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Tag: Food security

  • Lagos, Amo Farm partner on food security

    Lagos, Amo Farm partner on food security

    • Empower 50 residents with 1,000 Noiler birds

    The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has partnered Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited to empower residents, improve nutrition and boost food security.

    On the strength of the partnership, 50 residents have been empowered with 1,000 Noiler birds, offering a sustainable poultry solution to combat food insecurity, poverty, and malnutrition through a simple and accessible program.

    The Ministry’s initiative provided carefully selected residents from the Lagos State Social Registry with a toolkit for success. Each beneficiary received a start-up pack consisting of 20 five-week-old Noiler birds, 25kg of Amo Byng Grower Pellet, and a pack of Divertamin, a nutrient blend for optimal bird growth and production.

    The Noiler Empowerment program was among several presented at the micro-enterprise support ceremony hosted by the Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, on January 9th, 2024.

    The event, which held in Lagos, was graced by distinguished guests, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Claudania Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Commissioners of various ministries; members of the State Executive Council; Permanent Secretaries; and others.

    With this empowerment project, beneficiaries received training on optimal bird care from Amo Farm’s National Sales Coordinator for Noiler, Olayinka Akorede.

    Noiler which is an innovation of Amo Farm, not only offers a viable source of income but also provides an essential source of animal protein, particularly beneficial for children’s immune system, brain development, and overall health.

    The Noiler’s hardy nature, delicious taste, and ability to thrive on kitchen waste make it perfect for low-resource farmers. Adaptable to diverse environments, the Noiler empowers communities by boosting food security, income, and sustainability.

    Read Also: TechnoServe, others partner on food security

    According to Akorede, Noiler birds are dual-purpose for both egg and meat production. “The female Noiler will start laying eggs at 20-22 weeks, supporting their feeding and income generation, while the male Noiler can be consumed at 14-16 weeks,” she explained.

    Amo Farm’s Business Development Manager, Mrs. Itoro Awala-Ale, committed to assisting the Lagos State beneficiaries through extension services and support throughout their Noiler poultry ventures and they were each connected to a Farmer Satisfaction Representative.

    This, according to her, builds on the company’s existing support of over 1.3 million small-holder farmers through Noiler farming.

    The Noiler bird’s rapid adoption for state empowerment programs is evident. Recently, Bauchi State partnered with an NGO to empower 300 women with 20 Noiler chicks each, while others have expressed interest in following suit.

    Amo Farm, led by Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, and producing over a million chicks per week, remains dedicated to agricultural innovation that enhances food security and fulfills the nutritional needs of the people.

  • TechnoServe, others partner on food security

    TechnoServe, others partner on food security

    With 25 million Nigerians  at risk of facing hunger according to the United Nations , TechnoServe, Bühler, DSM-Firmenich and Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) have joined forces with the Federal Government in promoting healthy nutrition through large-scale food fortification.

      This is part of measures to end hidden hunger and boost food security in the country. Hidden hunger is a situation in which a person consumes food items that fall short of the globally required percentage of vitamins, and minerals, a trend that is on the rise in Nigeria.

    PFS is a non-profit consortium of global food companies that is working to increase the growth and competitiveness of food companies in Africa and beyond.

    According to the Country  Director, PFS, Toju Ukubeyinje,  treating hidden hunger is cost-effective and offers a huge return on investment for businesses and tackling it will require collaborative efforts from all industry stakeholders.

    Ukubeyinje, who spoke at a national seminar held in Kano, said the partnership is now coordinating action directed at ensuring that Nigerians eat and have access to more fortified foods.

    To tackle the issue of hidden hunger in the country, He said his organisation has assembled a team of volunteers who are helping indigenous rice millers to tap opportunities in the food fortification business.

    In his presentation, earlier, an Account Manager,DSM-Firmenich, Jesse Ichull, disclosed that a study recently conducted across the country indicates that about 85 percent of Nigerians are ready to purchase fortified rice products.

    He added that the study also revealed that about 76 percent of Nigerians also have a preference to pay more for fortified rice, a development that indicates a wide acceptance of micro-nutrient fortified rice in the country.

    Ichull urged rice millers and stakeholders at the seminar, to leverage the opportunity that the seminar offers to upgrade their knowledge and experience, as well as the technology that the organisers of the event are promoting to enable them to compete.

    Read Also: Achieving food security through research, development

    Also, speaking at the occasion, senior program manager at TechnoServe, AyodeleTella, representing the Millers for Nutrition (M4N) coalition, said that the M4N is a miller-centric coalition that is supported by a range of players from across the food value chain.

