The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ARMTI

  • ARMTI seeks enhanced agro exports

    THE Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) has called for increased export of agri-products.

    It made the call at a workshop held at the ARMTI Regional Training Centre in Abuja. It had as theme ‘’Smallholders and rural agro producers’ inclusion in exportation’’.

    At the event were major stakeholders in the agro export sub-sector who identified challenges facing in the sector.

    A communique signed by the institute’s Executive Director, Dr Olufemi Oladunni, noted that quality and competitiveness of agricultural products, though improved, were  still low.

    This is because the sector is facing  some difficulties and challenges, including global fiercer competition and stricter quarantine regulations of plants, food safety and quality,  it said.

    According to the communique,   farmers still apply old production customs and pesticides.

    The workshop observed that farmers were   ill equipped to take advantage of the opportunities in agritrade. Also, they were unaware of the maximum residue level (MRL) regulated in various markets, resulting in violation of import regulations and causing economic losses.

    The experts recommended selecting good varieties and developing post-harvest, preserving, and processing technologies to increase the values of farm produce while enhancing connectivity among farmers, scientists, businesses and state management agencies to develop large-scale production models and ensure the quality of agri-products in the long run.

    Others were addressing weak infrastructure, lack of capacity and the inability to meet technical product specifications and stringent requirements in terms of quality, safety, health and the environment impede their integration into global markets.

    The workshop urged relevant agencies to build a set of criteria on food safety and phytosanitary in addition to enhancing negotiations with exporters to have appropriate technical standards.

    The workshop noted that agriculture could stimulate growth by providing raw materials, food, jobs and increased financial stability.

    The communique stressed the need   to support production and export of agricultural products, promote innovation and development of farms in the direction of focusing more on agricultural large-scale, high-quality goods-producing people; strengthening international integration capacity; trade promotion, market development, improve research capacity and forecasting agricultural supply and demand.

  • ARMTI to facilitate agric investment

    The Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI),Ilorin, Kwara State, has reiterated its readiness to support  the government to introduce more effective policies that  will spur agricultural development and attract more investors into the sector.

    In a statement, the institute’s spokesman,  Mayowa Gidado, said a huge  capital is needed to restructure the sector, of which credit must play a key role.

    To develop the  sector, the institute said it needed more investors to bring in capital and high-tech projects.

    According to the institute, joint efforts are needed to turn the country into one of the world’s top producers and processors of high-quality farm produce.

    ARMTI  is seeking direct credit for the agriculture sector into high value production and participation in the global value chain.

    To unlock the full potential of the sector, the institute wants the government  to formulate a clear strategy with an emphasis on sustainable agric farming.

    The institute is holding a National Seminar on Coordination Framework for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria in Ilorin February 7 to promote  a policy to make agricultural investment attraction.

    The policy dialogue will cover many types of incentives for agricultural and rural development financing.

    The dialogue will advocate credit policies that  will focus on encouraging high tech farming in order to improve product quality and value.

  • 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).

  • ARMTI trains 766 farmers

    ARMTI trains 766 farmers

    The Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunni, has reiterated the determination of the institute to reduce youth mobility caused by poverty, through training that will create jobs and business opportunities for them in the agricultural sector and in the rural areas.

    Declaring open a workshop for farmers in Kaduna and Katsina states in Abuja, Oladunni said the institute’s programmes  aimed to promote adoption of improved production practices by targetting farmers, with gradual roll out of farmer-centric agricultural services and systems across the country.

    According to him, the institute   helps farmers use new methods and systems making farming  a more viable livelihood option.

    In addition to the technical skills taught, the training is an opportunity for local farmers to come together, discuss best practices, and share their experiences.

    So far, he said 766 farmers had benefited from the programme.

    Another 114 were being expected, bringing the number of participants to 880..

    He commended Kaduna and Katsina states’ agricultural development programme (ADP) for their assistance to the programme.

  • ARMTI empowers youth, rural women

    The Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute(ARMTI) is poised to boost rural development and reduce poverty through initiatives focused on empowering rural women and youth in agriculture.

    ARMTI’s Public  Relations Officer Mr. Mayowa Gidado said the institute was building the capacities of the rural poor to benefit from rural economies, with particular emphasis on ensuring that women and youth are engaged and empowered in food security.

    A statement by the institute  said it held a  training workshop for men, women and youth on agricultural produce management and marketing last month.

    The objectives of the workshop according to the statement, included sensitising farmers on agricultural commodity value chain development, formation and management of formidable commodity-based cooperative societies and possible ways to profitably market agricultural commodities.

