The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Food

  • Benue: Nation’s draining food basket

    Benue: Nation’s draining food basket

    For its fat yams, its bountiful harvests of cassava, groundnuts, rice and mellon, among other crops, Benue State is called the Food Basket of the Nation. But is it anymore?

    In recent years, especially since 1999, there has been a contention weather the state still leads in yam production. This is so because its neighbour, Nasarawa State, is already exporting big nad plentiful yams to different parts of the world. Many expect that Benue should have taken the lead in yam export as Food Basket of the Nation.

    Many people have expressed concern that Benue State may lose its status as a leading food production state if nothing is done, because many young men and women are no longer interested in farming as their forefathers did.

    Since Nigeria’s return to civil rule, many able-bodied young  men and women in Benue have distanced themselves from farming. They prefer to go from  one office to another coaxing money from political  appointees.

    When Governor Gabriel Suswam assumed office in 2007, he campaigned to return young men and women to the farm.

    He did not find it easy. At one of the forums, after he appealed to some youths to return to the farm, one young man asked him in Tiv ”Ka sule u kaha ve u lu nahan ye”? (Governor, Sir, was it farming that made you what you are now?).

    Suswam is still worried that a Tiv man who was known for hard work now goes from one person to another to beg money. Farm work has been neglected, and from the way things are going, one day there would be no food in Benue State.

    The governor put in measures to boast massive food production like provision of 100 tractors, subsidy on fertilizer and setting up of a commitee to see the  early distribution of the product from ward to ward instead  of middle men so that it will go directly to farmers.

    His administration also increased budgetary provisions in the agricutural sector for four years running so as to attract farming and compelled young men to go back to the land.

    Various seedlings and sprayers including chemicals  were procured and distributed to farmers free of charge. Rice production recieved a boost in line with President  Goodluck Jonathan’s policy.

    The greatest effort of Governor Suswam “Back to Farm” campaign is the massive construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, with provision of basic amenties like electicity and water.

    Governor Suswam said at the inauguration of Ayilamo rural electricity in Logo local government council that “If we have electricity, good roads and potable water in rural areas, we have succeeded in making life meaningful to the rural populace and stopping urban migration. This means our people will stay back and farm, yet enjoy good life.

    Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala which are known for massive yam production benefitted from the massive urban renewal with the contstruction of  Gbagir-Afia-Gbeji road, Amaafu-Ugba-Anyiin Road, Sanker-a Ayati- Sai Road and Tordonga-Katsina Ala Zakibiam Road

    These areas are known for massive yam production, and they contributed up to 90 per cent of the food production capacity in Benue State. On the popular Zaki Biam International Yam Market, 221 trucks loaded with yams on daily basis are transported to various parts of the country, including Ghana, Niger , Cameroon and Benin Republic.

    While the governor has taken up the campaign of Back-to-Farm, his wife Dooshima Suswam, on the other hand, has continued to wage war against HIV/AIDS using her pet project Sev-Av Foundation.

    The message is the same, but is targeted at women, widows and vulnerable children.

    Dooshima Suswam told The Nation in one of her enlightenment tours that only the healthy than can farm.

    She noted that the HIV scourge may lead to hunger in Benue State because many young men and women are infected with the dreaded disease which no cure has yet been found.

    The governor wife apart from setting up free counseling care for those infected with the disease had been providing trucks of fertilizer on yearly basis free of charge to rural women so as to boast food production.

    But the question is whether all these efforts by the Suswam administration have achieved the desired pupose. Have able-bodied young men stopped begging and harassing politicians and public office holders and gone back to farm?

    Is the food basket not draining?

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth activist, Terngu Torbee told The Nation that farm work is no longer productive because of the primitive tools and methods farmers still contend with. He advised that the state should embrace mechanized farming.

    He said until government encourages mechanised farming, politics will remain the only thing the youth see as a quick route to wealth.

    Justine Anzembe, from Tarka Local Government Area who is a farmer and Action Congress of Nigeria (APC) activist, told The Nation that government should build food processing companies so that farmers can have value for their products.

    Anzembe said a situation where a basket of fresh tomatoes is sold for N500 and 100 tubers of yam go for as little as N5,000 does not in any encourage farming.

    Another threat to food production in Benue is the use of young men as thugs during elections.

    Most of the youths are armed to snatch ballot boxes but are dumped after the election. They then turn their weapons to robbery and other violent crimes, thereby creating a state insecurity.

