The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Farmers

  • ‘We’re empowering farmers to meet global demand’

    ‘We’re empowering farmers to meet global demand’

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said  the Federal Government is empowering farmers with mechanisation to aid diversification of the economy.

    Kyari said Federal Government’s target on mechanisation is not only for technological advancement but to improve skills and knowledge to meet global demand.

    The minister, represented by Director II Agric Business and Marketing at the ministry, Gagare Nadungu, spoke at a Special Agro Equipment/Agro Expo: ‘Sustainable Food Security and Agro Produce Export Through Mechanisation,’ organised by Eurobase Consult with the ministry.

     He noted diversification requires strategic planning and conscious investments in agriculture and agribusinesses, nurturing small and medium enterprises, and creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation.

    Read Also: Ex-commissioner empowers farmers with N5m

     Noting the deployment of mechanisation is one of the objectives of President Bola Tinubu, he added the commitment to agricultural mechanisation goes beyond mere technological advancement.

    “It is about empowering farmers with the knowledge, skills, and tools to succeed in their businesses and to meet the global market demand.

     “This objective of meeting global market demand is consistent with the vision of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the President. It is about promoting sustainable agribusiness practices that protect our natural resources and preserve the environment”, he said.

    Managing Director of Eurobase Consult, Don Ekesiobi, noted traditional farming practices alone would not meet growing demand in a changing world, climate change, population growth, and resource constraints challenging agricultural productivity and resilience.  

  • Ex-commissioner empowers farmers with N5m

    Ex-commissioner empowers farmers with N5m

    Ex-Oyo State Commissioner for Works and Transport Prof. Abdulraheem Afonja has empowered farmers in Oriire Local Government with over five million naira for yam seedlings.

    He said the empowerment would not only complement efforts of the state government in food security, but would also enhance agricultural productivity in the council and Ogbomoso zone.

    Presenting the cash to the beneficiaries, Afonja said the gesture is part of efforts to assist farmers with input as the rainy season begins, considering the challenges farmers are going through due to economic hardship.

    Read Also: Ex-Oyo Commissioner empowers farmers with N5m for yam seedlings

    He said: “When it comes to welfare of the people of Oyo State, there are five basic things that must be the priority of any government, namely security, health, education, economy and welfare of the elderly, children and retirees.”

    Afonja, who reiterated his commitment to making positive impact in the state, however, said the donation was to empower the farmers to buy yam seedlings.

    He said Messrs Bamikole Ezekiel, Hazeez Kareem, Akano Isiaka, Bamikole Sunday, Salaudeen Mukaila, Abdullah Ibrahim, Ayinde Akeemu, Oyekunle Gabriel, Ojo Alabi and Adekanmi Timothy were among the farmers who benefitted from the programme.

    Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Bamikole Ezekiel thanked Afonja for his philanthropic gesture, saying the seedlings would enhance productivity during the planting season.

  • Ex-Oyo Commissioner empowers farmers with N5m for yam seedlings

    Ex-Oyo Commissioner empowers farmers with N5m for yam seedlings

    Former Oyo Commissioner for Works and Transport, Prof. Abdulraheem Afonja has empowered farmers in Oriire Local Government Area with over N5m for yam seedlings.

    He said the gesture was to support government’s efflrts on food security.

    Speaking while presenting the cash to the beneficiaries, Afonja said the gesture was part of his continued efforts to assist farmers with inputs as raining season commences considering challenges facing them due to economic hardship. 

    He stated that the empowerment will not only complement efforts of Oyo State Government on food security but also enhance agricultural productivity in the Oriire LGA and Ogbomoso zone at large.

    According to Afonja, when it comes to welfare of the people of Oyo state, there are five important basic things that must be the priority of any incoming government. 

    They include security, health, education, economy and social welfare of the elderly, children and retirees, he stated. 

    He said: “Every one of these areas must be tackled head-on for us to liberate our people from poverty and create prosperity. Without a secured state, none of those other four God-given basic needs can be met. That means the economy will suffer and investors will not invest in our dearest state. 