    The two-day programme, which had a component of field practical, also held in all the geo-political zones. Each state was represented by a number of farmers nominated by the state Fadama office and the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP).

    To ensure a proper dissemination of the message of the workshop to large number of  farmers,  ARMTI decided to mount the programme on state-by-state level where participants  were drawn from all the local government areas (LGA).

    Last year, the programme  was implemented in Oyo and Ogun states on August 29 and 30, and 106 farmers were trained. It was also organised for Kwara and Kogi states on August 31 and September 1 and 93 farmers were trained.

    Eighty-eight farmers, including  54 from Imo State and 34 from Abia, were also trained between November 15 and 16, in Owerri, Imo State.

    This year, the programme was organised on April 6 and 7 for Gombe and Bauchi State farmers.

  • ARMTI to boost employment

    The Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) is taking steps to boost the national campaign for new agribusiness startups, and jobs in rural and urban areas for young people. It aims to increase youth employment and income by building their skills and capacity and linking them  to market opportunities in growth sectors that have potential for job creation.

    The institute believes there is the need to arouse and sustain the interest of youths in agriculture and agribusinesses, leading to widespread employment.

    To this end, its Public Relations Officer, Mayowa Gidado said  ARMTI will address this through its 19th Annual Lecture Programme scheduled  for tomorrow, December 1 at its campus at Ilorin, capital of Kwara State.

    With the theme: Youth in Agriculture: Possibilities and Opportunities for Sustainable Agricultural Business in Nigeria, the forum will  be addressed by Managing Director/CEO Paul Okpue Farms, Asaba, Delta State, Hon. Paul Okpue. The acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment(NDE), Mr Kunle Obayan is the discussant.

    The lecture series has attracted several notable personalities  such as Major General  Agbazika Innih (rtd), Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako (Rtd), Senate President ,Dr. Bukola Saraki; fomer World Bank’s representative to Nigeria Dr. Ishrait Husain; Food and Agriculture Organisation Country Representative,  Dr. Louise Setswaelo, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, among others.

  • ARMTI launches village initiative to boost rural food production

    ARMTI launches village initiative to boost rural food production

    The Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, has launched its Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI) to promote agriculture investments that have far-reaching impact on individuals and communities.

    At the launch  at  Omomere Oja in Ilorin South Local Government, and Amayo in Ifelodun Local Government Areas,  in Kwara State, ARMTI’s Acting Executive Director Mr Johnson Njoku said the initiative was part of  efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at increasing the capacities of rural dwellers to explore  available  agric resources and technologies to satisfy the demands of the growing population for food and other agricultural commodities.

    To this end, he said priority must be given to maintaining and improving the capacity of agricultural lands to support an expanding population.

    The main tools of VADI, he stated, are income diversification and improved management of inputs. Its success,  he added, would depend largely on the support and participation of rural people. Njoku said that under the VADI programme, loans given to each community would be repaid to their respective co-operatives. He expressed happiness that the intervention of the agency in turning around the fortunes of the local farmers had been yielding fruitful results.

    The Kwara State governor represented by his special assistant on agriculture, Mr Anu Ibiwoye, lauded the effort of the Federal Government through ARMTI, adding that the programme is in line with the effort of the state government to encourage local farmers in the state.

    A farmer, Idowu Magaji, was full of appreciation and described the training and loan provision as an impetus that would bring out the best in them and also make them self-reliant.

    He expressed hope that the initiative will improve farm production and farming systems through diversification of farm employment and infrastructure development.

    At the launch of the VADI in Kwara State, the people of Omomere Oja in Ilorin South Local Government and Amayo in Ifelodun Local Government Area were full of appreciation.

    Officials of ARMTI) handling the programme was welcomed with songs and dances.

    The scheme involves giving out N1 million  loan to each rural community to empower farmers to grow different crops and also teach them how to invest their profit judiciously.

  • ARMTI partners communities to boost local food enterprises

    The Acting Executive Director, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, Anthony  Njoku has reiterated the institute’s determination to help communities increase economic opportunities for local farmers and related businesses.

    Njoku, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the institute’s Training Workshop on Cassava Commodity Value Chain Development for participating communities in its Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI), said: “The Village Alive Development Initiative (VADI) is an action-research project of ARMTI to selected rural communities in our area of operation.

    “The initiative is aimed at creating a sustainable and self-reliant community-based organisation for rural dwellers to initiate and implement programmes, which will improve their standard of living and social status, by reducing their level of poverty. It also provides field practicum complement for ARMTI courses while also serving as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the institute.”

