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Tag: agriculture

  • Lagos, Niger mull partnership on agriculture

    Lagos, Niger mull partnership on agriculture

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday kick-started discussions on partnership for the development of agricultural commodity value chain with Niger State aimed at ensuring food security and job creation for the two States and the country at large.

    The partnership, which is the second of its kind that the Lagos State Government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is entering, was said to be directed at considerably boosting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of not just the two States, but the the country.

    Addressing journalists after paying a courtesy visit on Governor Ambode at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the discussion basically centered on how to explore the comparative advantage of the two States to the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria.

    He said: “It was a private discussion. It was just to say hello to him (Governor Ambode) and we did not discuss much. Part of our conversation, we discussed agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large.”

    It was gathered that discussion on the partnership is still at the preliminary stage, while more would be revealed on modalities as to how things will pan out as regard the partnership going forward.

    Governor Ambode had earlier entered into partnership with Kebbi State also on development of agricultural commodity value chain. The agreement, aside being aimed at the production of 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rice requirements annually, also principally centres on boosting the production of wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, cows among others.

    He said: “This relationship is visionary and it is also a pointer to the fact that the two states have decided to openly support the vision of Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The change mantra which President Buhari has been preaching is what this whole relationship is all about that we must look inward. We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so,” Ambode had said.

  • ‘ Farmers need technology to improve agriculture’

    Use  of machinery has become more important in agriculture as labour costs continue to rise, National Sales Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr Kunle Dabiri has said.

    Dabiri said Dizengoff Nigeria has made  vegetable and crop production easier with the use of modern and affordable farm equipment, kits and improved varieties of seeds and seedlings.

    Dabiri spoke during a field demonstration exercise conducted for corporate and individual farmers on the usage of tractors; drip irrigation systems and greenhouses for fruits and vegetable production in Ibadan, recently.

    Greenhouse kits, he said, could be used to produce exotic tomatoes all-year round even in the bacteria-infested areas of the Southwest Nigeria.

    Dizengoff also demonstrated to farmers  how tractors are used for ploughing, harrowing and ridging; explaining that mechanisation of crop production was the only sustainable way to increasing production, productivity, more profit and a means of reducing poverty among farmers.

    Demonstrating the use of mini-drip irrigation kits to the participants, Supervisory Agronomist, Mr Friday Ali, said the kits were in different capacities and sizes, ranging from half a plot to one hectare of land.

    The drip irrigation system, he added, could be used to produce annual crops, vegetables, and short-cycled crops in the dry season, ensuring more profit.

    Tomatoes, cucumber, watermelon, maize, potatoes, groundnuts, different vegetables and a host of other crops could be planted between November and May with the use of mini drip irrigation kits.

    He also emphasised the use of soluble fertiliser that could be used in boosting production. The soluble fertiliser, he said, is applied through the drip irrigation system and it goes directly to the root of the plant, in a method known as fertigation, thereby avoiding back-breaking application methods and high labour cost associated with granulated type of fertiliser. This type of fertiliser is used with knapsack-sprayers too, he said, adding that the cost of fertiliser is reduced by over 60 per cent with the use of soluble type.

    The source of water for the drip irrigation kits could be wells, boreholes or streams, Dizengoff said, and that the kits are easily assembled and dismantled even by laymen.

    In the southern part of the country where bacterial wilt is rampant and responsible for poor performance of tomatoes, greenhouses and their accompanying improved seeds are ways of ensuring sustainable tomato production.

    Dizengoff said sporadic scarcity of all types of tomatoes and pepper could be eradicated with the massive use of greenhouses, urging the corporate bodies, the government, farmers’ groups and individuals to explore opportunities in the application of modern kits for profitable business in vegetable production.

    Commercial Manager, Tractor & Implements, Mr Damisa Enahoro, said the demonstration was to tell Nigerians that farming is no longer as stressful as it was, saying youth unemployment could be drastically reduced in the country if simple and affordable technologies were deployed to food production.

    Enahoro urged farmers to group and pool resources together, buy tractors, greenhouses, and other modern agricultural tools and experience a turnaround in their productivity and financial power.

    On finding a market for exotic vegetables from greenhouses as a concern expressed by farmers, Dabiri said hotels, eateries, boarding schools and well-to-do Nigerians prefer exotic fruits and vegetables, hence ensuring a sustainable market.

