The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Farmers

  • ‘ 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.

  • 35,000 Kano farmers to benefit from CBN’s borrower scheme

    35,000 Kano farmers to benefit from CBN’s borrower scheme

    The Kano State Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, said about 35,000 registered rice farmers would benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrower programme.

    The Federal Government introduced the programme to boost rice and wheat production.

    The CBN has earmarked N40 billion from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund for farmers in 12 states participating in the programme at a single-digit interest rate of nine per cent.

    Aliyu said 35,000 fell short of the100,000 farmers initially targeted for the programme.

    “One of the prerequisites for obtaining the loan is that one must register with the association. Secondly, one must open an account with one of the commercial banks,” he explained.

    He said most of the farmers, especially local ones, have no account with any bank, and that this was one of the challenges preventing many farmers from  registering.

    Aliyu said of the 35,000 farmers that had scaled the CBN’s hurdles, 30 per cent are women, 40 per cent youths, while the remaining 30 per cent are elderly persons.

    He said under the programme, each farmer is expected to receive seeds, fertiliser, chemicals and water pump, which represent a total package of N220, 855.

    He explained that after paying for the inputs, the balance of the money would be given to each farmer to enable him or her pay for the labour.

    Aliyu added that each farmer was expected to cultivate one hectare and repay the loan after harvesting the commodity.

    The chairman also said farmers were expected to receive training from extension workers on modern techniques of rice production.

    He said a technical committee on the programme had been constituted with a view to ensuring effective implementation of the programme in the state.

    The committee, which comprised farmers, agro-chemical dealers, state government and CBN officials, had already swung into action to ensure the success of the programme.

    Aliyu said the association had purchased six computer sets and scanners to speed up the registration process.

  • USAID, varsity back 4,150 IDP farmers in Adamawa

    WE  were at home when they told us that Boko Haram was coming,” said Aisha Malafa. “So we left the village and ran to the mountains. They killed so many of my relatives but some of us were able to escape,” she said.

    Malafa’s village, Guyaku, was rendered desolate by Boko Haram.

    She was one of the 4,150 indigent farmers in Adamawa State who recently benefitted from the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the American University of Nigeria–Adamawa Peace Initiative (AUN-API).

    The gesture shone some bright light into the life of those devastated by the terror group.

    USAID and AUN-API donated farm inputs to about 150, 000 people in the state. Farmers in the state received 10kg of maize, 10kg of cowpea and 5kg of sorghum for planting. The seeds, which are high-yielding and require minimal need for fertiliser, were supplied by USAID.

    The farm inputs were distributed in four local governments of the state, which include: Gombi–725 IDP farmers; Michika–1,398; Madagali– 1,522 and Fufore–505.

    Malafa told journalists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, that life had not been easy for the victims of Boko Haram in the state since they returned to their desolate villages.

    “Boko Haram burnt down everything, our homes, our foodstuff and our farms. So when we returned, there was nothing to do. I am a farmer and all of us in Guyaku are too. It has not been easy for us since we returned. So what these organisations are doing will help us. We will be able to plant our seeds and grow something. We are pleading for more assistance,” she said.

    The President and chairperson, AUN–API, Margee Ensign, said that the institution works with the community to find solutions to challenges faced by its people.

    “AUN has a founding mandate to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. This mandate was drawn from the vision of our founder who thought a university is not necessarily an ivory tower.

    So the so-called town-and-gown relationship was there from our very foundation. AUN works in and with the community to find solutions to challenges faced by its people,” she said.

    “From June 22 to 28, 4150 farmers, spread across four local governments in Adamawa state, each received bags of seeds and food to aid their recovery from the destruction Boko Haram brought on their communities and livelihoods.

    “The seeds and food distribution in the identified local governments (Gombi, Fufore, and Michika & Madagali) benefited the following number of identified IDPs who had farmland; Gombi–725 IDP Farmers; Michika–1,398; Madagali– 1,522; Fufore–505.