    “As a farmer in Orire Local Government Area, I have interacted with so many of the farmers, and they need help. The bank is not willing to give loans because they don’t have collateral and when they do, they will be asking for arms and legs. I understand what the farmer are passing through, and I understand their plight and their challenges in getting money to support their farming activities. 

    “I also understand the threat of losing everything to herders after putting all they have in their planting season. So many uncertainties that they have to face on daily basis. However, I have been supporting the local government area in terms of infrastructure (grading of their rural roads), and in terms of security especially my security outfit, OPC, and Agro rangers have continued to partner to protect the interest of farmers in Orire Local Government.

    “As a journalist, you can confirm all these things. I have always said that the government cannot do it alone. This is why in the past, I’ve graded some of the farm roads in Orire and now I’m giving them money to support this upcoming planting season.”

    Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Bamikole Ezekiel expressed gratitude to Afonja, saying that the yam seedlings will enhance productivity during the planting season.

  • Farmers urged to explore basmati rice production

    Farmers urged to explore basmati rice production

    The Chief Executive, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr. Olufemi Oladunni has urged farmers to explore the $13.08 billion global basmati rice market to save the country foreign from importation.

    Basmati rice is a good source of energy due to its high carbohydrate content and provides essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Additionally, its high fiber content aids in digestion, and its low cholesterol and sodium levels contribute to heart health.

    The top producers of basmati rice in the World are India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States,Thailand, Kenya,Iraq, and Thailand. Basmati rice is primarily grown in the Indian subcontinent, with India and Pakistan being the largest producers by far.

    He noted: “Most basmati rice is grown in Pakistan and India and is prized for its delicate flavor, long grains, and unique aroma.’’

    Nonetheless, Nigeria and other areas with appropriate climates and farming methods can also support the cultivation of Basmati rice. Large areas of land in Nigeria are appropriate for growing rice, and because of its superior quality and high market demand, Basmati rice production in Nigeria can present special potential. This is a comprehensive summary of the agronomic techniques used in Nigerian Basmati rice cultivation.”

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    Oladunni highlighted the potential for Nigeria to enhance its self-sufficiency in rice production, suggesting a particular interest in expanding into Basmati rice cultivation.

    According to him,  the pursuit of greater self-sufficiency in rice production, including the expansion into Basmati rice cultivation, could contribute to Nigeria’s food security goals and reduce its dependence on rice imports.

    Expanding into Basmati rice cultivation, he continued, would require investment in infrastructure, research, and technology to adapt to the specific requirements of the variety..

    Oladunni said Nigeria has the capacity to pursue greater self-sufficiency  in rice production to  expand new areas such as Basmati rice  for increased food resiliency.

  • On the need to support the small scale farmers

    On the need to support the small scale farmers

    SIR: A motley of small scale farmers that are strewn around different corners of our country are responsible almost entirely for feeding and sustaining the food supply chain; therefore contributing to the nutritional, social and economic needs of the country. They are preponderantly from the rural backwater notoriously known for being bare of basic necessities and amenities. And, where such exist they are almost in a state of irretrievable state of dysfunction.

    The huge contribution of the agricultural sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is propelled by the activities of small scale farmers. Their roles are especially important for rural development, employment and poverty reduction.

    Daily they hunch over their hoes tilling the land in wet and dry seasons. They operate on scattered small lands which are either bought, family owned, inherited or rented. Quintessentially, they are subsistent in nature and capacity determines the quantity to be sold in the market in meeting numerous quotidian needs. The family is the primary source of labour with support from hired labour in some instance and labour exchanges from other farmers. The use of rudimentary tools is the norm with improved farming practices, advisory services, market information etc. practically absent. Basically, they count on their hands-on experience and efficiency in the utilization of available resources.

    It has been motion without movement despite many attempts to ostensibly prop up this category of farmers. Barring any attempt at reimagining our approaches to the agricultural sector, the burden of our food needs will continue to rest on the thin shoulders of the small scale farmers in the face of the bulging population and the attendant spike in nutritional requirement.