  • How I started my farming business- Obasanjo

    How I started my farming business- Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he started his farming business as an apprentice after retiring as the Head of State in 1979.
    He spoke at a lecture in the University of Ibadan on Saturday on the topic: “Agribusiness: Time to act ”
    He disclosed that he enrolled at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan to learn the art of farming as an apprentice for three months shortly after he left office.
    He recalled that his teachers at the institute initially had problem treating him as a student or apprentice but that he insisted that he should be addressed and treated as a student and an apprentice because that was the only way to enjoy the teaching-learning process.
    ” I cleaned chicken house. I fed chicken. That is how to be a farmer. Anything less won’t do. You can’t be a successful farmer without being an apprentice.”
    The former president explained that no matter how learned or how many degrees one has, it requires learning as an apprentice, deep interest and passion to go into farming and succeed.
    “There must be interest and passion for people to go into agriculture and succeed in it. We must get it right. We have to glamourize and incetivize farming to keep people that are interested in agriculture in the business.”
    The former president said no plan to take people into agriculture will work except the people have passion for farming and are willing to learn the art of farming first.
    Obasanjo expressed his willingness to mentor young farmers where possible.

  • Government has no business in agric business, says Obasanjo

    Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has faulted government’s direct involvement in agribusiness, saying such involvements won’t work because they are drain pipes for public funds.
    Obasanjo stated this while delivering a lecture at the University of Ibadan on Saturday.
    Speaking on the topic: “Agribusiness: Time to act,” the former president said the role of government is to create enabling environment for agribusiness to thrive.
    He added that time has come for the government and practitioners to glamourize farming, adding that government needs to develop incentives for farmers across the country to retain people in agribusiness.
    He was the guest lecturer at the maiden edition of the Eminent Persons Business Lecture of the University of Ibadan School of Business (UISB) in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.
    The former president said the drop in the global price of crude oil and the reality of the present economic situation in Nigeria could be a blessing in disguise. According to him, the situation could lead Nigeria to the reality that agriculture had the capacity to successfully drive the nation’s economy.
    At the lecture were the Pro Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Umar Mustapha; Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Abel Olayinka; Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe and the representative of Oyo State Government, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, who is the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development.
    His words: “In the past, the bane of agriculture in Nigeria was lack of continuity and consistency in government policy. Maybe the present situation in which we find ourselves in our economy and the low price of crude oil may be a blessing in disguise to wake us to the reality of agriculture as the mainstay of our economy, and as a renewable system of production compared with oil and gas which are being depleted.
    “Let me emphasise that while agriculture cannot be practiced without government support in term of good policy and incentive, government as a direct producer has never worked and it will never work in agriculture.
    “Where in recent times, government leaders have made government to go into agricultural production, it has been with ulterior motive for stealing. I have seen a poultry house of a state government with two week old birds on the floor and the floor is as clean as if you have not put anything there. There was no water dropping or any waste. It was designed by the governor of the state for the purpose of stealing and he stole. That must not continue to happen.”

  • Attracting FDI to agriculture

    Attracting FDI to agriculture

    Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) is critical to the survival of any economy. In the last two decades, the government has made efforts to adopt sound macro-economic policies, pursue sector reforms, and achieve more sustainable and inclusive growth by diversifying the economy.

    Experts believe that increased foreign investment and industrialisation would help to unlock the potential for job creation as well as poverty reduction.

    Stakeholders say the government should encourage the flow of foreign investment into the agric sector.

    They believe Nigeria has many comparative advantages in the agric sector. It has a varied agricultural sector reflecting diverse geography and providing raw materials for a rapidly growing range of processed exports. Besides, the country is located at the heart of West Africa and seen as an emerging destination for buyers from the United States and Europe. Nigeria is now in a period of golden population structure – at least 50 per cent of its population is of working age and the total population is growing. These factors all go some way to support why foreign investors should chose to invest in the nation’s agricultural sector.

    As of last month, there were not up to 100 active FDI agric projects that have come into the country in the last two years. Most major investments in the agric sector came from  groups such as Olam, Dangote, Flour Mills of Nigeria and a few other multinational corporations. This indicated that Nigeria has not become a destination of choice for foreign investors.

    Responding to this challenge, the Country Manager, Harvest Plus, Dr Paul Ilona, said Nigeria is categorised among the group of countries  without a well-managed economic regime.

    While global FDI is up and expected to rise over the next three years, experts say it will be driven mainly by stronger economies in developed countries.

    Several key factors are considered. These include an enabling environment for agriculture to grow, good macro-economic policies, particularly fiscal prudence, a competitive exchange rate policy and strong public sector and private sector institutions. While there are no international rankings consistently giving Nigeria high marks for business and investment climate, foreign investors are fearful of any administration that advocates confiscation and nationalisation policies.