    “Because of the hunger and suffering still present in these areas, there was a possibility that these beneficiaries would simply eat these seeds instead of planting them. So the AUN/API also distributed the following supplies to support this seeds distribution initiative in all 4 local governments. Each of the benefiting IDP Farmers also received the following: 20kg Bags of Maize and 10kg bags of Beans. N200 (two hundred) Transportation support to get back to their various wards,” she said.

    Also, 20kg bags of maize and 10kg bags of beans were also distributed IDPs to cushion the effect of hunger. According to a member of the Seeds and Food Distribution, AUN – API, Charity Garba, more donations are expected in the coming days.

  • NEMA alerts farmers, others of irregular rainfall prediction

    NEMA alerts farmers, others of irregular rainfall prediction

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged farmers and others to prepare for irregular rainfalls.

    NEMA gave the advice warned against the backdrop of the Nigeria Metrological Agency, NIMET’s 2016 Annual Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) .

    NEMA Northwest Zonal Coordinator Alhaji Musa Ilallah spoke at a stakeholders meeting in Kaduna.

    He advised agric extension workers to step up enlightenment /awareness campaigns for farmers.

    Ilallah added that adoption of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies against flood, drought, and desertification and effective collaboration among stakeholders through team work and enforcement of laws/legislation would aid in curbing the anticipated menace.

  • BATNF’s interventions boost rural farmers’revenues

    BATNF’s interventions boost rural farmers’revenues

    The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has being commended for enhancing farming among smallholders in rural areas.

    BATNF-International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Oke-Ogun Cassava Enterprise Value-chain Development Projects  Field Supervisor, Olatunde Ogunsanya, said the foundation’s interventions have impacted on the lives and businesses of the beneficiaries of the BATNF Cassava Enterprise in Otu Community, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    About 46 smallholder farmers, including women, he said, own large farms, and have access to input, such as improved cassava stems, pesticides and herbicides to preserve their crops.

    “We are proud to say that BATNF’s intervention has positively impacted scores of lives, especially those of women farmers who hitherto operated at subsistence level. Due to support from BATNF, they now work on a large scale, with established market links giving an average women farmer the growth opportunity to net over N500,000 annually,” said Ogunsanya.

    He noted: “The beneficiaries, who now pay labourers to work on their farms, happily share the news of their successes, having triumphed over challenges ranging from limited farmlands, insufficient inputs, lack of resources to expand their farmlands, to encroachment on farmlands, which have drastically reduced.”

    Ogunsanya said BATNF kicked off its three cycle cassava projects in Otu in 2014 with 30 smallholder farmers. About 150 smallholders in Otu, Ogboro Igboho, and Ago-Are communities of Oyo State are benefiting from BATNF’s interventions through the technical partnership with IITA. This collaboration further underpins BATNF’s leading role as a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the lives and businesses of smallholder farmers in rural communities across Nigeria.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Victoria Ojumola, who started farming about 10 years ago, praised the Foundation for assisting farmers when the community was confronted by various challenges.

    “Before BATNF’s intervention, farming, though lucrative, was not encouraging as most farmers did not have the financial muscle to combat farming challenges. With the coming of the Foundation, farmers were given fully prepared hectares of land, together with sufficient cassava inputs, fertiliser and lots of chemicals to preserve our crops. Most importantly, BATNF supported us by erecting customised signposts to mark boundaries so as to protect our farmlands from further encroachment,’’ Mrs Ojumola said.

    She added: “With the availability of hectares of land, among other support from the Foundation, about 46 of us operate on a large scale in our community. The disposition to farming is fast-changing due to successes we have recorded through the support from BATNF. Some people, who previously abandoned farming due to inherent challenges, have now made a U-turn, indicating interest to embrace their choice vocation. Now I am able to train three of my children at the university level due to the expansion of my farmland.”

  • Lawmaker sensitises Ebonyi farmers on vitamin-rich crops

    Lawmaker sensitises Ebonyi farmers on vitamin-rich crops

    For three days, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo in Ebonyi State, Linus Okorie has engaged over 2000 farmers in his constituency in an enlightenment and empowerment campaign on the importance of growing Vitamin A fortified cassava and maize.