    One thing is clear, Benue is no longer a leading food producer in the country. The Food Basket is almost empty.

     

  • Reserves drop to $44.9b on rising oil, food imports

    Nigeria’s foreign reserves have declined to $44.9 billion as oil and food imports soar. The reserves, which stood at $45.4 billion on September 30, have maintained steady fall in recent months until the drop on November 14.

    With over 50 per cent of foreign exchange utilised for the importation of fuel and food, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said policy should focus on a comprehensive backward integration production strategy, while fast-tracking the repair of the refineries.

    By October 10, the reserves were $45.3 billion, as against $46 billion on September 19, and $47 billion on August 19.

    Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website over the weekend, showed that the reserves were $47.7 billion on July 1, and dropped to $47 billion on July 15. They also entered August 1 at $47 billion. The foreign currency reserves had five years ago, in August 2008, peaked at $68 billion before the global financial crises impacted negatively on it.

    Chief Operating Officer, Citi Bank Nigeria, Akin Dawodu, said the reserves are assets held by the CBN and monetary authorities, mostly in dollar to back their liabilities, such as the naira.

    He explained that manipulating the reserves levels can enable CBN intervene against the volatile fluctuations in the currency by affecting the exchange rate and increasing the demand for the naira. “Reserves act as shock absorber against factors that can negatively affect a country’s exchange rates and, therefore the CBN uses the reserves to maintain a steady rate,” he explained during training for financial journalists in Lagos.

    Analysis of foreign exchange utilised by sectors revealed that $7.83 billion was expended on the importation of visible goods into the country in the second quarter as against $6.63 billion and $7.74 billion in first quarter and second quarter of last year.

    Also, large part of the reserves were utilized in the importation of oil, industrial, food and manufactured products in the ratio of 30.3, 28, 20.4 and 13.3 per cent of the total.

    Further analysis revealed that a total of $8.70 billion or 52.6 per cent of total foreign exchange was used for services as against $3.78 billion in first quarter. Of this amount, financial services (banking and other financial services, asset management and money transmission) constituted the bulk, $7.78 billion or 89.3 per cent of total, while the balance was accounted for by transportation, communications, business and other services.

    Also, aggregate demand for foreign exchange by authorised dealers under the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS), and Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in the first quarter stood at $8.13 billion.

    A total amount of $8.42 billion was supplied as against $4.56 billion and $7.05 billion in first quarter and second quarter 2012, respectively. Of the total amount supplied, $7.12 billion was allotted to the WDAS while the remaining $1.30 billion was to the Bureau De Change (BDC) operators.

     

  • NGO trains pupils on food production

    NGO trains pupils on food production

    Oxfam, through its global campaign Grow, Think, Act, has urged secondary school pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to embrace farming in order to eradicate hunger and poverty.

    The international non-governmental organisation (NGO) also educated the students of Government Junior Secondary School Kubwa on the importance of nutrition and good feeding.

    Earlier, art exhibition was held by the secondary school students within the FCT.

    The initiative was launched in the country on June, 2011 to promote campaign against hunger.

    Speaking at the event shortly after the talk show, Gender Officer, Oxfam Nigeria, Mr. Boyowa Roberts said the talk show was meant to enlighten youths on ways to fight poverty and eradicate hunger from the country.

    Roberts said: “Today, we are having what we call the grow talk show where we would be working hand-in-hand with three government schools.

    “The essence of this school talk show is to work with young people to raise school heroes. We are going to be working with our partners like association of agro producers in Nigeria to teach the children these farming practices and how to use fertilisers.

    “The whole essence is to encourage youths to take to agriculture and tell them that farming has gone beyond farming with hoes and cutlasses to mechanised farming. Apart from the oil sector, you can make a lot of money and secure your livelihood.”

    The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala observed the quantity of food imported into the country has continued to dwindle on an annual basis.

    Okonjo-Iweala said efforts by local farmers were yielding meaningful results as most foods consumed in the country were locally produced.

    “Nigeria is trying and one way to measure that in economics is to look at the amount of food imports over the years.

    “The statistics we have shows that food import is going down and this means that domestically, Nigeria is trying to cover up most of the imported foods. This therefore points to the fact that we are doing more in terms of food security,” she said.

    The minister, who was represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Emmanuel Nwosu said the country had intensified efforts to achieve food security.

    She further said it was imperative to educate school children on the importance of food security so that when they grow, they can develop interest in food production.

