The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FARM

  • Falae: herdsmen attack my farm every year

    Falae: herdsmen attack my farm every year

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, has said the Sunday evening fire on his farm at Ilado in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State was  the handiwork of herdsmen.

    He described the attack as malicious.

    But the police said they would not point fingers until the conclusion of their investigation into the incident.

    Falae spoke yesterday when the state government sent a delegation to check the damage the fire caused, with the police in tow.

    He said: “I don’t know why herdsmen have been attacking my farm. They did it last year; they did the same the year before the last. That is how they burn it every year so that fresh grass can come out for their cattle to eat.

    “They attack my oil palm cultivation. The mature oil palm trees that have been bearing fruits to make palm oil have been burnt down.”

    The government delegation was on the farm for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage the fire caused.

    The team was led by Commissioner for Agriculture, Gboyega Adefarati, who expressed sadness over the development.

    Adefarati reiterated government’s readiness to send a bill to the House of Assembly to regulate the activities of herdsmen across the state.

    Police Commissioner Gbenga Adeyanju led a team of security officers to the farm.

    The police chief, who could not immediately ascertain the cause of the inferno, said investigations had begun on the incident to bring the culprits to justice.

    The Olu of Ilu-Abo described the incident as a wicked act and malicious damage.

    He said: “This goes beyond what their cattle want to eat. Cattle don’t eat oil palm. This is a malicious attack, which must be condemned by everybody.”

    Also, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) condemned the attack on the farm.

    A statement yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the Aare Gani Adams-led OPC, Yinka Oguntimehin, said “Sunday’s attack on the Afenifere leader’s farm was wicked, rude and shocking”.

    It added: “The attack was a deliberate attempt by the suspected herdsmen to undermine the security of the country.”

     

  • Osun school’s farm gets federal aid

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has assisted the Osun State College of Education at Ila-Orangun to cultivate 50 hectares of cassava farm.

    Chairman of the school’s Governor Council Niyi Akande spoke at a meeting with the chairmen of Ila and Ipa Central local government areas.

    He said the Federal Ministry of Agriculture supported the institution to enhance the economic diversification agenda of the Federal Government – from oil to agriculture.

    The chairman noted that apart from diversification of the national economy, the Federal Government intended to use the school’s farm as a pivotal project for the academic researches of other institutions and agricultural farms in the Southwest.

    According to him, the ministry assisted the college after its officials’ thorough assessment of the facilities on the ground at the school farm.

    Akande said the second phase of the agric project, which he said include planting of maize, additional cassava, vegetables and fruits of about additional 100 hectares, would start during next year’s raining season.

    He added that the college had begun a large scale poultry farm and fish production to boost the school’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and make its agric students acquire a practical experience about their courses.

  • Calabar tank farm fire: Positive side of tragedy

    Tragedy, like war is what nobody prays for. Discussing or mere talking about it is even tough for some as they feel awful or scared at the mention of it. However, the two are realities of life. They happen whether one likes it or not.  Life, itself is even described as a war. It is a thing we live with, day in day out.

    Human beings encounter tragedies or wars in different ways. For some, it is nagging domestic issues while in extreme cases, humans are faced with loss of precious ones and invaluable materials. Nobody prepares for it and none could predict its consequences. No matter how careful, one’s level of safety and security consciousness notwithstanding, they just happen, leaving behind tales of woes, sadness and catastrophes.

    For LINC Tank Farm Limited, Calabar, it was a tragedy too many on July 16, when its farm went up in flames as a result of an oil spillage. The inferno which occurred at about 3.40am claimed lives including those of a key worker of the farm, two in the opposite company, DOZZY Oil and Gas Tank Farm and some security personnel. The neighbouring community also shared from the tragedy as the inferno which erupted while people were scooping petrol (PMS) killed a number of the villagers. In addition, properties worth millions of Naira were also destroyed in LINC, DOZZY and other adjacent organizations. The environment was not spared too, as it suffered debilitating damages; the flora and fauna seriously hit.

    Three weeks after this sad incident, the whole of  Calabar Free Trade Zone is still in gloom as noticed when the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (downstream) paid an on the spot assessment to the farms last Thursday. From the entrance of the CFTZ to the LINC Farm, the adverse effects of the disaster were still palpable.

    Right inside the farm, one can only pity and empathize with the organization, as its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah conducted the team round the erstwhile functional and robust depot now characterized with charred structures, burnt facilities and dim looking workers. It was a pitiable sight that left most of the legislators feeling very concerned.

    Chief Oramah explained to the lawmakers that he was traveling out of the country when he got the most destabilizing call in his life that an oil spillage in their tank farm ignited and resulted in loss of lives.

