vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and consultant to the World Bank.

    A select number of governors, government agency heads and private sector players has been identified for recognition for their services towards agriculture in the past three years. The governors billed for recognition include Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sani Bello (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Ibrahim Gaidam (Kebbi) and Aminu Tambuwal  (Sokoto). The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere, Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh and Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture Dr. Kabiru Adamu.

    Two private sector players include Aliko Dangote, the president of the Dangote group and Venkataramani Srivathsan of Olam Group.

    All states and private concerns so honoured will also showcase their work in a video exhibition at the venue.

  • FACAN seeks special economic zones for agric

    The Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN) has urged the Federal Government to create  Special Economic Zones (SECs) for agriculture.

    He said this would represent the  ray of hope for a sector acclaimed to be the key to the nation’s fortunes but starved of investments.

    Its President, Dr Victor Iyama said the carving of certain areas as agric zones would attract sustainable industries and individuals, ready  massive  food production projects.

    According to him, the zones would form a major component of the government’s development plan to transform agriculture and the economy.

    By establishing such zones, Iyama said, the government was creating a conducive atmosphere for foreign direct investments aimed at stimulating growth in some parts of the country.

    He explained that many Nigerians were still engaged in primary agriculture production, stressing the need to take it to the secondary level for value addition.

    He said economic zones would work  as  catalysts for local people to invest in productive commercial ventures.

    According to him, promoting rural area-based development would yield results that will improved the living conditions of millions of rural dwellers.

    As a government policy, he reiterated that the area-based approach to rural development would make it possible to empower neglected social groups and turn them into key players in efforts in the areas of social inclusion, economic growth, poverty reduction.

    Because of the country’s huge size and economic strength, he noted that country’s agriculture and rural areas have special characteristics.

  • Nigerians in Diaspora urged to invest in agric

    A firm, Adbond, Harvests & Homes, has launched a campaign to encourage Nigerians  in the diaspora to invest in agriculture.

    Its Managing Director, Adekoya Oluwasegun Gbenga urged members of the Diaspora to take advantage of the many investment opportunities which exist in agriculture.

    He said his organisation has been pivotal to unleashing the potential of farming and agribusiness with investment in land infrastructure.

    Gbenga said he was receiving enquiries from Nigerians, who are passionate about agriculture.

    According to him, discussions on investment in agriculture focused on potential land options, how businesses could access land in Nigeria for large-scale agricultural operations; incentives and procedures for the agricultural sector, and the technical requirements when undertaking specific agricultural activities.

    He said his organisation was providing affordable lands around Ogun and Lagos states for would-be investors  and to generate funding to kick-start various projects .

    He said the organisation was determined to provide farm managers service to assist absentee farmers.

    He noted that they were making farming a serious business, and this included employing professional managers.

    He said his organisation is ready  to  manage third party farm land for absentee landowners, agricultural land investors, developers as well as other producers.

    He said his organisation was also looking at farming as a business and intends to create jobs and make a profit out of ventures engaged in.

    He assured Nigerians from the Diaspora that their money would be more secure if invested in agriculture.

    According to him, his  organisation is ready to publicise the accessible opportunities in agriculture  diaspora to help Nigeria  abroad to know where to invest.

    He said the company’s core value lies in developing agriculture and its ancillary services, adding that the company believed in a partnership approach and were looking at partnering with local farmers in many agricultural projects, focused on partnerships, individual projects, and empowering local communities.

    He believes Nigeria is blessed with good soils upon which a variety of crops can be grown, favourable climatic conditions, and a well-developed labour force.

    For him, what is now required is to harness all these positive factors to spur the growth of the agricultural sector.

     

  • Expert seeks agric national data base

    The Project Director, Cassava Adding to Af-        rica (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo, has called for the establishment of a national data base on agriculture.

    He said the absence of data base was stalling the sector’s growth. He said food security would not be achieved without a comprehensive data that provide information on  farming households, communities, and local resources.

    He said a national data base would enable the government and the private sector to collect and analyse information that could be used to improve productivity and boost the sustainability of agricultural systems.

    Adebayo said: “Good data mean good judgement. If your data is genuine then you can make effective decisions. Census provide the data that is seriously needed for national planning. If we don’t  collect data or adulterate the data in some ways,then the decision that is made is would be flawed. No planned progress could be made without good quality data.’’

    Last month, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, said foreign investors, who were interested in doing business in Nigeria, could not  because of lack of data.

     

  • ‘Develop agric to create jobs’

    Experts in the agricultural sector has called on Nigerians to maximise the opportunities in the sector to create jobs.

    President, Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA), Funmi Onabolu, said there are opportunities to professionals of different disciplines to tap into in the agricultural value chain, beyond planting and harvesting.

    He spoke at the (N-BA) annual lecture in Lagos.