    “This is because, in Africa and most developing world, we have malnutrition problems and one of the MDG goals is to fight hunger and provide food for the population,” she added.

    However, she observed the challenge in Africa had a lot to do with its growing population, adding that this often leads to food security problems.

    She said the programme was important as it would help inculcate the right ideas in youths to help combat problems of food security.

    “There is a lot of work because most people in Nigeria are running away from agriculture. They think that it is just for the old. But when agriculture is taken seriously, we will achieve better results,” she said.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Speakers’ Corner Trust Nigeria, Ramatu Umar restated that the show was organised to help youth acquire necessary skills to empower themselves.

    “We also educate them on nutrition, feeding and eating good food. We want young people to grow, think and act in agriculture process,” she added.

  • Nigerian food comes to Lewisham, London

    Nigerian food comes to Lewisham, London

    WITH a proliferation of swanky European and Asian offerings across south east London, there was an absence of high-end African options.

    Now Enish Nigerian Restaurant and Grill in Lewisham High Street has filled that void with an up-scale, trendy place to get a different kind of bite.

    Joint owners Eniola and Olushola Medupin have 20 years experience in restaurants and finance, with Olushola having run one of Lagos’ top 10 restaurants for a decade.

    The appeal of Nigerian food, the couple say, is its freshness and variety of ingredients.

    The unrefined, natural foods are full of flavour and rich in fibre and low GI carbs, with a wide range of ingredients sourced from Nigeria.

    Shola, Joint owner Shola Medupin said: “Patrons are guaranteed a taste of Nigeria with every bite.

    “Every Nigerian meal is an event which we are out to share with the people of London.”

    She added: “My experiences coming from a third world country where stable electricity is scarce as gold, we weren’t into making large batches of food, some to be consumed on the day of production and the rest frozen until it’s needed.

    “I come from a place where each individual meal or plate of food is made freshly from scratch and uniquely to each customer’s need.”

    Shola said: “The recommended meal for a first timer would be Jollof rice N2, 265, which is slowly cooked rice in tomatoes, peppers, herbs and spices with fried plantain and bee.

    “If you are not a first timer or would like to try something more adventurous, the recommendation is Pounded Yam with Efo Egusi and Fresh fish N3,780.”

  • Deadly journeys of the food on your table

    Deadly journeys of the food on your table

    That sumptuous and inviting meal on your table has gone through a lot to get there. Whether processed or raw, foreign or local, it has an interesting train of movements.  In this report, we consider the amazing journeys of at least five main foods in the country as well as the varying hazards they have gone through on the way to your table amid serious health concerns.

  • The food importing giant

    Do you sometimes imagine Nigeria to be a big circus show? Do you sometimes think you are in a banana republic that is destined to go bad anytime soon? Are you sometimes gripped by fear that this self-acclaimed giant is bound to self-destruct by the sheer weight of its contradictions? If you are ever troubled by such pangs of worries as these, you have a great company in Hardball.

    Before you begin to wonder the source of this lamentation, let me throw you this poser: are you aware that Nigeria engages in heavy importation of palm oil reaching about 500,000 metric tons annually? While Malaysia, on the other hand, exported about 24 trillion metric tons of palm oil in 2012 to the U.S, E.U, China and India, earning about €20 billion. In a period of about 40 years, Nigeria has declined from being the largest producer and exporter of palm oil to becoming a net importer. Malaysia, a small island country which supposedly got seedlings from Nigeria about five decades ago, has developed palm products into a major economic sector.

    While we have remained at the primary level of crude palm oil, Malaysia has taken the reddish oily substance of African origin to unimaginable heights. Every month without fail Malaysia ships to the world millions of metric tons of not only crude palm oil but over half a dozen other improved derivatives of this product which include: RBD (Refined bleached Deodorised) palm oil; RBD palm olein; RBD stearin; crude PKO (palm kernel oil); processed PKO and oleo chemicals, to name a few. These commodities are sold on the international futures mart so monthly deliveries are guaranteed as if they were minerals from the soil.

    Palm oil is not the only agricultural commodity Nigeria ought to sell to the world but which she ends up buying from around the world. Tomato puree is another; she is said to import an estimated 70 metric tons at an estimated cost of N11 billion annually. Nigeria also has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed the whole of Africa but her annual rice import bill of over N500 billion is among the highest in the world. We import N217 billion worth of sugar and the N635 billion we spend on wheat is about the second highest the world over. Nigeria also imports fish, chicken, fruits and fruits concentrates, leather, textile materials among other agro-based commodities.