    “The tragedy” Chief Oramah said “ensued as consequence of spillage of petroleum (PMS) into the drains while it was being pumped from Dozzy Jetty, through pumps run via our farm, to Dozzy Depot, another tank farm located opposite us. The spilled petroleum later got ignited while people were scooping it outside our premises”.  He told the lawmakers that his company did not have any product in any of its tanks as at the time of the incident as the tanks had remained empty since January, the last time they sold petroleum products at the depot.

    Oramah however became emotional as he revealed to the legislators that his company was expecting delivery of products to the tank farm the week the unfortunate incident occurred declaring that the incident was a terrible calamity for them and that they were deeply saddened.

    “LINC Nigeria Limited is terribly saddened over this disaster, particularly, the loss of human lives. We intensely commiserate with the families of the bereaved and the entire Esuk Utan Community. Our heartfelt sympathies go to DOZZY Tank Farm Limited and all our neighbours over these monumental losses” Chief Oramah said in an emotion laden voice.

    He however disclosed to the visiting legislators that the management of Calabar Export Free Zone handled the tragedy with deft and utmost sense of responsibility as he also praised the Fire Service, Nigeria Police and other security and safety agencies for their promptness and diligence in combating the fire.

    The instantaneous display of concern and conscientiousness by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its regulatory agency, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to the disaster was also commended before the legislators. Oramah explained that that LINC has always been in total compliance with safety and security measures in and around its premises and in all its operations. He however added that Investigations were on- going and that his company was cooperating fully with the various agencies.

    Done with the briefings, the chairman of the committee on Petroleum (downstream), Honourable Joseph Akinlaja Iranola condoled the management of LINC, DOZZY, and the entire community over the unfortunate incident.

    Akinlaja said the committee was impressed with the effective management of the disaster by the Export Free Zone, the security and safety agencies of Cross River State and the federal government. He said with such exhibition of effectiveness in combating this tragedy, Nigeria was genuinely making progress in disaster management.

    The chairman assured that the National Assembly would continue to see to the protection and safety of lives and property of citizens in its legislative functions.

    As tragic as the incident was, it however provided some positives as narrated by the Chief Executive Officer of LINC, Chief Patrick Ifeanyi Oramah: the display of capacity, competence and care by all the concerned authorities and agencies of government, that our institutions are truly living up to their responsibilities in the spirit of change. This comes with the hope that the consequences of this ugly incident would not matter to LINC, all the organizations and individuals affected in no time.

     

    • Olaosebikan writes through midascommunications@gmail.com
  • Oyo gets farm imput from Dangote’s firm

    Oyo gets farm imput from Dangote’s firm

    The Oyo State government at the weekend said it got 25 metric tonnes of fertilisers and rice seedlings from Dangote Group of Companies.

    The items are to be distributed to 292 rice farmers in the state.

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, the government said the distribution of the seedlings will start on July 19.

    It noted that the fertilisers and rice seedlings showed the commitment of the state government to the Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative (AgricOyo).

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi announced the scheme last month during the launch of WAMCO Milk Collection Centre at Saki.

    Receiving the seedlings on behalf of the state government at OYSADEP Warehouse at Saki, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Fajimi Shakirullahi, noted that about 800 bags of fertilisers had been delivered at a warehouse in Awe for rice farmers in the area.

    He said the remaining seedlings were for farmers in Oke-Ogun with about 500 hectares of farmland.

    The governor’s aide said they were earmarked for pilot project, adding that the farmland was expected to increase to 6,000 hectares during next farming season.

    Fajimi allayed fears that the fertilisers and seedlings might not get to genuine farmers, saying: “Farmers who registered with the government will benefit from this gesture. We know them. We have been meeting with them and they will surely benefit.

  • ‘Nine killed in Calabar tank farm fire’

    At least 13 persons were feared killed in a tank farm fire at the Calabar Free Zone Enterprise (FZE) in Cross River State yesterday.

    Several others sustained severe injuries and were taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

    The Calabar FZE in Esuk Utan Community is host to several tank farms.

    The fire was due to illegal activities in one of the tank farms, The Nation gathered.

    It was learnt that a vessel was supplying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, to two of the tank farms around 2am.

    The ship, which was on the river nearby was supplying the product through pipes that passed through the premises of both tank farms. The distance between the ship and the tank farm is about a kilometre.

    While supplying was going on, a staff of one of the farms, identified as Sunny, who it was gathered was not on duty that night, opened the pipes inside their premises to siphon petrol.

    It was believed he was working with others and had been successful for a while until the pressure from where he was siphoning from knocked him down. It could not be ascertained what caused this. He died on the spot.

    The petrol filled the premises and flowed through gutters back into the river and into the Esuk Utan community, the host community. Due to the strong fumes, some members of the community woke up to realise that petrol was flowing through their gutters and decided to scoop the product for themselves. A fire was ignited and killed six of them.