    It was not the first time Okorie brought the local farmers together at a seminar or workshop setting  to educate them on modern trends of agriculture. Some months back, he assembled them at Obiozara to engage them on the need for forming cooperative societies, giving them insights of how they could use such groups to attract incentives and do business with their farming.

    The latest gathering was centered on taking agriculture very seriously and the benefits of cultivating Vitamin A fortified cassava and maize among other uses.

    To achieve his objective, Okorie, who is the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, hired HarvestPlus, an agricultural group that breeds crops for better nutrition, which is being coordinated by the Centre for International Tropical Agriculture and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), to perform the enlightenment and empowerment programme.

    Not only were the farmers in the three local governments educated on the need and how to grow Vitamin A food crops, but the seeds were also handed out to them to  grow right away. They were also taught how to process the Vitamin A cassava into different value-added products such as using cassava to make chips, moi-moi, custard and even tea.

    At the opening ceremony in Ishiagu Civic centre of Ivo local government, Okorie noted that cassava is a staple in Nigeria, consumed daily by more than 100 million people but that while the commonly available white cassava can provide most of the body’s daily energy requirements, it lacks micro-nutrients, such as vitamin A, that are essential for a healthy and productive life.

    He told his people that Vitamin A deficiency can impair the body’s immunity from infectious diseases and causes eye damage, even lead to blindness or death.

    He added that nearly one in three Nigerian children under five and one-quarter of all pregnant women in the country are vitamin A deficient.

    He said that most Nigerians do not get enough micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron required to lead healthy productive lives from the foods that they eat, noting also that micronutrient deficiencies can lower IQ, cause stunting and blindness in children, lower resistance to disease in both children and adults, and increase risks for both mothers

    and infants during childbirth.

    “It is estimated that about 1 million of the 3 million child deaths that occur each year as a result of undernutrition are due to hidden hunger. Biofortified crops which have been bred to have higher amounts of micro-nutrients, can help provide these needed vitamins and minerals. They can be effective in reducing hidden hunger as part of a strategy that includes dietary diversification, supplementation, and commercial fortification, among others,” said Okorie

    He stated that the way forward was to ensure that farmers do not suffer the usual glut that has continually resulted from resurgent production of cassava over the years, adding that all participants in the workshops shall also be uploaded unto the Harvestplus e-market platform, which will integrate the participants into an anchor Programme of out growers to be

    supported by funding from single-digit interest rate funds from the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and related windows.

    The Program’s technical partner and Country Manager of HarvestPlus inNigeria, Dr. Paul Ilona, who grilled the participating farmers throughout the three days in the different venues, told the rural farmers that though the cassava stems he brought came from Oyo state, but that after the program, the cassava stems would henceforth be sourced from Ebonyi state.

    Ilona cited the uses of Moringa tree which he said is powered by Vitamin A to buttress his to the farmers.

    “Hon. Okorie wants us to leave well and that is why he is doing the programme. Vitamin A is crucial to our living. The important thing is to eat nutritional food,” he stated.

    The Harvestplus boss explained the uses of the vitamin A Cassava in making chips, biscuits, bread, flour, Fofo, tea, among other derivatives. He noted that use of crude implements for farming will soon be over in Ebonyi state and will be replaced with mechanical farming. “A farmer is a businessman and should be conscious of that,” he said.

    Ilona taught them basic techniques of farming and planting the cassava for bumper harvest such as spaces to give whiling planting, how to sow the stems and maintain it till maturity. He encouraged them to embrace business farming since every farm crop has value added bye products, whether in cassava, Maize, Rice or palm produce.

    At the end, the farmers nicknamed the new breed crop as “Linus Cassava.” The participants lauded the effort Rep. Okorie for opening their eyes into the benefits of hybrid Vitamin A fortified Cassava and Maize. They agreed they were well educated on new techniques of farming, taking farming as serious business and have been revealed to the nutritional values of

    Vitamin A cassava and maize just like they learnt the derivatives of the crops.

