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Tag: Farmers

  • Promoting cashew farmers’, processors’competitiveness

    Promoting cashew farmers’, processors’competitiveness

    A cashew stakeholders forum organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport Project (NEXTT) in collaboration with African Cashew Alliance (ACA) took place in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The forum focused on ways to promote industry growth, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Thousands of Nigerians are engaged in the cashew industry. Most of them are farmers who cultivate the crop, while others export the produce to countries, such as India and Vietnam. The nation’s annual production of raw cashew nuts stands at 144,000 tonnes. Approximately 50,000 persons are engaged directly in the processing of cashew, and another 100,000 are engaged in the growing of the produce.
    Experts say there is a prospect of the industry creating over 50,000 new jobs in four years and injecting over N2 billion into the economy. However, there are constraints farmers and exporters face that undermine the efforts to realise the full trade potential through cashew export.
    The constraints include barriers that impinge on trading, lack of access to finance, information and capacity for growth is limited. Adding to the problem, is the fact that only 10 per cent of raw cashew production undergoes further processing.
    Despite these, the Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo said cashew remains a big foreign exchange earner which has to be repositioned in the face of the declining crude oil price that is now more vulnerable to external shocks.
    Addressing the forum on cashew business competitiveness and environmental sustainability, co-sponsored by USAID Nigeria, (NEPC) African Cashew Alliance (ACA), in partnership with the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) in Ilorin, Awolowo, who spoke through the Deputy Director, Product Development Department, Mr William Ezeagu, said cashew has been identified as one of the major cash crops with huge export potentials for the country.
    The cashew industry as a whole, he observed is still dogged by issues related to quality. Much of the problem with quality and safety issues, he continued, related to the large proportion of smallholders within the industry who lack the finances and ability to invest in modern technologies and innovate. Aflatoxins contamination, he noted is a trade issue, which needs to be tackled with urgency. He said the contamination imposes an enormous economic cost as it prevents commodities from meeting international regulations and standards governing agricultural trade and food safety. He, however, said awareness on the deleterious effects of Aflatoxin is fast rising and there is increasing demand by country stakeholders for action. Awolowo said NEPC is working with the World Trade Organisation(WTO) on preventive measures to address the issue that has lead to rejection of the nation’s cashew export.
    He said as a country, post-harvest handling of produce should be taken seriously and farmers educated on how to mitigate Aflatoxin contamination. He said businesses must heed more attention to improving it for the industry to develop sustainably over the long term.
    Business Advisory Manager, African Cashew Alliance, Mr Sunil Dahiya, said while Africa currently produces 40 per cent of the world’s supply of cashew nuts, it operates just a handful of processing facilities. He said cashew farmers and processors face difficulties complying with market requirements and lack the technical and financial means to produce cost-effective goods inz sufficient quantity and required high quality. As a result, when profitable new market opportunities arise, they are unable to be accepted as suppliers. This, he noted has given the alliance great concern. To end, he said ACA is focusing on building the capacities of cashew farmers and exporters to meet international quality standards through training on good agricultural practices to increase yields and quality. He said ACA has developed a capacity building programme to enables suppliers to meet the internationally recognised requirements in terms of food safety and quality. Through a combination of strategies, he said the alliance has been able to reach thousand s of farmers and processors, leading to the creation of new jobs in cashew nut processing, with 70 per cent of them for women. He said ACA has implemented sustainable pilot projects in several countries, where suppliers have achieved considerable improvement in their performance and compliance with food safety standards and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). As a result, the quality and volume of marketable products has improved. At the same time, consumers have benefited from better and safer products and can expect more stable food prices.
    He said start-up processors are provided with a range of advice on how to grow their business, keep up with current market developments, improve their use of technology and expand processing of cashew by-products.