    Against this background, there is a strong necessity for proactive steps in adequately priming the small scale farmers by pulling out every stop in making their contribution count significantly while helping them take advantage of the emerging opportunities.

    The small holder farmers are vulnerable to a myriad of stifling factors such as price volatility and the activities of middlemen that deny them the full benefits of their investment; others include effect of climate change, limited access to inputs, credit market, lack of access to market, deficient or non-existing infrastructure etc. Social ills like conflicts, kidnappings and banditry are establishing crushing foothold in rural communities with debilitating effects. All of these factors and several others have conspired in pushing the small scale farmers deeper into the abyss of poverty.

    Myriad of experiences have proven that access to market and information possesses the capacity to help circumvent not a few challenges and empowering the small scale farmers financially and therefore promoting pro-poor economic growth.

    There’s necessity to enhance small scale farmers productivity through massive technology and financial support. The financial inclusion is the x-factor needed to transition Nigeria farmers from subsistence to a growth phase. This will be actualized by providing farmers with funding so they can invest in needed technology that will expand operation and enable them compete with agro-entrepreneur across the world.

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa distributes palliatives to farmers

    Regardless of the weakness ascribed to the NIRSAL- Anchor Borrowers’ Programme resulting into mixed results, the motivation behind its creation remains brilliant and it is highly desirable to re-work the programme in light of the many lessons learnt for proper positioning in supporting the small scale farmers. More so, genuine advocacy in pushing the interests of the small scale farmers to the front burner of public discourse and holding policy makers and government accountable needs to be supported alongside, encouraging private initiatives.

    On the whole, our surest path is to continue to put in place policies to support agricultural development, strengthen institutional capacities, provide appropriate infrastructure, facilitate technology access and create business friendly environment for the small scale farmers.

    We need to place the small scale farmers on the path of recognition for their incredible contribution and valorising them means reaching out to them just as we do when we require their electoral mandates. And, improving agricultural productivity will require lot of doings in scaling up the small-scale farmer which should start now.

    • Abachi Ungbo, abachi007@yahoo.com
  • Ginger farmers to get N1.6b for damaged farms

    Ginger farmers to get N1.6b for damaged farms

    Federal Government has said it will launch a N1.6 billion package for farmers in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Federal Capital Territory, whose farms were damaged by fungal ginger disease in 2023.

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who spoke at inauguration of the ginger blight epidemic committee task force in Abuja yesterday said, preliminary estimates suggest affected farmers in Southern Kaduna lost over N12 billion.

    He lamented that the blight caused billions in losses, impacting livelihoods and Nigeria’s position as world’s second-largest ginger producer.

    Kyari, represented by his Minister of State, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the inauguration would be followed by a state level ceremony tomorrow in Kaduna where the task force through National Agriculture Development Fund (NADFund) is launching the package for affected farmers.

    He noted Federal Government under President Bola  Tinubu, recognises the role ginger plays in the economy.

    He promised that the ministry would support farmers and prevent future outbreaks.

    “In supporting affected farmers, we are committed to providing financial assistance and resources to help farmers recover from their losses.

    Read Also: Rivers residents jubilate as police kill notorious cult leader

    “We are investing in research and development to understand the fungal blight, developing prevention and mitigation strategies and seed multiplication – the technical and research committee under National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), proposes to establish a 20-hectare land for clean ginger seed cultivation and multiplication.

    “We will enhance agricultural extension services, equipping farmers with knowledge and best practices to prevent future crop diseases.

    “It is with this multi-pronged approach that we launch the ginger blight epidemic committee tasforce.

    “This task force will serve as the cornerstone of our response going forward, bringing together expertise of researchers, extension agents, and dedicated farmers. Together, we will overcome this challenge and build a more resilient ginger industry.

