The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Farmers

  • Kebbi, Dangote, farmers parley on sugar factory

    Kebbi, Dangote, farmers parley on sugar factory

    the Kebbi State government has set up a 12-member committee to dialogue with communities in Koko-Besse and Shanga local government areas of Kebbi State on the establishment of a sugar factory by Dangote Group of Companies.

    The committee accompanied by representatives of Dangote Group visited Koko Besse and Shanga councils, meeting with community leaders, farmers and residents.

    The meeting was to discuss and exchange ideas on the factory site, and determine how farmlands will be acquired by the group.

    The committee was headed by Alhaji Umar Abubakar Babuga, a former State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who explained to the communities the importance and benefits of the project. He also negotiated how the lands would be acquired for the project.

    “We are here to hear your views, and to tell you the importance of the project and negotiate how the company will acquire your lands,” he said..

    In his remarks to the occasion, Engr. Hamid Alsharif , who is the North West Sugar Project Coordinator of Dangote Group said the Sugar factory will be the biggest in Africa and will employ over 40,000 skilled and unskilled labour.

    He added that apart from employment benefit, the communities will also benefit from the corporate social responsibility of the company like schools, roads, electricity, and other human development.

    The District Head of Shanga, Alhaji Nasiru Abdullahi, Kwakwaten Shanga prayed for the success of the project, while a community leader in the area, who is also a farmer, Alhaji Umaru Dutsin Mari called on the company to adhere strictly to the terms of     land compensation to farmers.

  • Monarch hails Ugwuanyi for release of 76 farmers from detention

    Monarch hails Ugwuanyi for release of 76 farmers from detention

    The traditional ruler of Ugwuleshi community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Godwin Nwobi, has hailed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for ensuring the release of 76 farmers from prison custody.

    The farmers were granted bail on Friday by an Umuahia Magistrate’s Court, following an altercation between them and some Fulani herdsmen, which led to their arrest and arraignment.

    The monarch said the farmers safely united with their families and loved ones after getting bail.

    He urged the Federal Government to resolve the perennial confrontation between the Fulani herdsmen and indigenous farmers over the grazing of cattle on farmlands.

    Igwe Nwobi, who spoke on behalf of the residents and political stakeholders, said the cattle had always led to the destruction of crops.

    The monarch noted that a lasting solution would ensure an end to the clashes and promote peace among the villagers and Fulani herdsmen.

    On Ugwuanyi’s efforts at calming frayed nerves and reducing tension on the matter, Igwe Nwobi said the governor’s intervention made it possible for the farmers to be granted bail for their freedom.

    He said: “I am happy that they are back. I thank the Government of Enugu State for its efforts in making sure that my subjects come back. I appreciate the efforts of Governor Ugwuanyi, who visited my community over this matter. That shows he is a man of the people. We pray God to grant him wisdom to continue to pilot the affairs of Enugu State. I also thank my community for their understanding.”

    The member representing Awgu South Constituency in the House of Assembly, Nelson Uduji, said the residents went through arduous tasks to get the bail for the 76 farmers.

  • Seed firms accused of neglecting women farmers

    Global seed companies are failing to meet the specific needs of women farmers and provide them with the seeds they need, according to a study.

    The Access to Seeds index report 2016 found that seed firms focus their research on major cash crops, such as maize and rice without developing better varieties of other seeds that are important to female farmers in developing countries, the report says.

    This means that female farmers benefit less from advances in seed breeding and agricultural science than male farmers, the report’s authors warn.

    The report found that only three of the 17 global seed companies it studied have programmes that explicitly seek to take into account “women farmers’ input”.

    Women look for specific characteristics in their seeds and plants that men might be less aware of, says Coosje Hoogendoorn, head of research at the Access to Seeds Foundation, which aims to bridge the gap between major seed firms and smallholder farmers, and which wrote the report.

    For example, women prefer vegetables that can be cooked fast and grains that take less time to pound into flour, Hoogendoorn says.