    The Managing Director, KD Food Processing Company Limited,Mr Garba Dikko said the lack of adequate knowledge on cashew financing by officials of banking institutions and farmers seriously affected fund raising to support agriculture in the country. He said the lack of knowledge about the specific financial needs of cashew farmers made the financial institutions to offer the same financial package to all farmers which often led to the disadvantage of many. He called for the development of different financial packages for different farmers groups engaged in different types of agriculture to meet their specific needs. With high cost of infrastructure, maintenance and electricity, he called on the government to protect local cashew processors and producers. Dikko said so much is required to establish a functional cashew processing plant. Dikko called for support for cashew processers to bring down production costs. Urging the government to offer assistance to farmers to improve production, he said poor productivity of cashew plantations is one of the major reasons behind the cashew nut processing sector performing at below capacity.
    The President,National Cashew Association of Nigeria(NCAN),Mr Tola Faseru said the nation’s cashew sector has enormous potential for businesses seeking to invest in the crop. He disclosed,however, that the sector is however suffering from declining productivity and dwindling export earnings because of structural problems. As a result, Nigerian cashew is less competitive in the international market . He called on the government to establish a N50 billion cashew development fund to support the industry . With such fund, he said it would be possible for the industry to achieve the target of 500,000 metric tonnes per annum. Faseru said the association is sensitising farmers across the country on quality control to enable them to enhance their product quality. Faseru called for more support for farmers and for government’s assistance for to develop more cashew plantations. The NCAN chief said if the cashew crop was processed locally, new direct jobs would be created by more than 1,000 businesses that would arise from the industry and millions of naira would be realised. This possible outcome is what is driving the campaign of the association to boost cashew production nationwide.
    The Director, Real Sector Department ,Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC),Mr Reuben Kifasi said the cashew sector has many gaps and challenges, thereby providing opportunities at different levels for foreign investors to explore. He said there are some incentives and tax holidays for investors seeking to take advantage of investment opportunities which abounds across the agric sector. The need for high capacity processing plants, warehousing facilities, he said, are just some of the opportunities that investors can look at. He said NIPC is supporting sector players in developing coordinated efforts to mobilize domestic and foreign direct investment and enhance private sector development.
    The Director,Cluster Development Department,Raw Materials and Development Council,Mrs Haraja Tanko said cashew is a big business and that the government is supporting it because the potential of the industry has not been fully harnessed. Mrs Tanko said raw materials council is working towards boosting cashew nut production by the establishing three- processing plants and giving improved seeds to support farmers . The Acting Chief of Party, COP Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT) ,Engr Isaac Adegun said the development of the industry would not only help diversify the agriculture sector and enhance the national economy but would also be a good way of tackling poverty. To this end, he said the project is aimed at improving and expanding Nigeria’s trade efficiency domestically, within the region and beyond, so that trade, particularly in agricultural products, supports inclusive economic growth and the development. With improved support of USAID|NIGERIA through the NEXTT project, he said assistance to the cashew sub-sector has been scaled up to the level of offering technical assistance at both the organisational and firm level.
    He reiterated that NEXTT is more committed to improving the processing arm of the sub- sector owing to its enormous potential of creating thousands of jobs and also contributing to macroeconomic stability through increased export earnings.
    He said USAID has concluded a study on the Nigerian cashew industry, adding that steps will taken based on it to improve cashew business competiveness and environmental sustainability.
    The SEAL Coordinator, ACA, Mrs Dorcas Amoh, said more demand for cashew, combined with buyer demand for product that is Seal-certified, is increasing sales. The certification, she said ensures quality for buyers, recognition for processors, and stability for farmers.
    According to her, ACA Seal offers returns for all cashew stakeholders. Mrs Amos said without adequate waste collection services, she said cashew waste can carry health risks for workers at processing facilities and local communities. She said the plan of the alliance is to assist farmers to use waste materials for their businesses and communities in other ways.