    One of the participants, Mrs. Mary Okonkwo from Amagu-Ishiagu, Ivo local government area said: “I learnt how to plant cassava and maize. I will do my next planting according the way we have been thought particularly on the method of planting the cassava stem for better growth. There is difference on how we used to plant the cassava and how we have been taught to plant it now. Before, we used to plant more than four stems of cassava on one heap but we have been told to space the stems and reduce the number per heap for better yield.

    “Also we have been taught how to use the Vitamin A cassava to make flour, chips and all that, we are grateful. I thank Hon Linus Okorie because this is development and a new thing for us. This is something we didn’t known but he brought experts to teach us these modern techniques in farming and doing business with farm produce, we are happy and may God Almighty bless him.”

    Another participant, Orji Anyim said, “I learnt many useful things like the process of transforming a subsistence farmer to a rich grower.”

  • Herdsmen, farmers’ clash looms in Bayelsa as group begins mediation

    Herdsmen, farmers’ clash looms in Bayelsa as group begins mediation

    There is tension in some parts of Bayelsa State following a looming clash between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    It was learnt that the farmers were angry at the activities of the herdsmen who allegedly allowed their cows to graze in their farmland destroying their crops.

    The development was reportedly breeding bad blood between the herdsmen and the farmers with angry youths in some of the areas threatening to confront the cattle rearers.

    Already, the herders and the farmers were said to have clashed with some of them sustaining injuries.

    To avert a repeat occurrence, advocacy groups, Nigeria Reconciliation and Stability Project (NRSP) of the British Council and the Bayelsa State Peace and Conflict Management Alliance (BSPCMA) waded into the controversy at the weekend.

    The groups decried the way farmers were being attacked by the Fulani herdsmen across the country.

    The leader, BSPCMA, Mrs Elizabeth Egbe, who spoke after the meeting in Yenagoa, with farmers and victims of the attack in the state said there was a need to find a lasting solution to the increasing attack.

    She said that the attacks on farmers by the Fulani herdsmen in the state were calling on the relevant authorities to step up action to avert the recurring situation.

    Egbe said: “Our move to check conflict between herdsmen and communities in the state has become necessary in order to ensure more peaceful co-existence and promote the country’s vision of self-sufficiency in food production.

    “We have heard that there is tension already in some communities in Bayelsa such as Biogbolo, Yenuzie-Epie, Okutukutu and Epie in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state, where some farmers were attacked by the herdsmen.

    “We are here to find out the root of the matter and way forward for the betterment of our people and Nigerians.

    “The farmers, who were attacked are here with us; some of them were beaten up and left with bruises recently while in their farms and some were cut with knives.

    “We have had a meeting with the security agencies to tackle the issue here in Bayelsa. So, we are urging the government to provide a grazing field for the Fulani herdsmen in the state – a place, where they can settle rather than moving from one bush to another.”

    One of the farmers and victim of the attack, Mrs. Margret Samuel, said during the attack, she was given a knife cut on her hand.

    She urged the government to protect the farmers against cruel attacks by Fulani herdsmen through an enabling law.

    “My hands were nearly cut off by the herdsmen during a recent attack. The attack was cruel and it must not be allowed to continue.

    “I was suprised when I saw a group of herdsmen in my farm on that faitful day and before I could say a word, they started beating me,” Samuel alleged.

    One of the herdsmen at the meeting, Suleman Abubakar, said that those fueling the attack were not herdsmen based in Bayelsa.

    Abubakar said: “I do not know where the attacks are coming from because I have never been part of it. I move my cows from place to place and do not find people’s trouble. I can tell you emphatically that we (herdsmen) in Bayelsa don’t know who is causing the problem in the state.

    “Those causing the trouble in Bayelsa are not herdsmen based here. We suggest that the relevant authorities should carry out more investigation to unravel those behind the dastardly act.”