    In the same way we have perfected the fraud of sending our crude oil abroad for refining while we import petroleum products at a premium, so are we nonchalant and lethargic about developing our agro-resources. Since the late 70s when Nigeria began to enjoy huge oil earnings, we have lived large solely on crude oil export. Not only have we not bothered to developed even the oil sector that sustains us, we have abandoned nearly all other economic spheres. Government after government; from Yakubu Gowon to Goodluck Jonathan, not one has been able to break the mould of feeding from crude oil rent.

    One cannot help but wonder what manner of ruinous governments Nigeria has had successively over the past five decades. Why is it that not one has been able to muster the grace or gift to break the spell of the crude oil curse? For 50 years, all we have done is to earn huge petrodollars and ship same right back whence it came from through the importation of food and all sorts of junks from across the world. To think that some of these things can be achieved by sheer executive directive or pronouncements: can’t we just declare something like, “we grow our tomatoes, or we eat no tomatoes”. We can make the same declaration for all other food commodities like rice, garri, fish, palm oil etc. Agro technology and economics have been perfected for over a century even down in Southern Africa. What is lacking is mere will and wisdom to initiate and drive change. What a great change a simply declaration from a visionary leader can make!

  • FUTA plans food revolution

    The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Biyi Daramola, has said the institution is on the threshold of emerging the African Regional Centre with support of the governments of African countries and the World Bank.

    He said the institution is hosting the N1.2 billion World Bank grant for the centre of excellence in food production and security.

    With this development, Prof Daramola said the university might provoke a revolution in Nigeria’s agricultural productivity that would make the country fully secured in food production and sufficiency.

    Daramola, who made the disclosure during the fifth FUTA Registry annual lecture held at the main auditorium of the institution, said the institution and Multi Trex Integrated Foods, has entered into partnership on cocoa processing for export and local consumption.

    According to Daramola, the partnership will create an enduring mutually beneficial relationship between the university, Multi Trex and end users.

    He said the institution is committed to conducting high impact research into food production, processing, packaging and storage.

    The Vice-Chancellor said the development was aimed at boosting the nation’s food production out put, generating income for the institutions as well as serving as a training ground for the younger generation.

    At the event, the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Femi Adesina; former Vice-Chancellor University of Ibadan, Prof Olufemi Bamiro; the immediate past Ondo State Head of Service (HoS) Mrs Kosemani Kolawole; and Managing Director, Multi Trex Integrated Foods Plc, Mr Dimeji Owofemi were honoured with the FUTA registry award for distinguishing themselves in their various callings.

     

  • Senator presents food to Muslim women in Enugu

    A Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Gilbert Nnaji has presented food items to Muslim women in his constituency.

    Presenting the items, which consist of 100 bags of rice and 100 cartons of tin tomatoes, in addition to cash at the Islamic Centre, Uwani, Nnaji said Ramadan is important not only to the Muslims but to all the Abrahamic religions.

    Nnaji said he acknowledged the tediousness of the Ramadan period, hence “I am making the presentation for the adherents in my constituency to have something to break their fasting.”

    He sued for continued peaceful co-existence, saying that the peace in Enugu is due to the understanding between the Muslims and Christians.

    He urged Muslims in the state to continue to be law abiding and strengthen the bond between them and the Christians.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the women, the Secretary-General of Muslims in the state, Alhaji Musa Ani, thanked the senator for his gesture which he said came at the right time.

    He said it was the first time a senator is extending such gesture to them and assured Nnaji of their ceaseless prayers for him.

  • Diabetes

    The term diabetes,when not specified, refers to Diabetes mellitus, a serious metabolic disorder characterized by defects in the body’s use of carbohydrates. The other kind of diabetes is Diabetes insipidus, which is quite a different and relatively rare condition, in which an individual passes large quantities of pale, dilute urine, with consequent dehydration and excessive thirst.

    Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome in which the basic defect is the absence or shortage of the hormone called insulin. This hormone is carried by the blood to the kidneys, where it limits the outflow of water in the urine.

    The great majority cases of Diabetes insipidus are due to a tumour or inflammation in the region of the pituitary gland, thereby suppressing ADH production. Physical damage in form of fracture of the base of the skull or surgery in the pituitary area can also cause Diabetes insipidus. In addition, there is a rare inherited form of Diabetes insipidus where the production of Anti-Diuretic Hormone is normal, but the kidneys do not respond to the circulating hormone.