  • Expert advises farmers on natural manure

    An Agricultural Scientist, Dr Seyi Fadugba, said manure from animals’ droppings and compost process remain the most valuable properties for soil fertility.

    Fadugba, the Chief Executive Officer of Fadugba-agro Laboratory Nig Ltd, said this in Abuja.

    In an interview, he said adherence to the simple shifting cultivation could also help to retain soil fertility without leaving poisonous properties in it.

    He said there was the need to promote the application of natural properties in soil rather than depending on ‘quick fix’ approaches.

    “It could be a dis-service to frontally kick against the use of fertilisers on the soil. Our farmers must begin to go back the traditional approaches mention above.

    “The fact remains that fertiliser are just temporary measures being misapplied to hurt soil organisms that were meant to support plants growth.

    “Those in the agro-allied venture may contemplate investing in building natural manure farms for sale of the products,’’ he said.

    According to him, the natural manure could compel some soil properties to produce humus soil.

    The agricultural scientist said the misapplication of the artificial elements from fertiliser had long term effects on soil, plants and human.

    On the export embargo placed on some of the produce by the European Union (EU), Fadugaba said the Federal Government must reverse the trend.

    According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has the mandate to compel farmers and exporters to adhere to agriculture value-chain.

    “What was the contention? They have accused us of uncontrolled application of pesticides to those crops in farms and at the point of exporting them.

    “There are standard ways to preserve crops. In fact, the best way would be to promote natural processes. If the fertility of the soil is boosted well enough, the application of fertilisers and pesticides would be minimal,” Fadugba said.

  • Agric Group assists farmers with N360b

    Agric Group assists farmers with N360b

    The Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NAGB) has committed N360b to assist smallholder farmers, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, has said.

    He said the funds would be used to boost agriculture in 22 states.

    Echono, who spoke at the First Annual General Meeting of the group in Lagos, said the group has helped to foster economic growth in Nigeria through the provision of take-off grants for smallholder farmers.

    He said the investments will create jobs for youths, women, and uplift millions of farmers out of poverty.

    He said: “Your recognition that smallholder farmers are the largest private sector group in Nigeria has helped to foster economic growth in rural Nigeria “as you provide guaranteed off-take markets for millions of smallholder farmers across the country.

    “Sixteen of you have committed to invest in agriculture and agribusiness across 22 states of Nigeria a total $1.8 billion (NGN 360 billion). Turning these commitment into real investments will undoubtedly help to create jobs for our teeming youth population and women and help to lift millions of farmers out of poverty.

    “On this ground, we are together inaugurating the Agribusiness Investment Inter-Ministerial (AIM) Working Group today (yesterday) as a show of our commitment in delivery on our promise to facilitate your investments from early stage and throughout the investment lifecycle.

    “The AIM Working Group, our Project Delivery Team, will help to facilitate your investments and help to turn your commitments into real investments.”

    Nigeria’s agriculture, he said, will be better positioned for inclusive growth together with the NABG.

    He said working with NABG, will ensure that there will be no lack of information dissemination going forward.

    “We are better positioned for inclusive growth where small, medium and large farmer groups will co-exist to generate wealth for millions of Nigeria and the unemployed youths and women.

    “We have ended the dominance of government and I am optimistic that the private sector will lead Nigeria in restoring its past glory in agriculture.

    “I am confident that the NABG will continue to play an important role in the new administration of H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

    “I am confident that the group will continue to attract viable local and foreign direct investments into agriculture and agribusiness together with our Development Partners and other MDAs,” he said.

  • BATNF lifts Ote farmers’ spirit with materials

    BATNF lifts Ote farmers’ spirit with materials

    To promote sustainable development in the rural areas, through agriculture, the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), has flagged off Cycle 2 of its BATNF-Ote Community Cassava Enterprise Value-chain Development Project.

    The occasion which held at the project farm, Ojutaye Village, Ote in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, was highlighted by the distribution of agricultural farm inputs to some farmers in the locality.