  • FADAMA: World Bank disburses $39m to farmers

    The World Bank has so far disbursed a sum of $39m on the Third National Fadama Development Project Additional Financing (AF) as part of concerted efforts to support Nigeria’s agriculture and revenue diversification drive of the Federal Government

    The Bank, in statement by its Task Team Leader, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, said it commenced its Fadama Implementation Support Mission at the weekend  across eight states in conjunction with the Federal Ministries of Finance and Agriculture.

    The Board of the Bank had approved additional IDA credit of USD 200 million on June 28, 2014 to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria to scale up impacts on the ground and strengthen the development effectiveness of the Third National Fadama Development Project by aligning it more closely with the Government agricultural programs.

    The additional financing is supporting clusters of farmers in six selected states with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity of cassava, rice, and sorghum and horticulture value chains and link them to better organized markets.

    As at the last mission in January 2016, 930 business plans have been prepared across the states, out of which 424 business plans were approved and disbursed. These business plans covered Five Thousand and Eighty-Eight (5,088) hectares of farms across the four value chains across the core and production cluster States.

    Also, harvesting of rice cultivated during the rainy season has been completed in Kano, Lagos, Niger and Enugu States while cassava has been harvested in Kogi State. In addition, the first Micro-Finance Bank established through savings mobilized by Fadama Farmers Community Association (FFCA) in Plateau State has been completed and received provisional and operational license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for take-off while construction/rehabilitation of the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) centers were on-going in all the core States except in Lagos and Enugu where lack of counterpart funds have delayed commencement.

    The overall objective of the mission is to assess implementation progress of the project by reviewing all project components to accelerate disbursements and focus on results monitoring and reporting.

    The mission will be led by Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, Task Team Leader (TTL), and will comprise the National FADAMA Coordinator, Dr. Tayo Adewunmi, and other specialists from the World Bank, officials of Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and staff of the National and State Project offices, including representatives of NGOs.

  • Poultry farmers ready for Fed Govt’s Home Grown School Feeding policy

    Poultry farmers ready for Fed Govt’s Home Grown School Feeding policy

    The National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN),Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, has said of the  the association in has the capacity to meet up the various demands and challenges that might arise from the Home Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government

    The natnudO Foods boss, however, added that it might take up to four years or longer for the country can reach self-sufficiency status if the needed support is not forthcoming to the sector

    Addressing reporters after a tour of the facilities at Amo Byng Nigeria and Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited  in Awe, Afijio Local Government, Oyo State, the natnudO Foods boss explained that if properly harnessed, the poultry value chain has the capacity to absorb millions of people and make them economically productive

    Oduntan said: “The local poultry sector has the capacity to produce and meet the poultry demands that will arise from the new government policy of home grown school feeding programme

    “We advocated for the inclusion of eggs and poultry foods in the meals to be given the school children and I can assure you that, if given the needed support in terms of fund and materials we will meet the demands

    “Meeting local consumption demand is achievable in two years at the rate we are growing, we only need patience and support, but if we are denied such, it might take up to another four years before we can attain that level”

    According to Oduntan, the amount of money spent by entrepreneurs in providing infrastructure and facilities to keep business running is huge and diversionary.

    He said: “We are here because as producers of natnudO chicken, we want to show Nigeria and Nigerians that with a little bit of support and patience, Nigeria can be sufficient in the production of poultry produce.

    “We are a Nigerian company and we can lead the way for other poultry farmers to produce enough that will be sufficient for Nigerians and save our people from the hazards of smuggled poultry products into the country

    “Our target as a company is to make at least ten percent of total poultry production for the Nigerian market in the next five years”

    “Our motivation has been to create jobs for the people and bring something out from nothing. We need the banks to believe in us more and support us with funds to run the sector,” the natnudO Foods boss said.

  • Lifeline for farmers

    Lifeline for farmers

    Releaf Group, an initiative led by young Nigerians at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, is deploying science and technology to promote capacity-building in agriculture. The group is determined to make agricultural production sustainable, climate-proof and profitable. How far can they go? DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Agriculture should be the mainstay of the Nigerian economy because it has the potential to sustainably employ about 75 per cent of the population. However, inadequate viable value chain and entrepreneurial activity have kept the sector at the subsistence level, leading to high youth unemployment. To reverse this, a group of young Nigerians, known as The Releaf Group, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States, is poised to train and equip farmers and youths to transform the agricultural sector and enhance economic growth.