    “This might be something that men will not be thinking about so much,” she says. But if seeds are easier to grind, it frees up time for women to do other things. “If women have more time for their farm, it helps them move out of poverty and become entrepreneurs,” she says.

    Regional seed companies are better at including smallholder farmers in research than their global counterparts, and could help close the seed gap for women, the report says.

    While global companies focus on breeding and developing new seed varieties, regional companies interact with small-scale farmers and local markets, feeding client preferences back to their global partners, the report says.

    Therefore, local firms could help global companies understand what female farmers need, says Ian Barker, the head of agricultural partnerships at the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture. Seed varieties that neatly match women’s needs already exist, but global companies are marketing these poorly because they lack awareness of women’s requirements, he says.

    “That could be one of the big values of this index: it shines a light on these areas that need attention,” he says.

  • N500b cash for traders, farmers, artisans coming

    Over two million traders, farmers and artisans will receive N500 billion micro-credit to be managed by the Bank of Industry (BoI). It is tagged: N500 billion Social Protection Programme for 2016.

    Speaking yesterday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah said the ministry  will be rolling out programmes and initiatives focused on supporting micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) with finance, infrastructure, technical support and training.

    He said the manufacturing sector currently contributes only about 10 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), lamenting that it is lower than it is the lowest other emerging markets.

    He said the government is set to implement the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), launched by the previous government.

    “Our industrialisation ambition is hinged on the  NIRP launched by the previous government in 2014. It is now time to move that comprehensive document from plan to action. It is now our duty to implement that plan in light of current realities, taking into consideration the lessons learnt in the two years since it was unveiled.

    “We are focusing on identifying and supporting a select number of industrial sectors in which Nigeria has comparative advantage. We have seen success in our backward integration policies in the cement industry; and sugar is currently trying to replicate that success. In the Automotive and Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) industries, we are continuing discussions with players and stakeholders to see how we can better implement an industrial policy that creates jobs, profits and prosperity,” he said.

  • UK to engage 20, 000 farmers in Cross River

    The Department for International Development (DFID), a United Kingdom government department, has disclosed that it would engage no fewer 20, 000 farmers in Cross River State in agriculture by 2018.

    The Team Leader of DFID, Dr. Jerry Lacey, who stated this during an interview with journalists in Calabar, said Cross River State already has 33 per cent of DFID’s interest in the Niger Delta region.

    The area of focus according to Lacey would be financial intervention to farmers for the expansion of agriculture with emphasis on oil palm production and possibly the new direction of the state government which is rice and banana production.

    Lacey further said that Cross River State is one of the front runners in the new Nigeria because of her commitment to the core values of good governance and human integrity.

    He said, “If Cross River State must be active player in the palm oil business, the state must restructure in line with what Indonesia has done with regards to palm oil export. We will accord the state the same assistance we gave to Indonesia.

    “Over 9000 people whom we are working with now are already in Cross River and about 10, 000 to 20, 000 would be Cross River State-based between now and 2018.”

    Lacey disclosed that the key focus of DFID in the Niger-Delta region was to develop agriculture, adding that the department’s major program in the region at the moment has about 25, 000 beneficiaries.

    “At the present time, the main programme actually has had about 25, 000 beneficiaries in the Niger Delta area and Cross River State is the largest single contribution as it accounts for 33 percent of the development we have to make in the region,” he stressed.

    He commended Governor Ben Ayade for the pacesetting initiative in transforming the state and assured that DFID would support his effort.

  • Ondo farmers count losses of Fulani herdsmen’s attack

    Ondo farmers count losses of Fulani herdsmen’s attack

    Farmers in Ondo State are counting their losses after  the invasion of their farms by Fulani herdsmen.

    The siege led to the destruction of crops worth millions of naira by their cattle. The cattle grazed through the farms, trampling on crops which included maize.

    Rising from its meeting last month, the Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association demanded N2 billion compensation from the Federal Government for the colossal loss suffered by cocoa and oil palm plantations affected during the raid.