    It is positioned to celebrate, enable, and encourage millers who are ready to set the pace for rice fortification in Nigeria, following the directive of the federal government to increase essential nutrient intake through staple foods in the country.

    The Millers for Nutrition, program coordinated by TechnoServe in Nigeria and seven other countries in East Africa, and South-East Asia will provide technical assistance to rice millers to fast-track the realization of the objective of the government to reduce hidden hunger.

    Outlining reasons, why food fortification is required in Nigeria, she stated that the high cost of adequately diverse diets of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods is prohibitive to millions of Nigerians who are trapped in multi-dimensional poverty, underscoring the importance of consuming fortified staple foods such as rice, edible oil, flour, sugar.

    According to her, the increased local production of rice, the industrial structure of the sector, and a per capita consumption of about 32kg per person annually across all regions and economic quantile begs the case for rice fortification.

    She pointed out that the seminar was organized to stimulate rice millers in the country to meet the federal government’s goal of ensuring that 100 percent of rice in Nigerian food items found across markets is fortified by 2026.

    During the event, Senior Area Sales Engineer ,Bühler Nigeria, Ghosh Aryuman,  highlighted Bühler’s equipment solutions for rice fortification including the CompacTwinTM Twin-Screw Extruder which produces stable fortified rice kernels with 99percent nutrient retention even after 10 months of storage and blending solutions like the SpeedMixTM Batch Mixer which produces consistent mixing quality with a minimal maintenance requirement.

    In the same vein, Abdoulaye Lo, who is the sales manager at dsm-firmenich Nigeria, also provided briefs about the global operations of his company and the interventions that the company is ready to offer to the Nigerian rice industry in the quest for the attainment of a hidden hunger free status.

  • ‘Soil degradation poses risk to food security’

    ‘Soil degradation poses risk to food security’

    A document released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Soil Science Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science (NISS), have said, soil degradation from climate change and human activity poses risks on food security in the face of surging population, if measures are not taken to correct it.

    This, it said, puts excessive pressure on water resources.

    The document released ahead of the December 5th World Soil Day,  said sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, organic matter addition, and cover cropping, improve soil health, reduce erosion and pollution, and enhance water infiltration and storage.

    It noted that soils are directly and indirectly involved in the provision of most ecosystem services vital for humans, including food production, which is fundamental for food security and sovereignty.

    According to the document, soil provides living space for humans, as well as essential ecosystem services which are important for water regulation and supply, climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and cultural services.

     “Soils are directly and indirectly involved in the provision of most ecosystem services vital for humans, including food production, which is fundamental for food security and sovereignty”.

    “Soils are the basis for producing more than 95 percent of our food, according to the analysis of data available in FAOSTAT (FAO, 2022). But soils are under pressure from increases in population, higher demands for food and competing land uses.

    “Over 33 percent of agricultural land is degraded due to erosion, loss of organic carbon and biodiversity, salinization, acidification, compaction, and nutrient imbalance, among other causes (FAO and ITPS, 2015)”, the document said.

    Read Also: Food security most critical part of President’s Eight-Point Agenda, says minister

    While noting that healthy soils are essential for human survival, it called for  removal of incentives that encourage mechanical tillage and the wasteful use of fertilizers, and transfer to farmers precision approaches such as urea deep placement and site-specific nutrient management.

    It said: ”Soil supports healthy plant growth to enhance both our nutrition and water percolation to maintain groundwater levels, and it helps to regulate the planet’s climate by storing carbon and is the second largest carbon sink after the oceans.

    “They help maintain a landscape that is more resilient to the impacts of droughts and floods. As soil is the basis of food systems, it is no surprise that soil health is critical for healthy food production.

     “Basic grains, oil seeds, sugar, vegetables, nuts and fruits directly rely on soils, and livestock meat and products, such as eggs and dairy products, are supported by animal feeds that also grow in soils”.

  • Food security most critical part of President’s Eight-Point Agenda, says minister

    Food security most critical part of President’s Eight-Point Agenda, says minister

    The Federal Government has said food security is the most critical part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda because of its numerous benefits.

    The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated this in his office when he addressed reporters covering the Senate yesterday in Abuja.

    Abdullahi urged fellow Nigerians to plant “something” to enable the country attain food security.

    The minister expressed dissatisfaction that about 50 million of the 80 million hectares of arable land in the country remained uncultivated.