    Ilona said Nigeria needs proper macro-economic management, including fiscal discipline during boom times, monetary management that kept inflation in single digits and that produced interest rates that encouraged domestic savings, and an exchange-rate policy that allows for flexibility and competitiveness for farmers.

    Alongside trade policy and adaptability, the Harvest Plus Nigeria chief stressed the need for the government to promote an enabling business climate and incentives for foreign companies developing mega projects in agriculture.

    So far, he said the country  lacked a functional blueprint for attracting foreign investment to the agric sector. He said: “We don’t have a blueprint to attract foreign investment into the agric sector.”

    Despite substantial policy commitments, he observed that productivity in the agriculture sector remains disappointing. A workable blueprint, he explained, should address land tenure, protection of investment and repatriation of  return on investment.

    Ilona said the strength in the country’s agribusiness stands as the most prominent opportunity for attracting and building foreign investment flows, if there is supportive improved infrastructure. Foreign investors, he explained are sources of capital, foreign exchange and technical know-how.

    He added that they contribute to infrastructure development, which can spur further economic activity.

    If the nation’s Gross Domestic Product( GDP) growth targets are to be achieved, Ilona  said  urgent and concerted attention is needed to enhance the country’s agribusiness capabilities, strengthen its position as a services hub, and implement the staple crop processing zones dreams.

    He advised the government to craft a strong agric dependent growth-oriented developmental path.

    As a major agricultural producer, the Director of Studies, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Dr Olufemi Oladunni believes Nigeria offers a lot of investment opportunities in the agribusiness and food sector.

    He advised the government to recognise that the FDI is an integral part of the economy – essential to restructuring the economy and raising national competitiveness.

    Besides, heavy investments in the agric sector are needed to bring growth in productivity, considering the estimated population of 250 million by 2050.

    Given that local farmers have little the ability to increase either the quantity of land devoted to agricultural production or their own agricultural productivity, he believesthat foreign directinvestment can provide capital and investment that provides jobs and agricultural innovations which enhance food production.

    He urged the government to improve infrastructure for small scale farmers in remote rural areas and improve their access to markets and services. He also stressed the need for the rehabilitation and development of new roads.

    More broadly, while the government’s increased investment in agric may improve production capability for primary producers, Oladunni urged the government to  also explore opportunities for greater investment ‘beyond the farm gate’ by creating incentives, such as tax concessions for agribusiness projects that improve processing, manufacturing, packaging and distribution efficiencies and practices.

    He believes the success of the agriculture sector will be underpinned by expansion of the irrigation schemes.

    Currently, few hectares nationwide are either under irrigation, or about to be brought under irrigation. New investments in irrigated agric development, Oladunni said would provide up new hectares of farming land.

    According to him, something has to change if the nation is to feed its growing population, and foreign investment could be part of the solution.

    Coordinator, Agribusiness & Youth Empowerment, Community of Agricultural Stakeholders of Nigeria, Sotonye Anga, stressed that increasing focus on international trade would be critical to boosting economic performance.

    He wants the government to offset the burdens on agro exporters with tariff-free access for productive input and with tax incentive subsidies.

    According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should been concerned with ensuring the competitiveness of the country’s export sectors.

    The other strategy should be to ensure private sector representation in all key government economic decisions.

    This will ensure practical solutions are conveyed to political leaders.

    Since the agric sector accounted for two-third of employment and significant part of export earnings, experts urged the government to seek preferential treatment from the European Union (EU) for the nation’s exports to the EU.

  • AfDB to invest $24b in agriculture

    AfDB to invest $24b in agriculture

    African Development Bank(AfDB) President, DrAkinwumiAdesina said the bank plans to invest about $24 billion (or $2.4 billion yearly) over the next 10 years to help drive the agricultural transformation inAfrica.

    This is, he said, represents a 400 per cent increase in financing to the agricultural sector by the bank.

    He spoke at the Seventh African Agricultural Science Week and FARA General Assembly, in Kigali, Rwanda.

    He lamented that  Africa spends $35 billion on importing food. This, according to him, is projected to grow to $110 billion by 2025.

    He noted: “Africa is importing what it should be producing, creating poverty within Africa and exporting jobs outside of Africa. Scarce foreign exchange is used to buy food. Lacking ability to feed itself, Africa becomes vulnerable, dependent on market forces to feed its burgeoning population. Any shock to global food production will have direct price transmission into Africa, especially into the rural areas, where the percentage of net buyers of food is high, despite being the zones to produce food to feed their countries.”