    He disclosed that ARMTI has just acquired and installed two sets of cassava processing equipment in two of the participating communities. “Now we are conducting this four-day training workshop on cassava commodity value chain development for all our participating communities. Having identified our area of comparative advantage as a state, we are committed to provide all the support needed to achieve maximum leverage and dividends from it,” he said.

    The institute, he explained, has embarked on a different, locally-driven approach to help people access healthy local food and supports new businesses in the villages that need investment. With technical assistance through the scheme; he said participants are taking innovative approaches to common challenges, like launching business incubators to support food entrepreneurs.

    So far, more than N10 million has being spent on eight rural communities in Kwara State under VALDI. The money was distributed by a commercial bank to villagers, forming contributory groups under a revolving loan arrangement.

    During the during the kick-off of seed fund disbursement to seven participating communities under VADI in Ilorin, in  2014, the  Kwara State Governor,  Abdulfatah Ahmed canvassed that modern and affordable technologies be made available for the nation’s teeming farmers, while more robust policies should be formulated to sustain the interest of the overwhelming population in both agricultural and other business practices.

    He noted: “This project is timely and would complement the new initiatives of the Kwara State Government as well as the Federal Government to shift the focus of citizens as beneficiaries of an oil-based economy to proponents of an agro-driven economy.

    “Ironically, our strengths happen to lie in the vast agricultural resource potential of the state and the nation, and with the adoption of modern agro technology and agronomic practices that will be sustained for devoted farmers and coherent and stable development policies, we are certain that agricultural growth is a realisable objective in the not too distant future.”

  • ARMTI chief canvasses stronger animal disease surveillance

    ARMTI chief canvasses stronger animal disease surveillance

    As poultry farmers count their losses after an outbreak of bird flu, a livestock  expert, Dr Ademola Adeyemo  has  called  for  increased  surveillance to prevent outbreak of deadly  livestock diseases.

    Adeyem, Deputy Director, General  Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), said  the  sudden  outbreak  of  bird  flu  required the strengthening of animal disease surveillance nationwide.

    He said there was the need to strengthen surveillance and early detection systems for diseases of domestic and wild animals as poultry have already fallen victim to highly pathogenic avian influenza in less than four months.

    Although the outbreaks of the virus have so far been rapidly controlled by the health authorities, he said the virus had important economic repercussions for the poultry sector.

    According to him, the impact of the globalisation of movements of animals, people and commercial products has greatly increased the possibilities for pathogens to spread from one side of the world to the other in record time.

    Adeyemo said it was important to be on the alert given the capacity of influenza viruses to mutate. One  of the  measures, he suggested was combating diseases at their animal source, adding this can be achieved if the government can put in a competent, well-organised national Veterinary Services.

    This, he noted, is a precondition for early detection of animal disease outbreaks and a rapid, transparent response.

    While this will ensure extensive, optimal surveillance for animal diseases, the expert urged animal producers, hunters, and other key players to cooperate with the government in the campaign to boost  survelliance and promote stricter veterinary control in livestock production.

    He urged them to provide information about diseases to the public health centres.

  • Govt urged to raise farmers’ income

    THE government has  been urged  to focus on  increasing  farmers’ income and  encouraging  scientists to apply the result of their research in the field to help raise farmers’ productivity.

    The Deputy Director-General,  Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr  Ademola Adeyemo said there was a need  to  reduce food importation and that scientists should help the government to accomplish this task.

    While  the  farmers have the  capacity  to produce food to  feed the nation, he said this would not be possible if enough  income is not  generated for farmers.

    Adeyemo emphasised the need to take scientific  technologies to the farm to boost farm production and meet  growing food demand. Stating that agriculture has the potential to create millions of jobs in rural areas, he suggested a number of measures in this  regard, one of which is the need for government to adopt an  enabling policy environment.

    He also said there is need to adopt modern technology and boost supply chain efficiency to address food  inflation, encourage  investment-led growth and ensure food  security. He urged the government to ensure that its policy on agricultural focus  on substantially  improving agric infrastructure.

    Also, agric policies, he said, should encourage research and development, encourage high value agriculture along with an enabling  regulatory mechanism and also ensure food security for the nation. Policies should also focus on substantially enhancing competitiveness in agri-business.

    He suggested  facilitating  further investments in agriculture, including storage, logistics and  distribution. He  called  on  the  government  to strengthen farming systems and make them less vulnerable to avoidable  challenges.