    The meeting was attended by 24 agricultural commodity associations.

    In a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Akinola Olotu and the Secretary, Obaweya Gbenga, the group called for “urgent government assistance” for the affected farmers. The group said the  menace of the nomads had transcended just grazing on crops, with “a new dimension of bush burning, rape and physical attack with machetes, robbery, kidnapping and destruction being recorded across the state.”

    The group called for measures to deal with nomadic Fulani herdsmen. According to the group, the activities of the normads make them more dangerous and destructive as they destroy properties during raid.

    The farmers said they were living in fear due to the activities of the Fulani cattle rearers.

    They said they can no longer entertain Fulani herdsmen and their cattle because they’re not law abiding. According to them, a petition has been sent to the National Assembly to register their concern over the increasing threat to life and properties constituted by Fulani nomads.

    In protest, the group urged Ondo people and the Southwest to boycott or abstain from buying, selling and eating of beef throughout the month of March in solidarity with the farmers.

    The group warned that it would resist any attempt to create any grazing zone in the state, because there is hardly a space of one kilometre between farms across the state.

    “We reject the idea of acquiring land in our state for the purpose of planting grass to feed nomadic cattle. The Federal Government should please restrict this idea to the Northern region and irrigate the grass, like it’s being done to other crops there,” the group said.

  • Aquaculture enterprise: Creating farmers with vision

    Aquaculture enterprise: Creating farmers with vision

    A youthful entrepreneur, Elijah Daramola, based in Badagry,Lagos State  is making money from raising fish. The hunger to become a successful fish farmer, inspiration and diligence are the hallmarks of his success, DANIEL ESSIET reports

    For the Chief Executive, Femdal Farms and Agro-Allied Services, Femdal farms, Badagry, Elijah Daramola, farming is fascinating. The only thing is that it requires continuous hardwork and devotion without distraction. He is a well known fish farmer in the area and fish farming is his principal activity. He  is a sincere, hardworking and dedicated farmer who dreams of excelling in fisheries.He started the fish business after he was driven from the place he was doing poultry.

    It was a friend that introduced him to the area to start fish business. He took the place on lease to construct  earthen ponds for stocking the seeds and within few months the fishes grew to table size. According to him, his background in agriculture from University of Ife and exposure to the internet has helped him to grow in the  business. He  received training, which inspired him and he started learning scientific management practices. He now understood that culture of fish is a scientific process and good management is essential. In the beginning, with much difficulties and financial hardship, he managed to construct his pond with his own capital. He extended his intensive fish farming with high expected returns and visible economic uplifting.His  success story is an eye-opener to many of the farmers for adopting fish farming as  means of livelihood.

    He started small, but  today, he has  a fish farm with capacity to raise between 15,000 to 20,000 table size catfish,  hatchery that can produce about 50,000 fish fingerlings, vegetable farm and just starting a pig farm. In addition to this,he has  maintained acres of farms for the cultivation of plantain. Farmers and non-farmers are regular buyers. They keep in touch with him and other farmers in the area  for the fish stock availability.

    For him, trying something new and risk appetite are  key to success. He did   a project to produce fish feed locally which earned him a trip abroad. He tries to prepare his  own fish food, using  different formulations. His  dream is to intensify his current activities in the coming years to give it a shape of an agro-industry. He said young people can join the business to learn and earn well. He  currently helps people to start their fish ponds on one plot of land. He visits all the clients and fish farmers to monitor progress, answer questions and test-weighs the fish to assess their growth rates and thus  evaluate their pond and feeding management towards stand-alone financial viability.

    For young aspiring entrepreneurs, his  advice to them is that they should not venture into any business they are not passionate about just because others are making progress in it.

  • Fed Govt urged to review GES to boost farmers’ productivity

    Dry season farmers in Sokoto  State on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to review the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme to boost farmers’ productivity.

    The scheme, introduced by former President Goodluck Jonathan, relied on the use of mobile phone lines for the distribution of fertiliser, improved seeds and other farm inputs to farmers in the country.