    In his opening remarks, the Managing Director, Kwara State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Dr. Sunday Atanda, thanked the BATNF for providing support to small-holder farmers in Ote. He noted that the project, which the Kwara State Agricultural Development Project is the implementing partner, is a collaborative effort in bringing the much-needed assistance to the 30 selected small-holder cassava farmers in the community through land preparation, trainings, inputs distribution and market linkages which are very critical to the sustaina-bility of the project.

    He enjoined the farmers to be committed to the project so as to have the desired and expected results at the end of the season.

    He assured them that if they “Work hard and produce the expected tonnage per hectare, with the support of BATNF, we will identify markets to sell your produce to.” He said this would further “Encourage the Foundation to support other smallholder farmers in other local government councils.”

    Delivering an address on behalf of the Foundation’s General Manager, Ms Abimbola Okoya, the foundation’s Project Manager, Remi Adewole, said that the gathering of the dignitaries, benefit-ting farmers and community attests to the premium value of the project. He lauded the smallholder farmers for their unwavering commitment in ensuring that the set goals of the Foundation, such as poverty alleviation and wealth creation, are met.

  • Lagos empowers rice farmers with inputs

    Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has again empowered rice farmers in the state with inputs support ranging from land preparation, seeds, fertiliser and water pumps to boost production during this dry season farming.

    Speaking at a programme to flag-off this year’s dry season rice farming and distribution of agricultural inputs and small irrigation scheme equipment at Itoikin Rice field, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olajide Bashorun, disclosed that the programme is aimed at boosting rice production.

    “The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode believes that  governance should shift to the community hence the distribution of inputs support ranging from land preparation, seeds, fertiliser and water pumps; this will not only boost production but also bring about effective and efficient rice production thereby increasing the production of rice in the state” he said.

    Bashorun noted that among the very prime value chains that Lagos State has comparative and competitive advantage is rice value chain, stressing that the state government places premium on this value chain including others like Vegetables, Poultry and fisheries chains.

    The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the General Manager, Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority, Mr. Bolaji Balogun, pointed out that the event is symbolic especially against the backdrop of farmers often depending on Rainfed Agriculture, adding that since the state has an Ogun/ Oshun River basin authority, the need to maximise the water resource to aid all year round farming cannot be overemphasised.

    “Rice is an area that Lagos State can demonstrate enormous capacity with support from Ogun- Oshun  and FADAMA III project additional financing, we can put more line into rice twice or thrice a year and move the annual gig of rice from two tonnes to Six tonnes”, he said.

    According to Bashorun, farmers are contributing towards ensuring food security in the state and one of the  primary goals of the state government,  is to ensure that the state is food secured and can  substantially meet its food demand.”We also know that rice has become a major stable food in the state and in a situation where the country is spending on the average a billion naira monthly to import rice and 365 billion yearly, its high time we became dependent on rice production and rice utilisation market is guarantee as Lagos is one of the states in the federation that has put in place a modern rice mill machine”, he posited.

  • Ekiti advises farmers on storage, preservation of produce

    The Ekiti State Government has assured farmers in the state of necessary assistance in storing and preserving their farm produce.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi, gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti while addressing a cross-section of farmers and traders in the state during a two-day sensitisation seminar on “Safe and Responsible use of Agrochemicals for stored Grains”.

    Hon Odebunmi who noted  that large percentage of farm produce was destroyed every year through poor storage techniques  stressed the commitment of the state government  to reverse the trend

    He reiterated the resolve of the Fayose administration to diversify the state economy from one that is  totally dependent  on the dwindling allocation from the federation accounts to an agriculture-based economy that will ultimately boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

    According to him, government would leave no stone unturned in sensitising all stakeholders on the proper use of agrochemicals.

    Noting the enormous harmful effects of the misuse of agrochemicals which he attributed to ignorance by farmers/traders and consumers, Odebunmi explained that the seminar was organised to assist in curbing the misuse of agrochemicals.

    He described the choice of Shasha Market as venue for the training as strategic since it serves as the primary distribution centre for grains to all markets in the state.