    As earlier stated, in Diabetes mellitus, an organ in the body (called the pancreas) is found not to be functioning properly. Insulin is a hormone produced by the Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin is carried by the blood to all parts of the body. The body’s cells use glucose (blood sugar) as their fuel. They have receptors to which insulin becomes attached. This binding of insulin enables the cells to use glucose by converting it into energy or storing it as fat. Any defect in this process, either in the pancreas, where insulin is being produced, or at the sites of attachment of insulin to the cells, would interfere with the body’s use of fuel to produce energy.

    Apart from the malfunctioning of the Pancreas, one other cause of this disorder is unbalanced diet. Most of us consume denatured food in one way or the other. Also, food additives and unhealthy drinks, whether soft drinks, teas, coffee or liquor may predispose one to metabolic imbalance.

    The symptoms of diabetes include: frequent urination, loss of flesh, inordinate appetite, constant hunger, mental depression, progressive weakness, great thirst, dry tongue and impaired vision. The person could be irritable, restless and morose. The loss of energy is due to the loss of sugar, which is needed to generate the energy for daily activities.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that imported styles of living (i.e. cooking, eating & drinking) must be looked into especially on the use of food additives and colourants in fast foods and so-called take-away. Heavy starchy foods should be cut down drastically, if they cannot be avoided, pending total recovery from the ailment.

    As we make efforts to repair a malfunctioning pancreas, there are some fruits and vegetables known to be helpful. These include carrots, paw-paw, cucumber, onions, garlic and lettuce, combined with soya-milk mixed with guinea-corn pap or porridge.

    Control: The Holistic remedy that has been popularly suggested for the control of Diabetes is a combination of the natural extracts of some herbs scientifically called Anchomanes difformis, Pergularia daemia, Vinca rosea and Viscum album.

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be. We also have facilities for accommodation, admission and hospitalization in a serene and homely environment.

  • Fayemi: Ekiti’ll provide food for Southwest next year

    Fayemi: Ekiti’ll provide food for Southwest next year

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said the state will supply poultry and agricultural products to Southwest markets by the end of next year.

    He spoke at the weekend during a tour of eight projects initiated by his administration under the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) programme.

    Fayemi said the administration’s vision of making Ekiti the food basket of the Southwest was not a tall dream.

    He said the state would also generate 50 per cent of its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from agriculture by next year.

    The governor has always said Ekiti could generate at least N1 billion daily from the supply of food products to half the population of Lagos State.

    He said: “Our promises in respect of the agricultural potentials of this administration are already coming to fruition.”

    Fayemi visited fish farms in Efon, the YCAD Nursery point at Igede, the cassava plantation in Iyemero and the Farmer’s Academy at Isan-Ekiti, among others.

    He said: “The inability of markets around the state to absorb YCAD products is proof that the state’s vision to become the food hub of the Southwest is being realised sooner than expected.”

    Fayemi said the government would work towards expanding available markets and creating new ones to accommodate the produce of young farmers.

    He expressed satisfaction that YCAD participants were ready to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.

    During his visit to the Efon YCAD Fish Farm, Fayemi said his earlier visit to a privately-owned fish farm of about 275 ponds, which produces 30 tonnes of fish daily, combined with the output of youths in the YCAD programme, have proved that the state is achieving its “Modernising Agriculture” agenda.

    He said the government limited crops cultivated under the YCAD programme to cocoa, cassava and oil palm to help participants access the markets and sustain a base for the products.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Mr. Jide Arowosafe said the government has grown over 1,150 hectares of cassava in Iyemero and other parts of the state in the first phase of its cassava revolution, adding that 2,000 hectares were being prepared for the next planting season.

    Arowosafe said the government has 18 nursery points, where over 20,000 cocoa seedlings are raised for sale to farmers. He said products of the hybrid nurseries, which should be harvested after two years, would be sold at N15 each.

    The commissioner said the government would subsidise the product from N60 to N15.

    He said 10,000 oil palm and teak were being raised in nurseries and would soon be available for sale to farmers.

    Arowosafe said the Fayemi administration was determined to achieve its vision for agriculture next year.

    The governor was accompanied on the tour by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu; Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation Tayo Ekundayo; Commissioner for Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs Funminiyi Afuye; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism Chief Ronke Okusanya; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs Paul Omotoso; Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters Ayodele Jinadu and the Special Adviser, Government House and Protocol, Mrs. Kehinde Daramola.