    Under the scheme, agro-dealers were engaged for the distribution of the inputs across the country, while about 10 million GSM lines were registered for the scheme.

    A cross section of the farmers in the state said the scheme was the best ever used in the sale of the inputs at subsidised rate to farmers.

    A farmer at Takakume, Goronyo Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu, said farmers received text messages directing them to collect the inputs at the nearest distribution point.

    “Registered farmers under the scheme are being allocated three bags of NPK and Urea fertilizer each, improved rice and maize seeds and chemicals at the cost of N9,000,’’ he said.

    Adamu said he was engaged in dry season farming for two decades, adding that a review of the scheme would go a long way to improve crop yield. He stressed the need to encourage more Nigerians to engage in farming activities.

    Another farmer at Falaliya village, Goronyo, Alhaji Hussaini Salisu, called on the government to provide more agricultural support services to farmers. “We are also appealing to the Federal Government to come to our aid by addressing the problem of perennial flooding at the falaliya old irrigation scheme,’’ he added.

    Salisu lamented that the area was renowned for the production of rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, water melon, garlic, sweet and hot pepper, among others.

    Malam Aliyu Chika of Yar-Rimawa fadama, Sokoto, however, called for the construction of more access roads in the fadama users’ areas of the state.

  • UI gives farmers 150,000 fingerlings

    UI gives farmers 150,000 fingerlings

    the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Ibadan (UI), has distributed 150, 000 fingerlings to fish farmers in Oyo State.

    At the ceremony, the head of department, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin, said the project was done in collaboration with the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme WAAPP (Nigeria) and the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP).

    He thanked the farmers for believing in the department, saying that the project will lead to the growth of fish farming in the country.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka, said he was happy because the project became imperative as “oil is failing us as a nation and gradually there has been a talk about diversification. Various agribusinesses have started springing up”. According to the VC, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Prof Eustace Iyayi, the department is one of the flagship departments in the faculty and one of the best in aquaculture in the country.

    Beneficiaries got 70, 000 fingerlings during the first phase while another set got 80, 000 fingerlings in the second phase.

    Chairperson of Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN) in Oyo State Mrs Awoyomi Kolade said she was excited about the empowerment, assuring that “it is going to benefit us a lot”.

  • Nigerian farmers cleared to sue Shell in Dutch court

    A Dutch appeals court ruled yesterday that Royal Dutch Shell may be held liable for oil spills at its subsidiary in Nigeria, potentially opening the way for other compensation claims against multinationals in the Niger Delta and elsewhere.

    The ruling was hailed by rights groups as a victory for victims of environmental pollution worldwide, while Shell said it was disappointed.

    Judges in The Hague ordered Shell to make available to the court documents that might cast light on the cause of the spills and whether leading managers were aware of them.

    A lower Dutch court in 2013 had found that Shell’s Dutch-based parent company could not be held liable for leakages of oil at its Nigerian subsidiary.

    The legal dispute dates back to 2008 when four Nigerian farmers and campaign group Friends of the Earth filed suit against the oil company in the Netherlands, where its global headquarters is based.

    “Shell can be taken to court in the Netherlands for the effects of the oil spills,” the court said yesterday.

    ”Shell is also ordered to provide access to documents that could shed more light on the cause of the leaks.”

    The court still has to decide if Royal Dutch Shell is in fact responsible for the spills. The court will continue to hear the case in March 2016.

    Judge Hans van der Klooster said the court had also found that it “has jurisdiction in the case against Shell and its subsidiary in Nigeria”.

    Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), said in a statement: “We are disappointed the Dutch court has determined it should assume international jurisdiction over SPDC.”

    “We believe allegations concerning Nigerian plaintiffs in dispute with a Nigerian company, over issues which took place within Nigeria, should be heard in Nigeria,” it said.

    Shell has always blamed the leakages on sabotage which under Nigerian law would mean it is not liable to pay compensation. But the Dutch court said yesterday: “It is too early to assume that the leaks were caused by sabotage.”