    The Seriki of Hausa Community at the Shasha Market expressed gratitude towards the government, especially the visit of the commissioner which he said was the first of its kind, as he had never witnessed such since he got to Ado-Ekiti about 40 years ago.

    He promised the Fayose administration of unalloyed support from the Hausa Community in the state and prayed for the success of the government.

  • Women farmers lament inability to get bank loans

    Women farmers have lamented their inability to access bank loans farming.

    They listed like poor road networks and dearth of land as some of the hurdles confronting women in the sector.

    The women farmers said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at capacity building for small holders women farmers organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), supported by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Kwara State Coordinator, Country Women Association of Nigeria, Alhaja Bosede Anifowose, said: “Women in agriculture have a lot of challenges. The challenges are lack of good roads, bringing the produce from the farm to the market is a big problem. Another is that some of the women farmers do not have their own land. They rent land. In some cases, they need loans and they are unable to get loan.”

    Anifowose urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise women in farming, adding that fertiliser distribution does not get to the grassroots.

    She added: “We expect Buhari to bring some changes. The President should recognise women that are doing farming. We want Federal Government to recognise women in farming because some are doing poultry; fishery and even some are even cultivating crops. So there are some other problems like fertiliser. It does not get to the grassroots; it does not get to the real farmers.”

    The state Coordinator, Ifesuwapo Women Farmers Group, Mrs. Josephine Afolabi said: “We want President Buhari to make it possible for us to have agricultural inputs, fertiliser, seeds and farm machinery.

    “Most of our farmers are core farmers in the villages. They need good roads. They should be made to sell their produce directly to companies or final consumers. We need greater government commitment.”

    Earlier, WARDC’s Director, Dr Abiola Afolabi, said in addressing huge burden of hunger and poverty, the government must recognise the efforts of women in the sector.

    Her words: “It is reported that women small holder farmers constitute between 70 and 80 percent of the agriculture labour force. They produce the bulk of food for domestic consumption and they are the drivers of food processing, marketing and preservation.

    “In spite of these enormous tasks, they have limited access to land, credit facilities, farm inputs, training and advice, technology and health insurance. Women small holders have just 14 percent holding rights on land where they farm.

    “In spite of their strategic roles in food production, government agricultural policies hardly focus on supporting them. It is estimated that if women have had the same access to finance, land, technology, training and advice as men, they could contribute significantly to the achievement of the MDGs of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

    “The issues of women small holder farmers cannot be separated from the broader issue of gender inequality and discrimination against women. Women are still voiceless in issues affecting their lives and they are yet to be involved in decisions that affect their livelihoods and survival. In this instance on influencing agricultural policies, there is little or no involvement of women small holder farmers in local, states and national decision making and policy issues.”

  • Farmers explore greenhouse farming to increase food security

    Farmers explore greenhouse farming to increase food security

    Faced with unpredictable weather conditions, many Nigerians are turning to greenhouse farming technology to increase food production and supplement their income. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    To boost food production, farmers have been in search of crops cultivation technologies that would help them control the climate for their plants 24 hours a day.

    This will allow their plants grow strong, healthy and big. One of these is under net houses. Net houses are framed or inflated structures covered with transparent or translucent material large enough to grow crops under partial or full controlled environmental conditions to get optimum growth and productivity. Net house farming, also known as greenhouses is fast gaining popularity among farmers because it enables them grow exotic vegetables, flowers and fruits throughout the year and help to  improve the depleting water table. This means farmers can grow crops  anytime  of the year and make the most use of land. The  technology gives plants exactly what they need – the perfect climate, the right amount of light, the right amount of nutrition, exact amounts of water and carbon dioxide and  proper ventilation.

    According to experts, the yield under greenhouse cultivation can be achieved to the level of 5-8 times as compared to the open crop cultivation which is two times.