    The Nation learnt that the fire followed the petrol through the gutters back to the vessel. The men on board managed to stop the fire from engulfing the vessel, using sophisticated fire-fighting equipment.

    However, a fishing settlement on the waterfront nearby was not so lucky. The settlement, which also serves as a fish market, was razed and seven people, who lived there, died, according to eyewitnesses. Several wooden canoes and engine boats were caught in the inferno.

    Three vessels in the adjoining Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) were also affected by the fire.

    A employee of one of the tank farms, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Almost 30 people that we have been able to confirm have died. So many have severe injuries and have been rushed to the hospital. I saw someone whose entire legs had melted in the fire. It was only his bones that were sticking out. I do not know if he would survive. It was very horrible. There was fire everywhere. Nobody knew where they would run to. Many other companies in this vicinity and even inside the NPA have had one equipment or the other affected by the fire. The truth is that they were doing an illegal business there; that is why there was no safety measure. In fact, there was no safety measure at all that is why the situation got out of hand. If it was a normal operation, I believe it could have been contained easily. It is something they have been doing all the time, but today was bad luck for them.

    ”Despite what has happened, I can say it is just fortunate that the tank farms themselves did not blow up, thanks to the sophisticated fire-fighting equipment they have here, because the impact would have been like that of an atomic bomb. If that had happened, there is no community around us that would not have been severely affected.”

    Commissioner of Police Hafiz Inuwa confirmed the deaths. He said his men were on ground when the fire was raging and helped put out the fire as well as cordoned the area so hoodlums would not take advantage of the situation to loot.

    Commissioner for Petroleum Resources Mr Itaya Nyong, who was at the scene of the incident, confirmed the fire was as a result of the activities of criminal elements who were siphoning petrol from the tank farm.

    He said they were colluding with some security officials to carry out the nefarious act.  He added that an investigation would be launched into the matter and culprits brought to book.

    Inuwa  was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as saying:  “Up until now, nobody has come out to tell us that this is what caused the fire outbreak. We have gone round, we have done what we can do but investigation will later reveal what actually led to the explosion.

    “For now, nine people are confirmed dead and many others who sustained different burns are currently receiving treatment in one of the hospitals around town.’’

  • Don calls for reduction of chemicals in farm produce

    Prof. Timothy Olabiyi, a crop and environmental expert, says the high use of chemicals by farmers is affecting the acceptability of Nigeria’s farm produce in the international market.

    Olabiyi of the Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, spoke during a one-day training workshop organised for farmers on “Organic Agriculture’’ in Ejigbo, Osun.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the training, which was organised by the Association of Organic Practitioners of Nigeria, has “Go Organic’’ as its theme.

    Olabiyi said organic farming was still the best agricultural methodology which farmers could adopt, bemoaning the excessive use of chemicals for farm produce by the country’s farmers.

    According to him, Nigerian farmers are so used to chemical application to such an extent that some of them believe that they cannot farm without the application of chemicals.

    “Before any developed country takes any farm produce from Nigeria, they will assess the chemical residue in it.

    “And at a point, when the chemical in the farm produce exceeds the required standard, it will be rejected.

    “We need to start producing high-quality produce, devoid of chemical or insects, and wood, among others.”

  • Gombe traditional ruler advises subjects on farm produce

    Paramount ruler of Tangale tribesmen in Billiri Local Government of Gombe State, Abdu-buba Maisheru, has cautioned his people against the indiscriminate sales of their farm produce.

    Maisheru, who gave the word of caution on Saturday in Billiri at the annual Tangle Cultural Festival, said the advice became necessary in view of the current economic recession.

    He advised them to save enough food items that would sustain them till the next harvest.

    He commended the state government for supporting his people, especially in promoting their cultural heritage.

    In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, in Yobe , Prof. Andrew Haruna, called on tangle community to live in peace with one another for the development of the area and to sustain their mother tongue.

    Haruna, a linguist, said that there were about 7,000 languages in the world, out of which over 500 were in Nigeria.

    He noted that due to lack of effort at sustaining them and passing same to the younger generation, some of the tribes were almost extinct.

    In his speech, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State also called on the people to live in peace and assist security agents by reporting any suspicious character.

    He said living in peace, unity and understanding, would accelerate the progress and development of their community, the state and the country at large.

    Dankwambo urged the Tangle community to sustain the cultural festival, adding that the state government would soon organize the state cultural festival.

     

  • Firm unveils shrimp farm

    Atlantic Shrimpers Limited (ASL) has opened its state-of-the-art shrimp farm in Iworo-Ajido, a rural community in Badagry, Lagos.

    The shrimp farm, the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, will boost Nigeria’s production capacity in the seafood market. It will hatch, nurture and process shrimps to serve Nigeria and the export market.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau, noted that the call for investments in the agriculture sector had been answered by ASL.