    He identified some of the opportunities to include focusing on food preservation, food processing, agric technology, agric engineering/tools, exporting, agricultural economists, research, engineering, agricultural logistics and transportation among others.

    According to him, if more Nigerians could tap into the opportunities in the sector, the waiting for government to do everything would be a thing of the past.

    “Government has identified that Nigeria needs to diversify beyond oil revenue country.”

    “Despite this, a lot of people are still missing out on the wide opportunities that exist in agriculture value chain. There is so much money to be made from the agriculture sector, 180 million people will have to be fed and we are still struggling importing so many things. “

    He urged government to improve on the policy and infrastructural gaps that exist in the agricultural sector.

    Country Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, Antti Ritvonen called for more land to be used for agriculture in Nigeria, adding that government needs to work closely with the private sector and private farmers.

    “If more land is used for farming, Nigeria will be producing much more in the agricultural sector and would be able to catch up with the leading country in the world. “

    According to him, Nigeria has no excuse not to produce in argic because the land is rich in natural resources. “Nigeria must go fully into argic because a lot of jobs are in it and it is a good potential for the future of the country. Nigeria should not focus on export yet, it should first focus on the ability to feed its people locally and reduce or stop import. When this is achieved, Nigeria can then focus on export of agricultural products.

    Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane said, processing, packaging, distribution, and retailing must be embraced in agriculture.

    “Argic is beyond planting and harvesting. Looking into other areas in agriculture would enable Nigeria to achieve more in the sector.

    He noted that there is the need to bring in some kind of equilibrium in terms of the policy in agriculture to bridge the gaps that exist in demand and supply.

    “We must ensure that where there is demand there must be supply and where there is supply, there must be demand.”

    He urged government to give lower taxes and ensure security in the agricultural sector, adding that private farmers needs to be hungry for information, search for modern materials and improve on themselves.

  • Agric programmes now tuition-free at LMU

    Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents, Landmark University (LMU), has approved  free tuition for all Agricultural programmes in the university with the effect from the 2018/2019 academic session.

    This was contained in a special announcement made by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adeniyi Olayanju, at the university’s General Friday Faculty Fellowship penultimate Friday.

    The agricultural programmes are: Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Environmental & Natural Resources Economics, Aquaculture & Fisheries Management, Tourism and Recreation, Horticulture and Landscape Management, and Agricultural Engineering.

    “All our agricultural programmes are now tuition free, effective 2018/2019 academic session,” Olayanju announced to the excitement of the students.

    Olayanju, who praised  Oyedepo and the entire members of the Board of Regents for this generosity of spirit, added that the students  were still expected to pay other components of the school fees through the payer-friendly mode of payment in two instalments.

    He said the gesture did not only validate Oyedepo’s support for attracting youths to sustainable agriculture and its value chain, but also the actualisation of the vision of Landmark as an institution borne out of a passion for change from uncomplementary identity of Africa to the transformation of the black race across the globe.

    “We, therefore, crave to see this change take place in our land and in our time. We are committed to making agriculture a more attractive and profitable venture,” Olayanju added.

    He decried the poor involvement of youths in agriculture, which he attributed to the lack of interest in farming. He  lamented that majority of the farmers were aged, especially women who populate agricultural practice, noting that any profession that suffers dearth of apprentice is on the verge of extinction.

    “There cannot be a better time to attract and inspire youths to demonstrate youthfulness and usefulness by getting actively involved in agriculture and its value chain for the sake of posterity and prosperity of our nation and Africa at large,” Olayanju continued.

    “In line with our vision to restore the dignity of the black race, Landmark University has a cluster of other established programmes in science, engineering and management as well as relevant facilities in readiness for the training of interested admission seekers into these programmes starting from the next admission exercise.

    ‘’However, it is custom in the Landmark University context for all students to be agriculture-oriented irrespective of their field of study. All students acquire additional skills and certificates upon graduation with a view to breaking new grounds in providing solutions to the world agricultural needs,” the VC added.

  • Akeredolu: we will make our youths employers of labour through agric

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has promised to make the state’s youths employers of labour, if they embrace modern agricultural practices.

    He advised youths to develop the right attitude and embrace agriculture to create wealth for themselves and employ other people.

    The governor, who spoke at the kick-off of “Youth on the Ridge” at the Federal College of Agricultural in Akure, the state capital, told the participants that modern agricultural practices have become attractive.

    “Youth on the Ridges” is an agricultural programme designed by the Akeredolu administration to engage 18,000 youths in the state in various agricultural vocations.

    Akeredolu said: “This programme envisages real development for the youth. A successful participation in it assures self-reliance. Our ultimate aim is to transform participants into employers of labour.

    “The embarrassing rate of youth unemployment is unacceptable. It is evident that Nigeria is experiencing serious economic challenges. A situation in which about 60 per cent of our youths are unemployed is deplorable.