    Also, it is possible to harvest a single crop round year with minimum additional inputs and higher income can be generated.

    Vegetables and flowers grown under greenhouses have given high returns and top quality produced. The potential of floriculture under protected cultivation is huge for global markets.

    One of the companies that have adopted greenhouse farming is Vegefresh Company Limited, an indigenous producer of tomato paste. This is to help the company achieve the goals of its National Integrated Tomato Development Programme which has commenced in Ogun and other states of the federation.

    The company farms and processes tomatoes. The addition of green houses enables it to produce tomatoes all year round.

    Its Chairman, Mr. Samuel Johnson Samuel said the  company  acquired greenhouses to enable it produce tomato year round and provide raw materials for its tomato processing plants.

    Under the net houses, the plants are protected from wind, precipitation, excess radiation and temperature. The other benefits are that crops of good quality and higher yield can be grown, water requirement is very less, while the low labour-intensive method helps in controlling pests and diseases.

    Indeed, Samuel is excited about his tomato project having seen the potential of a year-long harvest to service his tomato processing business. Though acquiring it costs some few millions, the facilities provide atmosphere for growth that is unaffected by outside changes.

    Due to very little sunlight access, humidity of the fertiliser is maintained, external insects and organisms that harm a plant don’t enter it and plant growth is even due to same climatic condition.

    To date, greenhouse farming has proved popular with big farmers and investors, who find it suitable for labour-intensive food production. The facility providers believe greenhouses represent potential growth market for a variety of economical, environmentally technical and ecological reasons and they are taking advantage of this to grow their businesses.

    An example is Dizengoff West Africa Nigeria, a member of the United Kingdom Balton CP Group and few of the organisations that have introduced greenhouse farming system into the market.

    For the company, if Nigeria has to emerge as an economic power, agricultural productivity should equal those countries, which are currently rated as economic powers of the world.

    To this end, the sector needs a new and effective technology which can improve continuously the productivity, profitability, sustainability of the farming system. One such technology is the greenhouse technology.

    Consequently, the company is training farmers and entrepreneurs on the use of its greenhouse technology for fresh vegetable production.

    The training focused on the production and post-harvest management of vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper and cucumber using the greenhouse technology.

    Its Marketing Communications Manager, Humphrey Otalor said the company has over 300 greenhouses across Nigeria.

    His words: “Over the past one year, we have engaged well over 200 greenhouse owners through a systemic training, which are both in theory and practical with the aim of helping farmers grow fresh vegetables in season and out of season, as well as helping them understand the different soil topography. With our greenhouses, farmers are able to grow their income levels, by growing fresh vegetable all year round: such are tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet-melon. Also, some use our greenhouse for research purposes.”

    Dizengoff greenhouse technology otherwise called ‘Dizengoff Farmers Kit’ is aimed at providing farmers with an all year round technique to produce and increase the yields of greenhouse crops such as tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet-melon as well as provide steady incomes for the farmers. It also involves transfer of knowledge to the farmers to improve the quality of their produce, reduce field losses and ensure higher profits.

    Presently, a number of farmers who have adopted the Dizengoff Farmer’s Kit are already enjoying high productivity from the system and most of them believe that with the increased demand of such crops in the market, the Kit, which is now widely being adopted, will help meet the rising demand.

    In terms of affordability, Otalor said the greenhouses are affordable and they are also talking to some banks, to provide loans for interested farmers on a single digit interest rate. While the technology has been associated with wealthy individuals, this is changing, thanks to many initiatives to produce low cost greenhouse to support small scale farms in urban and rural areas venturing into tomato and pepper growing.

    One of the farmers driving this change is Adewale Okunoye. He is an agric engineer by training. He is developing low- cost greenhouses. Okunoye, Chief Executive, Asher Ventures and Specialities, has successfully cultivated a variety of crops at his greenhouse set up at Ajah,Lagos.