    “The Nigerian Government is keen on supporting local investments in agriculture. We must start looking inwards and encourage development in areas where Nigeria has a competitive advantage.

    “ASL has led the way by building this impressive facility.  This farm will employ many Nigerians and will help the Nigerian economy generate foreign exchange when the products are exported. It will also go a long way to address food security.

    “ASL has addressed several needs in Nigeria through this state-of-the-art facility and Lagos is proud to play host to it,” Suarau said.

    Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Executive Director, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, who said ASL has been one of the country’s top 20 export companies in the last six years, noted that the investment would create jobs and grow the economy.

    “We have to replicate projects like this with the private sector.This is what we need, transformational projects that can drive Nigeria out of its recession.

    “We are, therefore, proud to be associated with Atlantic Shrimpers Limited in view of its commitment to non-oil export,” Awolowo said.

  • Govt’s N52b debt stalls farm inputs distribution

    Govt’s N52b debt stalls farm inputs distribution

    The N52 billion owed  agro dealers by the Federal Government under its Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme has stalled the distribution of farm inputs to farmers across the country, Chairman, Fertiliser Producer and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Thomas Etuh, has said.

    The GES scheme is a model where farm inputs are delivered to farmers at a subsidised rate.

    Etuh spoke during a stakeholder’s workshop to review the “Draft Fertiliser Quality Control Bill and the National Agriculture Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (NAGESS) Bill,” in Abuja yesterday.

    The programme was organised by FEPSAN in partnership with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) under the Micro-Reforms for African Agribusiness in Nigeria project.

    According to him, the inability of the government to pay agro dealers has resulted in farmers using poor seeds and adulterated fertilisers for farming.

    These, he lamented, had resulted in poor harvest across the country for farmers leading to food shortage.

  • Recession: Backyard farm to the rescue

    Recession: Backyard farm to the rescue

    More backyard farms are emerging to supplement household nutrition and income. Backyard farming topped discussions at the World Food Day by Gourmet Guide Communications at the University of Lagos at the weekend. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Farmers with small backyard spaces are using them to grow vegetables and other crops.

    They cultivate veggies mainly for consumption. One of such farmers is  Kayode Bodunde, a logistics expert.

    He and his wife are operating a small farm within their compound. There’s also a poultry.

    The farm is a collaboration among family members.

    Having enjoyed the benefits of a backyard farm, Bodunde is campaigning to bring such back. The impetus behind this is not so much about reducing grocery costs but championing  a return  to  land and getting back to natural foods.

    At a forum on the World Food Day at the University of Lagos at the weekend,Bodunde said backyard farms would help Nigerians prepare for a future where the economy would make buying vegetables expensive.

    According to him, backyard farms encourage food sufficiency. Aside from the convenience of providing food at one’s doorstep, he said the farms encourage healthier lifestyles and diets. He urged landlords to embrace urban farming.

    Bodunde is involved in a project to instal greenhouse at home and on the farms for those who are interested. In addition, he  said,  there are small greenhouses for those who can’t grow produce outdoors.

    He is happy to see corn cropping  in neighbours’yards, or the small spaces between compound walls and gutters.

    But backyard farming is not new in Nigeria. Years ago, rural areas boasted of a vibrant community of home gardeners who put their terraces and  backyards to good use. It was common to have neighbours growing their own vegetables and collecting eggs from own chickens.

    Many of them translated their passion into business ventures. Egg and poultry meat production depend on backyard farming using indigenous chicken breed. Production is very poor, reflecting low body weight.  But these were life-changing events. However, rural-urban drift has halted this.

    The Chief Executive, Corporate Farmers, Mr Akin Alabi, an accountant and financial consultant, has  taken up farming to improve the  productivity level from backyard  farming. With his capability and enthusiasm, Alabi became one of the progressive farmers in a short time. He operates his farms in Ogun State and played an active role in promoting a food secured environment. He has also been able to employ youths in his farms.

    He is a source of inspiration for  youths in farming.

    Though profitability and labour remain challenges, he does not regret the career switch.

    He noted that though farming may be capital intensive, many people are growing food on small plots.

    According to him, farming appeal had been pretty broad-cutting across professionals in various sectors. The range of operations includes backyard plots, large acre farms and projects designed to provide training for agriculture enterprises.

    His organisation provides material support and expertise to gardeners as well as a programme that helps local farmers sell their produce.

    Alabi, also Chief Executive,  Hayzee Mind Concept, noted that as the average age of farmers continues to rise, there was a need for younger farmers to step in to fill the gaps.

    One of those championing backyard farming is the Chief Executive, farmingbizsetup.com, Mr Lamson Opeyemi.

    A computer graduate, Opeyemi had no background in farming. Today, he is raising mini-livestock. He  runs the business and wants Nigerians to see him as a model backyard farmer.  His campaign is for Nigerians to run mini-livestock farms on  where they live.