    “More heart-corroding is the reality of their being unemployable. These are young men and women who, ordinarily, should constitute the workforce in a growing economy. Our dear state is not immune from this scourge.”

    The governor expressed concern that despite the prevalence of numerous economic opportunities in the state, majority of the youths were still wallowing in abject poverty.

    He said: “A society which allows a class which represents a sizeable chunk of its population to wallow in misery and abject want will experience stunted growth.”

    Suggesting a way out of the situation, Akeredolu said: “All aspirations towards development will remain a mirage until youths are engaged positively and productively.”

    He added that his administration was conscious of the debilitating effects of the acute privation of the youths and thus designed “Youth on the Ridges” as a revolutionary intervention to mitigate the current hardship.

  • ARMTI engages traditional rulers to boost agric

    ARMTI engages traditional rulers to boost agric

    Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, is working  with traditional institutions to strengthen rural infrastructure for empowering farming  communities.

    A  statement from the institute  said there was a need  for the traditional  institution to work with it to empower rural youth to realise their potential, and rural businesses to offer value added services.

    The institute, to this end, is organising a national seminar on harnessing the potential of traditional institutions for integrated agricultural and rural development.

    The seminar will hold March 15 at the institute’s campus in Ilorin. The keynote address will be delivered by he Etsu Shonga, Dr Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya (CFR).

    Besides, Dr Joseph Fayeye of the Sociology Department of the University of Ilorin, is expected to deliver a paper on the sub-theme The Ruler/Subject Relationship in Nigeria: An Overview.

    Former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Gashua in Yobe State, Prof Sheu Ralma, will speak on Accelerating Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development in Nigeria -the Traditional Institutions as a viable option.

    ARMTI will present a paper on Traditional rulers as change agents in Agricultural and Rural Development in Nigeria: a case study of the ARMTI – Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI).

  • Ondo govt to train ex-militants in agric

    Ondo govt to train ex-militants in agric

    The Ondo State government has said it will train some former militants in agricultural techniques and production.

    The beneficiaries recently renounced militancy and embraced the Amnesty Programme.

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi spoke yesterday while opening a Federal Government Supported Agricultural Value Chain Development Training at the Federal College of Agriculture in Akure (FECA), the state capital.

    He said the programme would create sustainable agricultural opportunities for the beneficiaries and the state.

    The training, which was organised by the lawmaker representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency, Afe Olowookere, was for unemployed graduates, farmers and other stakeholders in the constituency.

    Ajayi, who lauded Olowookere’s vision for organising the training, said it was far better than distributing motorcycles, which he said has no second-hand value for beneficiaries.

    He said: “It is better to learn how to fish than being given a fish. There is need for everybody to embrace farming in order to eradicate poverty in the society.”

    According to him, the state government will soon begin a farm-to-market initiative through which feeder roads will be upgraded to ease transportation of farm produce to urban centres.

    Olowookere said 55 persons participated in the training and would be empowered after the scheme, while another set will get their training in two weeks.

    The lawmaker said the programme was aimed at improving and increasing the technical knowhow of practising farmers and prospective ones through modern innovation and new paradigm in agricultural architecture.

    He said: “Agriculture remains the only alternative and panacea to our economic emancipation at individual and collective levels.

    “The realisation of this fact geared me to design the training and empowerment programme on agriculture, among others, for farmers and prospective ones in the constituency.”

    Olowookere urged the beneficiaries to create sustainable farming activities and agro-ventures which would provide a steady income for improved standard of living.

     

     

     

     

  • Agric created over six million jobs in two years, says Ogbeh

    Agric created over six million jobs in two years, says Ogbeh

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh yesterday said  agriculture sector created six million jobs in the in the last two years.

    Ogbeh spoke at a retreat in Abuja.

    The minister was reacting to reports that over four million jobs had been lost in over two years of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

    He explained that the six million jobs were created both on and off farms as a result of the huge increase in local rice production.

    According to him, our agriculture is heavily manual and to be able to reduce rice importation by 95 per cent, at least six million extra jobs have happened in the farm.

    “There are about 12.2 million members of the Rice Growers Association; we have created more jobs than we have lost,’’ he said.

    The minister said the country earned 31 million dollars from the sale of purple hibiscus popularly known as zobo leaves in the last one year and that the demand was still increasing.

    “We are exporting more than we are importing now and most exportation is agro-products.”

    “We are growing in agriculture and from the middle of this year; whoever chooses to eat Thailand rice is welcomed to pay duties.

    “We shall impose duties on it because we consider it a wasteful luxury and something this country can’t afford,’’ he said.

    Ogbeh said the Federal Government would also engage in establishing both cashew and cocoa plantations to boost production and export in 2018.

    He said plans are underway to make the country leading producers in cashew nuts.

    The minister said fertiliser blending would also be improved to accommodate micro nutrients in the product.

    Ogbeh said the government would also work to ensure quality control of produce both for export and local consumption.