    Though cheap compared to others, Okunoye has been able to achieve the objective of cultivating vegetables under a locally made greenhouse which still offer controlled conditions for the growth of different varieties of vegetables. Before he went into farming, he was into building/construction project management.

    His greenhouse, made up of low materials can be used to grow tomato, sweet peppers,orange, cucumber and vegetables. Apart from these, it can be used to cultivate varieties of flowers.

    Agricultural experts said cultivating fruits, flowers and vegetables in the greenhouse year-round requires maintaining a favourable temperature inside the greenhouse for the plants. He is happy he is able to achieve this.

    People aware of advantages of greenhouses have been approaching him to set up greenhouses at their farms and fields.

    Okunoye went into greenhouse constructing after quitting a career in building construction. Along the line, he thought of tomato cultivation. But he realised tomato farming is better done through greenhouse. With a greenhouse, he can extend tomato growing season to three crop cycles.

    Although greenhouses were available outside the country when he was starting, they were too large and too expensive for rural farmers. He thought of a way out. His words: “I got the idea of using local materials partially from my trip to East Africa in my quest to acquire the capacity to deploy the greenhouse cultivation technology. I took extensive and expensive tours around tomato greenhouse operations and from what I saw, with my background as an engineer, and my experience in construction, I came to the conclusion that I could try something similar in Nigeria.”

    After failed trials, Okunoye has produced a perfectly functional type. With all hardwares, it costs just N700,000. To produce for someone, he promised to do it for N800,000. The area of the greenhouse is 200m2. He opted for improvised greenhouses with lower maintenance costs that uses water more efficiently and one that can be easily moved to cut on setup costs.

    His dream is to produce a greenhouse for 400,000 naira.

    To Okunoye, greenhouse farming has opened a new chapter in his life. He is able to provide food for his family and educate his children. His passion and use of cheap materials is what has driven him to attain success so far.

  • Photo: Farmers kill Hippopotamus

    Photo: Farmers kill Hippopotamus

    HEAD OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS THAT HAD BEEN TERRORIZING FARMERS AROUND DADIN-KOWA DAM, WHICH WAS KILLED IN GOMBE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
    HEAD OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS THAT HAD BEEN TERRORIZING FARMERS AROUND DADIN-KOWA DAM, WHICH WAS KILLED IN GOMBE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
  • ‘Local poultry farmers can meet consumers’ demand’

    ‘Local poultry farmers can meet consumers’ demand’

    The importation of frozen poultry was banned by the Federal Government but despite this ban since 2003, the smuggling has remained unabated. Recently however, considering the health issues arising from the consumption of the smuggled meat and the loss of revenue to the Government, Government through the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control [NAFDAC] and the Nigerian Customs launched Operation Hawk Descend to combat the activities of these nefarious smugglers.

    However, with the Operation Hawk Descend, the price of both the smuggled and indigenously produced poultry has gone almost beyond the reach of the average Nigerians. Many people are asking questions; With the large population of Nigeria, which is still increasing, Can the poultry farmers in Nigeria produce enough poultry to meet demand of consumers?, As the Government is enforcing this ban, what policies has it put in place to grow the Nigerian poultry?.

    In this interview with Dr. Ayoola Oduntan,  National President, Poultry Association  Farmers of  Nigeria, he tried to address these issues including the current price of poultry meat, the many challenges facing the poultry industry, how Government can grow the Agricultural sector through poultry and what is expected from consumers at this transitional period among many things.

    There are so many speculations, we will like to know the exact annual demand of poultry meat in this country.

    Local demand of poultry is about 1.5million metric tonnes, while Nigerian farmers can produce about 700-1million metric tonnes but right now we are only producing about 300,000 metric tonnes.

    So, do the poultry farmers in Nigeria have the capacity to feed the Nation.

    Our capacity as it is, is between 700- 1 milliontonnes and we can grow that capacity quickly as the Government  is willing to support, and determined to grow the poultry industry. Our capacity utilization is about 46% but all that can increase within 2years.