    According to him, Africa needs to invest more in science and technology to become more efficient and competitive in agriculture – and to diversify rapidly its economies.

    He said: “For Africa must fully unlock its immense agricultural potential. That potential is massive: Africa has 65 per cent of all the arable land left in the world to feed 9 billion people by 2050. Africa cannot eat potential.

    He acknowledged that FARA is doing a great job for Africa, mobilising the research community to work for the development of scientific innovations to drive agricultural growth.

    He lauded Akinbamijo for his excellent leadership as head of FARA.

  • Students seek funding for colleges of agriculture

    Students’ leaders at the Federal College of Agriculture in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have appealed to the Federal Government to fund agricultural institutions. Students’ Union Government (SUG) president Sunday Balogun, and Chief Judge Tobi Adewole, said agricultural colleges should not be excluded from the fund being given to higher institutions by Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFund).

    In a joint statement, the students’ leaders described agriculture as the bedrock of developed nations. They advised the government to focus more on training of professional farmers to make the nation the food basket of Africa.

    The statement reads: “Since the primary aim of the President Buhari led administration is to develop the economy through diversification, agricultural institutions should be adequately funded to train youths in modern farming. Federal Government’s educational agencies, such as TETFund should include agricultural colleges in its projects to boost the economy.”

    “If the country is planning to solve the problem facing agriculture, adequate funding of and support for specialised colleges must be encouraged to proffer solution to problems facing the nation. Doing so would improve economy and bring about youth development, which will in turn solve insecurity ravaging the nation.”

    The students’ leaders said there had been no new structure and facility since the government stopped intervention projects in all the 47 colleges of agriculture in the country.

    They said: “It is our belief that TETFund projects would help to improve learning. We want President Muhammadu Buhari to know that best education in agro-economics will help his administration to achieve its objectives.”

  • Entrepreneurship through agriculture

    The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, has enjoyed success as an entrepreneurial university. A lot has been done to promote entrepreneurship development through agricultural and allied programmes. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State is educating students and faculty to become successful  innovators and entrepreneurs.

    To achieve this, the university is investing millions of naira in researches and programmes which  students and faculty can turn into jobs, technologies and economically competitive advantages for the nation.

    One of the vehicles with which the  university is achieving this is Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II), a research project sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project , is  promoting  value addition to cassava.

    CAVA II is led by FUNAAB, working closely with the Natural Resources Institute of University of Greenwich, United Kingdom; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, Food Research Institute, Ghana; Food and Nutrition Centre, Tanzania; Africa Innovations Institute, Uganda; Chancellor College, University of Malawi and other partners.

    FUNAAB’s Director of Grants Management, Professor Kolawole Adebayo, is the Project Director.

    The project is implemented in five African countries namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi, with the aim of improving the livelihoods and incomes of at least 200,000 value chain actors, especially smallholder farmers and processors, by at least $177 million in five years. This is  achieved through stimulating the sale of more than two million tonnes of cassava into high quality cassava flour (HQCF), starch, ethanol and other cassava product value chains.

    Other  ventures established  by the university  include the Cassava Production Unit, the bakery, palm oil unit, cashew nut unit, pineapple plantation, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM), cattle production venture farm and the Institute of Food Security, Environment Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR) Farm.

    To enable the university community have access to agricultural products at affordable prices and to showcase research findings, the Directorate of University Farms (DUFARMS) has commissioned its agro mart shed.

    The  Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, said the agricultural products displayed were made possible due to the experience gained by DUFARMS staff that were sponsored by the university to the Songhai Farms, Republic of Benin ,  to understudy and replicate a prototype of the farm in FUNAAB.

    The Acting Director, DUFARMS, Mr. Michael Jaiyeola, appreciated the level of support given by management to the farm, noting that the construction of the agro mart shed was done using various products from the farm with the intention to generate more income for the university and enhance the production process at zero wastage level.

    He said the various end products from the farm would include cashew nut, palm oil, garri, cassava flour, yam, cucumber, moringa tree products, pinapple, maize, bush-meat, snail, plantain, banana, tomatoes, palmwine, among others.

    The Gender Issues and Youth Development (GIYD) arm of the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) of university  was awarded a Certificate of Merit for its impressive performance during the just-concluded 7th Gateway Trade Fair, held at the M K O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    The  AMREC team, led by Dr. Elizabeth Oluwalana, was awarded for the display of various herbal products that are useful for healthy living and also for conducting a vocational training for participants alongside the Industrial Park Unit (IPU) of the University, led by Mr. Ayodele Elijah, who led the IPU team to display FUNAAB products such as garri, honey, fufu and cashew nuts among others. The trade fair with the theme: Promoting Trade for Sustainable Economic Growth, was organised by the Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, in collaboration with Tacoms International Limited.

