The Nation Newspaper

Tag: hectares

  • 16 governors offer five hectares each for cattle colonies

    16 governors offer five hectares each for cattle colonies

    The cattle colony project – the government’s antidote to the herdsmen-farmers crisis that has claimed many lives – will begin immediately. Sixtheen governors have offered five hectares of land each for the project.

    Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh broke the news yesterday.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari promised to help the ministry fund the project.

    “On the issue of cattle, we have to start immediately; 16 states have given us land to work on. The programme is not going to be cheap. Mr President has personally informed me that if we seek help from him, he will give it to us over and above the budget we have, and when that budget is released I plead with all of you to come on board to work hard to achieve results.

    “We are talking of cattle colonies, not ranches, so to speak, where we will provide water, grass, training for herdsmen, cattle breeding and insemination.

    “We have to deal with an urgent problem, cattle rearing and the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen, and actually bring it to a halt. I know that some people argue that the culture of open grazing is our culture, but when a culture begins to develop dangerous trends, leading to warfare between people and bloody clashes and death that culture is due for re-examination. If it is harmful, we reform it.

    ”Nigerians are getting extremely uncomfortable with these killings and we may make political statements and issue palliatives and ask the police and army to go after killers. Let us do our own duty by eliminating the conflict by creating cattle colonies.”

    Ogbeh critcised the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that four million jobs were lost last year, saying over six million jobs were created in the agriculture sector. The Hibiscus, also known as Zobo, earned the nation’s farmers about $35 million last year as demand continued to increase, he said.

    According to him, our agriculture is heavily manual and to be able to reduce rice importation by 95 per cent, at least six million extra jobs have happened in the farm.

    “There are about 12.2 million members of the Rice Growers Association; we have created more jobs than we have lost,’’ he said.

    “We are exporting more than we are importing now and most exportation is agro-products.

    “We are growing in agriculture and from the middle of this year, whoever chooses to eat Thailand rice is welcomed to pay duties.

    “We shall impose duties on it because we consider it a wasteful luxury and something this country can’t afford,’’ he said.

    Ogbeh said the Federal Government would also engage in establishing both cashew and cocoa plantations to boost production and export in 2018.

    He spoke of plans to make the country a leading producer of cashew nuts.

    The minister said that fertiliser blending would also be improved to accommodate micro nutrients in the product.

    Ogbeh said the government would work to ensure quality control of produce both for export and local consumption

    According to the minister, the sector will this year focus on new plantations for cashew nuts, relaunch cocoa that will move the country up from number seven to number one in the next five years and improve fertiliser blending, which micro nutrients will be included.

    Permanent Secretary Dr. Bukar Hassan, said Nigeria would export organic fertiliser to Europe next month.

    The Synergos Country Representative,  Adewale Ajadi, called on directors and political advisers in the ministry to synergise and work assiduously.

    Ajadi urged the federal, states and local governments to work together.

  • Communities get compensation as Lagos acquires 500 hectares for farm estate

    The Lagos State Government has paid five communities in Eluju-Mowo on Itoikin-Epe Road compensation for acquiring 500 hectares of their land for the Farm Estate Initiative.

    The Special Adviser on Food Security to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Ganiyu Sanni, made this known at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ikeja, while presenting cheques to representatives of the affected communities.

    He said the payment was in fulfilment of the promise of the government’s promise to the residents.

    According to him, the action was subsequent to the effort of the government to address various challenges facing agriculture in the state and promote the use of agricultural land for its intended purposes

    Sanni added that the effort was geared towards boosting food security, explaining that land in these communities would be allocated to farmers after the payment of crop compensation.

    He revealed that the government was interested in commercialising agriculture, adding that a drastic move from subsistent farming to a high mechanised farming was underway.

    Urging members of the compensated communities to continue to cooperate and carry their people along, he said their cooperation was key to the development of their communities.

    Sanni noted that farming on the acquired land would be done with modern implements to boost output, adding that the government recently inaugurated its Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre to complement the state-owned functional agricultural implement unit.

    He said: “The Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre is targeted towards providing mechanised tools at a reduced rate to farmers, the initiative has been set to reduce drudgery in agriculture; increase farm land under cultivation; promote competition and enhance the value of money for farmers.”

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Agriculture, Dr.Olayiwole Onasanya said the administration would remain committed to ensuring the state becomes food secured.

    He added that government has demonstrated its all-inclusive system by involving members of the various communities, appreciating them for the support they have shown so far.