    “The ginger blight epidemic serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness in safeguarding agricultural resources. By investing in research, extension services, and farmer support systems, we can build a more sustainable future for our agricultural sector, ensuring Nigeria’s food security and continued success as a leading global ginger producer”, Kyari said.

  • 13,000 farmers and vulnerable women bag Katsina Cares largesse

    13,000 farmers and vulnerable women bag Katsina Cares largesse

    About 13,000 farmers and vulnerable women in Katsina, yesterday, benefited from the COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus Programme otherwise known ”Katsina Cares.”

    The beneficiaries, who were drawn from several communities, were provided with cash grants and agricultural inputs as well as several other livelihood support and resources.

    The third cycle of the programme was recently held at Kangiwa Square in Daura Metropolis.

    The Nation recalls that the Katsina State governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, had inaugurated Katsina Cares on December 14, 2023, where 19,543 farmers, households, and communities benefited from the initiative.

    In the current cycle, Katsina Cares is expected to distribute livelihood support to 2,700 beneficiaries, operational cash assistance to 2,718 beneficiaries, agricultural inputs to 7,370 selected farmers across the 34 local governments and support grants to 74 CSDAs across the state.

    Read Also: Economy: Subsidy beneficiaries, smugglers fighting back, says Tinubu

    At the Daura event, Governor Radda emphasised that the cycle of the programme involved the distribution of grinding machines to women, farm implements to farmers, and cash transfers to identified small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operators across the state.

    He urged programme managers to ensure effective monitoring and supervision to guarantee its success.

    The Governor further directed the provision of periodic reports on the programme’s progress and urged proper utilisation of the assistance.

  • Farmers slam FG over Ukraine food assistance

    Farmers slam FG over Ukraine food assistance

    Farmers have joined their voices in the thread of criticism that trailed the recent offer by war-ravaged Ukrain to export 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to Nigeria. 

    The farmers under the aegis of the Nigeria Farners Group and Cooperative Society, berated the Federal Government for not doing enough to ensure food security in the country despite enjoying relative peace when compared to Ukraine which has been at war with Russia for close to two years. 

    The Managing Partner of the Group, Retson Tedheke, who voiced the farmers’ frustration while briefing reporters in Abuja lamented the free fall of the Naira to the dollar was as a result of the failure of federal government to adopt advanced farming technologies and  invest strategically in agriculture. 

    According to Tedheke, the Anchor Borrower’s programme failed to yield the desired result because the billions of Naira spent on the programme was channeled to contractors instead of those in the industry who have the requisite experience. 

    He explained that government should have allowed the commercial banks play the role of monitoring, evaluation, and progress reporting of the programme rather than the current practice where they are pressured and over burdened to give loans to farmers. 

    Read Also: Attaining food sustainability through women farmers

    Tedheke added that the Group is has decided to come up with a technology driven farming investment programme called agbadovision towards rescuing the nation from from an imminent food crisis should the government not take proactive steps towards tackling various challenges that could lead to food shortage. 

    He called on President Bola Tinubu, who he said inspired the vision with his his ‘agbado’ comment during the build up to the 2023 election, to support the programme by investing strategically into agriculture inorder to create employment, surplus food production and strengthen the Naira. 

    “We have learned we are people and we can utilize technology to put this land and people to good use. So today, a great day in the next one month we’re going to call all of you to the launch. 

    “This is a prolonged press conference in the next month, and within a month thereafter that not just 1 million, or 2 million, or 3 million or 5 million, but about $10 million is going to be on the table  based on blockchain technology tokenizing NFGCS Farm Estate driving agriculture revolution for the greater good of our people, for the stability of our country, for national security, for social stability and a foundation that is impossible to be broken because food is life”. 

    The app’s designer, Mike Onimisi, said AGBATOKEN’s will revolutionise agricultural finance through tokenization. With a current valuation of $10 million, the token seeks to overcome funding constraints, facilitate postal expansion, and incentivize sustainable agricultural practices.