    In a related development, women farmers from the FUNAAB Extension Areas as well as the Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) communities, were trained by GIYD) in snail farming and the production of disinfectants.

    The Project Co-ordinator, GIYD, Dr. Olufunmilayo Oluwalana, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support and interest in the empowerment of women as well as the resource person, Mrs. Aderele Gbemisola, for giving back to the society.

    The co-ordinator noted that the knowledge gained from the training would boost their economic status and contribute to making their environment bacteria-free.

    Dr. Oluwalana has also developed and patented products in collaboration with Professor Sam Oluwalana of the same university.

    The products are shea butter balm, herbal soap and UNAAB Twin Beehive (UTB). Other value-added products are herbal skin care (a moisturising and skin nourishing body lotion for anti-aging treatment); ginger, turmeric and moringa powder (immunity booster for variety of dishes as well as preparing fruit preservation); garlic powder (a natural antibiotic that combats hypertension and lowers cholesterol); 100% coconut oil (a natural oil care that promotes long healthy and beautiful hair); cayenee/chili pepper powder (this is used as condiment or taken with tea and pap in the morning, afternoon, evening or anytime); herbal soap mouth wash.

  • FUOYE to invest in agriculture

    The Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun, has unfolded plans by the institution to invest in agriculture to boost food security.

    Soremekun said doing so would make the university less dependent on subventions and provide jobs for its graduates.

    He spoke of the investment plans after inaugurating a seven-member committee to facilitate the establishment of the Faculty of Pharmacy in the university.

    The FUOYE VC said the institution would start mechanised farming to tap into the huge agricultural potentials of its host community and complement the food security agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the current economic situation in the country called for all tertiary institutions to go into other business ventures.

    Soremekun said: “When I came on board, I looked round and found out that we are sitting on a goldmine. This town has good soil and expansive land that we can deploy for mechanised farming to provide employment for professionals and ensure that we attain food security.

    “President Buhari is looking for alternative ways to provide employment for jobless graduates and other productive Nigerians and universities, as engine rooms of the economy, must key into this agenda.”

    A Professor of Pharmacy from the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, Adebayo Lamikanra, chairs the committee to establish the faculty of pharmacy in FUOYE.

    The faculty is expected to take off in 36 months after all requirements for accreditation have been fulfilled.

    Lamikanra promised that through the committee, the university would put all structures in place and secure accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) before students are admitted.

    He said: “Those on the panel are not just university teachers with experiences, but they are also seasoned administrators, who had worked as consultants with NUC. So, they know what to do to get accreditation and by our projection, this faculty will commence fully in three year’s time.”

    FUOYE VC also spoke of plans to introduce Mass Communication, Political Science, International Relations, among others.

  • Buhari spending sleepless nights on how to make life better for Nigerians- Shehu

    Buhari spending sleepless nights on how to make life better for Nigerians- Shehu

    To check food price increases and exploitation of common people by traders, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for the release of 10,000 tons of grains from the national strategic grains reserves for national distribution.

    This decision was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    Buhari has also directed the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh to ensure that all the able-bodied men and women in IDP camps be assisted to return to farming immediately.

    The directives were in reaction to calls for government measures to ease hardship associated with food inflation.

    The Presidency however asserted that the devastation of the economy was caused by the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and the lack of planning by the past administrations and one that should not be blamed on the Change Agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The Presidency also rejected the insinuations that poverty and lack are products of the Change mantra.

    The statement reads: “This should be dismissed as an erroneous and misplaced opposition criticism. The President understands the pain and the cries of the citizens of this country and he is spending sleepless nights over how he can make life better for everyone.

    “Contrary to assertions by a faction of the opposition Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), the President’s energy and focus are on changing the life of Nigerians, with a view to making it better than he met it.

    “Change is a process. Change does not happen overnight. Change can be inconvenient. Change sometimes comes with pain. Over the past year, the government has been working night and day to deliver on its promise of change to Nigerians, and the painful process is still ongoing.

    “This is work in progress. As life gradually returns to normal in much of the country and the northeast in particular, agriculture will resume and traders from neighbouring African countries will once again feel safe to do business with us, yet another boost for our economy.”

    The Presidency maintained that it is only when Nigerians appreciate where they are coming from that they will grasp the full meaning and essence of what the ongoing journey entails.