    According to him, in the Eight-Point Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, food security is the most critical because of multifaceted benefits derivable from it.

    Read Also: Gombe pledges support for Tinubu’s food security agenda

    Abdullahi noted that food security would enable Nigerians to fight the war against corruption.

    The minister stressed that “some people take to corrupt ways of life as a result of hunger, just as some others take to crime as a result of poverty, which in itself can be substantially addressed by food security”.

    He added: “When you secure their stomachs, the tendency for an average Nigerian to resort to corruption or outright crime and criminality would be reduced. Nigerians need to key into the policy by planting something wherever they live.

    “Government is also determined to get substantial part of the uncultivated hectares of land in the country cultivated.

    “As it is presently, out of 70 to 80 million hectares of arable land in the country, only 34 million hectares are cultivated, meaning that there is more than enough uncultivated arable land for government and Nigerians to explore for farming and, by extension, ensure food security in the country.”

  • Walk your talk of attainment of food security, farmers urge Govt

    Walk your talk of attainment of food security, farmers urge Govt

    The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has called on the present administration to ‘walk its talk’ on the account of attainment of sustainable  food security amidst the serious challenges of climate change, insecurity, crashing inflation, among others.

    President of the association, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, stated this while briefing journalists on the National Agricultural Show slated for 20th to 24th November, 2023.

     Kabir, who is also the Chairman, BoT of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN),  stressed the need for the government to address the issue of insecurity in the country for farmers to produce optimally.

     He noted that incessant attacks against farmers across the country have led to increased cases of market disruptions and loss of livelihoods.

    The AFAN President stated that food sufficiency is possible in Nigeria when the country fully embraces some form of biotechnology, mechanisation, and the use of science technology innovation.

    Read Also: Food security: Ganduje calls for full attention to research, innovation

    He said there is a need for Nigerian farmers to shore up food production to meet the demand of the nation’s rising population which is estimated by the United Nations to reach as high as 377 million by 2050.

    Speaking further,  said the national agricultural show will provide AFAN and other relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector  immense visibility and dominance of the agric space going forward.

    He added that the agric show is a platform for farmers to showcase their products and sell to willing buyers.

    He however called on all the AFAN state chapter chairmen and other stakeholders to mobilise their members who are smallholder farmers responsponsible for feeding the country’s population.

  • Food security: Ganduje calls for full attention to research, innovation

    Food security: Ganduje calls for full attention to research, innovation

    For the actualisation of President Bola Tinubu‘s food security agenda and economic growth plan, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on the government and stakeholders to give full attention to research and innovation as twin tools for the development of livestock in Nigeria.

    He made the call while delivering a keynote address tagged: “Towards a sustainable Livestock production system for National economic development” on Tuesday, November 14, in Abuja at the 12th joint annual meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) and the Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN).

    The APC chairman stressed that research is needed to drive development along the value chain of the livestock production system, from primary production to market, to the overall benefit of our national economy.

    He also called for the development of a variety of maize that will be meant exclusively for poultry, monogastric and dairy feeding, arguing that such will be a viable and more sustainable option of the transportation of the required grain, to save the collapsing poultry industry.

    According to him, improved feeds and feeding programmes are therefore important components of sustainable production systems, to optimize productivity and efficiency, digitization and decision support tools can support farmers in better management of their livestock, for instance, for more resource- and cost efficiency.

    Read Also: I don’t regret leaving my family abroad to pursue career in Nigeria – Shaffy Bello

    “It’s obvious the livestock sector is a critical component of our economy that should be taken seriously especially considering Mr President’s food security agenda and economic growth plan. Therefore, we should pay attention to the following:

    “Our nation has to pay full attention and commitment to research and innovation as twin tools for the development of our livestock. We advocate a Triple Helix Model that loops Research/Innovation with Industry/Development and Government Policy.

    “Research is expected to support the development of animal agriculture in many ways, perhaps the most important being, the enhancement of livestock productivity which leads to a more efficient utilization of available resources;

    He further stated: “Strategies should therefore embody adequate economic returns to livestock farmers; maintenance of natural resources and productivity; minimal adverse environmental effects through climate-smart production practices; optimal production with minimal external inputs; and satisfaction of human food and income needs, as well as, rural families’ social needs;

    “Areas requiring attention for R and D include i) farm system approach, ii) Feed (arid zones, semi-arid and sub-humid zones, highlands, humid zones), iii) health and iv) genetic improvement; development of is a new variety of maize that will be meant exclusively for poultry, monogastric and dairy feeding. This will be a viable and more sustainable option for to importation of the required grain, to save the collapsing poultry industry, a sub-sector that is worth about N1.6 trillion, according to the CBN (2019). It is important to note that this represents about 25% contribution to the agricultural GDP;