    Within that two years, how do you intend to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of poultry. As you said, the local demand is about 1.5million metric tonnes while local farmers are producing 300,000 metric tonnes now, creating a shortfall of 1.2million metric tonnes of supply.

    We shall activate all the abandoned farms, use the existing major players as hubs around which we would develop smaller farming groups. In the area of trainingwe shall mobilize organized knowledge sharing plateforms and Government will of course come in with infrastructural support targeted at farms. A situation where most farmers in this country are borrowing money at 20%-30% is not encouraging. In most places where Government is determined to turn Agriculture around, farmers borrow money at between 3%-6%.More farmers should have access to development finance initiatives.

    How can poultry industry grow other economies in the country?

    Poultry Industry is so unique because it can stimulate other economies down the line. That is why many countries around the world will actively promote their Poultry Industries. In doing that Government will now need to focus on the activation of Maize, Rice, Soya, and Wheat, farms, Quarries, palm kernel and palmoil because all these industries feed the poultry industry thereby creating millions of jobs. So you can imagine how much jobs will be created if Government focuses on growing the industry.

    Since the campaign of Operation Hawk Descendstarted, has the Government come up with new policies to support poultry farming.

    The response from the Customs, NAFDAC and Ministry of Agriculture has been great. NAFDAC has done a great job in identifying the fact that this imported poultry is in direct opposition to their mandate of safe guarding the health of the Nation.

    But what more can Government do to encourage indigenous poultry farming

    Yes, there is so much more that can be done.  Ministry of Information can launch a campaign encouraging the consumption of eggs. The Health Ministry should educate pregnant women on the impact of egg meals as they can get the needed Folic acid for the growth of the baby. Ministries of Internal affairs, Education should insist  that egg be inculcated in Government school meals. An egg a day is recommended in most countries as part of healthy nutritious diet. Government should use it’s propaganda machinery to increase and generate demands for our products. It will cost them nothing but the impact will be huge in the economy.

    When you say an egg a day is recommend as part of a healthy diet, are you referring to children or adults.

    For everybody. We all know that the egg is probably God’s best gift in terms of food for us because of the nutrient contents. We have one of the lowest per capita egg consumption in the world.

    Maybe the cost is what is discouraging the consumption and the believe that it has high cholesterol content. An average sized egg sells between N25 to N30.

    Egg is not expensive compared to other food items especially when you consider the nutritional contents. The wrong information from the Americans in the 70s that egg is high in cholesterol has been demystified by new scientific facts which says that the cholesterol in egg is the good and healthy one and that there is no direct relationship between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol.

    Since the recent enforcement of the ban on imported frozen chicken, the prices of both the imported ones and the indigenously produced ones have gone up by about 50%.

    The price of the locally produced chicken has not gone up.

    No, from my research the price has gone up. The local producers are taking advantage of the shortage of the smuggled ones to fleece the public.

    I have spoken to the Chief Executives of most of the farmers and we have agreed not to raise prices for now. It is the traders, the Channels that are raising the prices.

    So how do you intend to monitor and control these traders.

    Now that government policy is being enforced and is here to stay, any increase will just be for a while and supply will soon meet with the demand as much as possible. The increase will only be for a short while as a lot of supply will eventually come into the market.

    When exactly should people expect this more supply.

    Is a process and we need to remain committed. The demand for day old chicks has gone up and people have started talking to their banks about reactivating their abandoned farms again.

    Why do you think that smuggled poultry has persisted despite previous efforts to stop it even with the health challenges

    Most people were ignorant of the health implications but now that they are realizing the negative health issues they will desist from patronizing it.

    What parting words do you want to leave with the consumers .

    Right now we have pride to consume made in Nigerian products that are good for our health and our economy and it should continue. What we are envisaging in the Poultry Industry now is only a transition that will stabilize in due course. People should not panic and take the wrong decision when the solution is just round the corner.