  • Fed govt, BUK train farmers on Agroecology

    Fed govt, BUK train farmers on Agroecology

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) of Bayero University, Kano, recently held a three-day workshop for farmers to improve their farming practices.

    The workshop was organised to specifically train farmers on “Agroecological Best Practices,” especially how to increase food production without harming the environment, said the Director of CDA, Prof Jibrin Mohammed Jibrin.

     Speaking at the event, Prof Jibrin said the training, which came as a result of the partnership between the CDA and the federal government, was aimed at improving farming practices and maintaining the environment.

    “Such training is very important because this decade (2021 to 2030) is the United Nations’s Decade of ecosystem restoration.

     “We must all agree that in recent years, we have had a lot of challenges with our ecosystem, and particularly in the last few years, the loss of biodiversity in areas around Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi is very huge because of many reasons.

    Read Also: Monarch backs farmers’ projects on food production

     “The workshop is mainly to train farmers on how to improve our farming system and maintain our ecosystem. I promise you that you are going to have the best type of training on this issue,” he said.

    On his part, the National Correspondent of the Agroecology Programme, Yerima Sa’idu, disclosed that the ECOWAS Commission is supporting its implementation across the sub-region, including Nigeria.

    “The programme aims to increase productivity and fisheries production, through diversified and sustainable production systems and reduce

    post-harvest production losses,” he said.

    The Agroecology Programme is reportedly managed by VAS and coordinated by the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA) Togo-Lome.

     In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the implementing Agency, while the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS) is the Project Implementation Unic (PIU).

  • Farmers decry rising N15b farm produce theft

    Farmers decry rising N15b farm produce theft

    Stock theft remains rife in farms across the country with Agribusiness & Youth Empowerment Coordinator, Community of Agricultural Stakeholders of Nigeria (CASON), Anga Sotonye, putting losses at N15 billion.

    The Nation learnt that large-scale stock theft is common in the North and South.

    Speaking with The Nation, Sotonye noted that farmers lose about 40 per cent of their harvest to thieves with the attendant hunger, pushing more people to steal stored  farm produce.

    According to him, large-scale theft of farm produce was taking place before farmers can harvest their crops.

    This situation is not helped by nonexistence of police stations near the farms, absence of local community patrollers, farm watches, the effective use of safety cameras, among others, to play a decisive role in preventing more animals and  produce  from being stolen.

    Following the deplorable economic situation, Sotonye noted that both crop and livestock producers have suffered astronomical financial losses as a result of organised theft.

    According to him, the situation was exacerbated by limited ability and capacity to combat crime in the rural areas.

    With rising food prices, he explained that farmers were seen as soft targets by criminals. Co-founder, Corporate Farmers International, Akin Alabi lamented that stock theft is a major problem for them.

    According to him, theft in the farms is rampant. He noted that stock theft had become so bad, thereby contributing to huge losses at the end of a production cycle for farmers.

    A Nassarawa-based farmer, Innocent Mokidi noted that crimes were happening mainly in the rural areas.

    His concern is that the government has been much less effective in averting agricultural crime.

    Across  the  sector, he continued,  stock theft is persistent, posing a serious threat to food security and livelihood.  In  some areas of the Southwest for example, plantain theft has prompted farmers to harvest their crops before  they mature.

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    Also, cattle theft is making agriculture a risk venture  in Zamfara and Adamawa states. It was learnt that insecurity and farm crime had become threat to rural livelihoods and food security.

    The Nation also learnt that cattle rustling and stock theft had become traumatic to the economic survival of small scale livestock farmers.

    Reports said some residents of Taraba State were stealing farm pŕoduce to feed their families. As a result, some farmers in Gombe State are reportedly taking unusual steps to safeguard their crops.

    While some farmers sleep on their farms to keep vigil, others pay between N30, 000 and N50, 000 monthly to vigilantes to safeguard their farms, as farmers in the state prepare for harvest.

    Mokidi said many farmers have recorded incidents were thieves have  harvested their produce several times. According to him, not only were they stealing to sell but also that people were stealing to feed their  families.