    The team consists of two MIT students, some university students and others in Nigeria. They include the Director, Partnerships, Emmanuel Udotong; Partner Business, Development, Ikenna Nzewi; Managing Partner Toby Nzewi; Director, Value-Chain, Joshua Nzewi and  Partner Operations, Isaiah Udotong.

    Others  are Director of Project Management Uzoma Ayogu and Director of Public Relations Adaeze Okoli.

    Their project is part of the MIT’s IDEAS Global Challenge, which connects students with the passion and talent to improve the world with the experience and resources of the MIT community worldwide. The programme supports innovation and entrepreneurship through an annual competition that awards up to $10,000 for a team with the best ideas to tackle barriers to well being.

    In this project, the team will work with Verdant and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to empower farmers in agribusiness to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture.

    While Verdant will offer personalised scientific agricultural information and market intelligence to farmers through a mobile application that acts as an all-round companion, from the pre-planting period to harvest and beyond, partnership  with IITA will  support the group  to  integrate training and technological innovations with production, mechanisation, agro-processing, marketing, recycling, value chain improvement and other related services. The overall goal of the project is to use sciences and technology to promote capacity-building in food production.

    The spokesperson of the group, Mr Isaiah  Udotong said: “Releaf has partnered with IITA to work on-ground in choosing the farmers to work with and evaluation of their yields. They’ve committed staff members to be involved in this pilot, helping with adoption of technology and planting phase and interviewing farmers to participate, evaluations of initial yields and final yields.”

    He said the group will work with smallholder farmers, agro-processing groups, farmers associations, and service providers across the state to introduce improved agricultural technologies and develop specialised skills to order to increase the end-value of their agricultural products.

    For a pilot, Udotong said the group would be carrying out a demonstration project in Akwa Ibom State. In partnership with Verdant,  Udotong said smart mobile devices and low-end phones will be made available  to  farmers.  Then farming information will be relayed through text messages.

    He said: “We are targeting about 1,000 cassava farmers to use the agricultural extension mobile service provided by Verdant to increase their yields.”

    The team intends to train the farmers in establishing sustainable agribusinesses and practices. This, they believe, would contribute significantly to the creation of employment for youth, improving self-reliance and food security.

    This strong value chain, he also believes, will provide farmers with a more stable supply of good quality food as well as bringing them profits.

    Under the scheme also, farmers will be provided with improved cassava cultivar, fertiliser and pesticides. The target is to achieve higher yields per hectare, shorter growth cycles and  improved resistance to pests.

    The varieties are improved genetically modified cassava tubers that research from the IITA has proven can more than double cassava yield.

    Udotong said since equipment plays a very important role in improving crop yields, farmers will be encouraged to use them to increase production.

    He said mechanised cassava graters are part of the project.The deployment of the mechanised graters allows cassava to be grated down into small pieces that can be easily collected for bulk pickup.

    He added: “The higher concentration of cassava grated in even higher quality also gives farmers the ability to process their own tubers with potential to create their own products.”

    He believes the technology is a strong catalyst to boost cassava production on commercial basis in which would additionally create decent job opportunities.

    Akwa Ibom State government is  supporting  the project. Consequently, the state government is providing logistics/support for the selection and training of cooperative farmers groups expected to participate.

    In line with this, the Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Cooperatives and Food Sufficiency, Mr. Effiong Peters, has sent a memo to the Secretary to the state government for its execution.

    In April, Releaf submitted a questionnaire to the farmer cooperative group in Akwa Ibom State and has already received compelling responses that demonstrate the need for the project.

    From the survey, the group learnt that 85 per cent of farmers in the cooperative produce below 15 Metric Tonnes (MT) of cassava per hectare.