    “R and D are also most urgently needed in the development of new breeds of cattle for increased meat and milk production, poultry strains that are resistant to heat stress, as well as, sheep and goats for improved hides and skin. Also, there more pressing need for genetic improvement of indigenous breeds of all livestock species for resistance to all endemic diseases for a sustainable national livestock production system;

    “It’s also pertinent for both Animal Scientists and Veterinarians and is key to the development of our Animal Husbandry industry. The animal is one and must be seen as an entity that has to be maintained by the two professionals.

    “While the animal scientists can deploy R and D in the vast fields of physiology, breed improvement, nutrition, housing, and welfare; the Veterinarian should equally employ R and D in health improvement of the animal, in the development of vaccines, control of zoonotic diseases and screening against emerging diseases and disease-causing organisms;

    “It is expedient that with concerted efforts of both professions, working towards a unified goal, for the attainment of increased livestock productivity, utilizing a sustainable production system, the livestock sub-sector will be seen to take a great leap to the forefront, as the leading foreign exchange earner for the country.

    Ganduje was later inducted as an associate fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS).

  • VP, US Envoy parley on food security

    VP, US Envoy parley on food security

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has requested the assistance of the United States government for the agenda on food security of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

    According to a statement  by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Vice President Shettima made the request when he met with Mr Cary Fowler, U.S Special Envoy for Global Food Security, as part of his schedules in the United States.

    Specifically, VP Shettima identified key areas where Nigeria would require urgent support, saying: “We seek the support of the United States Government, be it technical or otherwise, towards addressing challenges in our agricultural sector.”

    The Vice President continued: “Mechanisation is absolutely essential, good quality seeds, fertilisation, improved agricultural practices, smart agriculture, these are the solutions we seek because the whole mantra is on increase in yield, it is about improving productivity. It goes beyond the acreage that is used for production.

    “So, I am here surrounded by other stakeholders who have all the figures, facts and knowledge to make this partnership easy and smooth sailing,” the VP stated.

    He further reassured the US Special Envoy for Global Food Security of the readiness of the Tinubu administration to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve agricultural productivity, not only in the country, but also across Africa.

    Read Also: Shettima seeks U.S govt’sassistance on food security

    According to him, Nigeria will sustain the relationships with partners in the agricultural sector, even as he noted that the country will nurture the alliance.

    “We will nurture it because more than ever before, we are facing food security challenges. We have to think outside the box, we have to look for ingenious solutions that can help us to overcome the challenges. I believe with your support (the political will is there now more than ever before), together, we can save humanity and serve the human race,” he noted.

    In his response, Mr Fowler said the U.S. government, in partnership with other stakeholders, has launched an agricultural initiative, assuring that Africa would be prioritised.

    He said: “What we are trying to do here in the U.S., which we coined the ‘Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil’, is a partnership between the US, the AU and the FAO.

    “In summary, what we are trying to do working with African countries is to help them, right from the national level down to the farmers, to manage the soil more properly and to ensure sustainability and productivity (that is on the soil side).

    “On the crop side, we are extremely concerned about climate change and its effect on Africa. So, this programme that we have with the AU and FAO is focused on Africa,” the special Envoy underlined.

    He disclosed that the programme “will look at indigenous African crops that have long suffered from massive underinvestment.

    “We have established a multi-donor trust fund at the IFAD to provide long term funding for the programme and the USAID is also involved. The US government has allocated 100 million dollars to the programme,” he added.

    He however emphasized that stakeholders “need to work in a collaborative way with countries like Nigeria.

    “We need your partnership, we need your political support to push this. We have to make these efforts more permanent; we have to institutionalize the efforts and have a strong African voice on this. We want this programme to be African led,” he further noted.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima who attended the Belt and Road Initiative in China before proceeding to the United States is expected back in Nigeria at the weekend.

  • Institute: food security tool will assess household income shocks

    Institute: food security tool will assess household income shocks

    International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has launched Nigeria Food Security Simulator Tool to inform decision making and policy formation in agriculture.

     Food Security Simulator is an innovative tool for assessing potential short-term impacts of food price or household income shocks on food security and people’s diets.

     This was launched under the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centre (CGIAR) Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS).

     NPS aims to improve lives  by identifying ways of building stronger policies and strategies with greater coherence and capacity, helping countries address policy demand and future development needs.

    Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Senior Research Fellow of IFPRI-Washington, Olivier Ecker, said with the simulator, users learn about income and price shocks; how income and price changes affect consumption, food security, and diet quality.

     Ecker added it is ideal for evaluating direct, household-level outcomes of economic crises and policy responses.

    Read Also: Afenifere leader Fasoranti congratulates Tinubu

     He said: ”I believe this tool can help policymakers and analysts in Ministry of Agriculture and Food security as well as Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in decision making.

    ”We have global shocks; COVID, Ukraine war, floods and drought that affect people’s consumption,with negative effects on nutrition.

     ”This tool assesses how shocks may impact food security outcomes. Food supply shocks usually affect consumption through either changes in income or food prices”.

     Country Programme Leader of IFPRI-Nigeria and NPS Nigeria Initiative Lead, Kwaw Andam, noted: ”The President has an eight-point agenda that includes food security, poverty reduction. This tool helps analysts to estimate impact of changes in food prices, and others and how they should  implement those policies…’’

     The simulator was developed by IFPRI, under CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS) with contributions of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Poverty Alleviation and other partners in Nigeria during the validation processes of the tool.

  • BATNF reaffirms commitment to food security

    BATNF reaffirms commitment to food security

    • Partners Lagos State govt on 2023 Farm Fair

    The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has partnered with the Lagos State Government to host the 2023 Lagos Farm Fair. The Lagos Farm Fair is an initiative under the “Wealth is Here,” programme which is aimed at ensuring food adequacy and sufficiency.

    The Fair is also part of activities commemorating the United Nations World Food Day, which was held at the Police College, Ikeja.

    The fifth edition of the Lagos Farm Fair, themed “Water is Life, Water is Food; Leave No One Behind” is geared towards taking actionable steps both by the government and the organised private sector in ensuring food security.

    The BATNF partnership with the Lagos State Government is in tandem with achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 6, 8, 10 and 13, which ultimately aim to improve human living conditions through a healthy diet and promote action against hunger in the state.

    This year’s fair has been able to support over 600 smallholder farmers, with Ruth Owojaiye, representing the Board Director, BATN Foundation, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, asserting that the initiative aligned with the core objectives of the Foundation.

    Owojaiye said so far, the Foundation has reached over 1.3 million beneficiaries, and it expects to double that in the next 10 years through increased support to smallholder farmers across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

    The Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, noted that the event was held in the wake of critical food security issues facing the country and required urgent actions to scale up food production across the various value chains.

    “Not only is Lagos playing a frontline role in the aqua farming industry, we are also key players in the production of other crops and edible produce. This year’s commemoration of World Food Day is to come out and encourage our farmers and create a platform for them to be aware of all the incentives and interventions we have created for them,” she said.

    Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts and innovation to sustainably scale up agricultural production to meet demand.

    He also disclosed that a central food logistics hub will be completed next year, which is intended to reduce waste and loss.

    Read Also: How agro biotechnology focuses addresses food security

    Sanwo-Olu noted that “Farming is an important component of our government’s activities. We need to grow what we eat and eat what we grow.

    “While we have collaborated with some major agricultural states within the country, we are also looking for independent paddy rice farmers across the federation to raise paddy supply at Lagos Rice Mill.

    “We need a lot of paddies to meet production capacity. It doesn’t matter how much paddy rice they have; we are ready to take it up. This is calling on paddy growers across the country to key into this opportunity”.

    Since its inception in 2002, BATN Foundation has supported the Federal and State Governments in agricultural development programs and has invested over N2 billion in supporting rural smallholder farmers in the production of food crops, like cassava, rice, and maize; and in aquaculture and livestock.

  • How agro biotechnology focuses addresses food security

    How agro biotechnology focuses addresses food security

    Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has said agro biotechnology championed by National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), focuses on addressing food security.

    He said the agency has modified genetic agro products with high yields.

    Nnaji said farmers and stakeholders in the sector should embrace biotechnology for food security. 

    Read Also: Experts call for new investments in agric solutions to boost food security

    “Biotechnology is a transformative force that holds potential to address some challenges facing our nation and the world. From health care to agriculture, energy to environment, biotechnology offers solution that can impact well-being of citizens and sustainability of resources,” he said.

    The minister was speaking at a facility tour of NABDA.

    Director General of NABDA, Mustapha Abdullahi, said the agency was created to promote biotechnology that responds to food security, wealth, health care and sustainable environment.