  • Edo monarch donates 50,000 hectares to Fed Govt

    The traditional ruler of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, the Otaru of Auchi, has donated 50,000 hectares to the Federal Government for agriculture.

    He said the donation was part of the community’s effort to support the Federal Government’s agricultural revolution.

    Speaking at a meeting with village heads and palace chiefs, Momoh urged those he termed mischief makers to desist from playing politics with every issue.

    He said the community was awaiting the Federal Government delegation to inspect the 50,000 hectares.

    The monarch said the land is meant for groundnut, maize, cassava and economic crops.

    He enjoined the 25 village heads to encourage their subjects to go back to agriculture and boost food production.

  • Dangote to launch 25,000 hectares of rice outgrowers scheme in Sokoto

    Dangote Rice, a subsidiary of Dangote Group, is to launch in Sokoto, Sokoto State, its multi-million naira 25, 000 hectares of rice outgrowers scheme, with a prospect of hundreds of thousands of jobs for rural communities’ residents.

    The group’s President, Aliko Dangote, said at the weekend the company would on Wednesday launch a pilot project of 500 ha by Gonroyo dam, in Goronyo community.

    Gonroyo dam is the second largest in the country, after Kainji.

    The ceremony, to be performed by Governor Aminu Tambuwa, will witness seedlings being distributed to local farmers, who will plant the seed after which Dangote Rice Company will buy from them for milling and final processing.

    Sokoto State is the second after Jigawa of the 14 states spread across the area where Dangote Rice plans to operate outgrower scheme to empower local farmers and create job opportunities for rural dwellers and reduce migration to the cities.

    Dangote Rice projects in the states, when operational, will generate jobs and increase income for smallholder farmers, while diversifying Nigeria’s economy and reducing the nation’s food import bill.

    Statistics fArom the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) estimate rice demand in Nigeria reached 6.3 million MT in 2015, with only 2.3 million MT of that demand satisfied by local production.

    This local production shortfall leaves a gap of 4.0 million MT that is being filled through formal importation of rice or illegal imports over land borders.

    By end of this year, Dangote Rice plans to produce 225,000 MT of parboiled, milled white rice. This will allow us to satisfy four per cent of the total market demand within one year. Our model can then be successfully scaled to produce 1,000,000 MT of milled rice in order to satisfy 16 per cent of the domestic market demand for rice in the next five years.

    Due to the economic crisis, domestic prices for agro-commodities have risen in the last 12 months, making local agriculture an attractive investment.

    Dangote Rice Ltd seeks to take advantage of this economic trend and the favourable policies laid out in the FMARD’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.

    Dangote Rice has a mandate to local, high-quality milled, parboiled rice for the Nigerian market. This goal will be achieved by sourcing the raw material (paddy) required from the Dangote Rice Outgrower Scheme.

    Through the Dangote Rice Outgrowers Scheme, DRL will partner outgrowers (smallholder and contract rice farmers) to cultivate and grow rice paddy. DRL will provide input, technical assistance, extension services and land preparation services and equipment to farmers. At harvest, DRL will recoup the costs of input and services and will act as a guaranteed offtaker for paddy that meets certain pre-agreed quality standards. Smallholder farmers will provide land and labour.

     

  • Dickson donates 1,200 hectares for grazing

    Dickson donates 1,200 hectares for grazing

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has donated 1,200 hectares of land to herdsmen for grazing and other cattle-related activities.

    The governor said his administration gave out the land to stop conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

    He warned herdsmen against bearing arms, saying the government would arrest and prosecute any of them found with guns and other weapons.

    The state’s Cattle Ranches Management and Control Committee (CRMCC) Chairman Shitu Mohammed confirmed the governor’s gestures at the weekend when he met with herdsmen, butchers and farmers in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Mohammed thanked the government for releasing the land, adding that the gesture would aid enduring peace between herdsmen and farmers.

    The chairman said the government set up the committee to foster a cordial relationship between herdsmen and the residents.

    He said the state had not recorded caught any herdsman for rape and killings because the committee worked with the government and security agencies to forestall such crimes.

    Mohammed said the committee put in place a quick response mechanism to address issues between herdsmen and farmers.

    The chairman urged the residents to see government’s provisions of ranches as a good gesture, adding that it would create jobs for the people and enhance tourism development.

    Also, Dickson urged new Police Commissioner Amba Asuquo not to relent in the fight against crimes.

  • Anambra eyes 500,000 hectares to kick-start agric revolution

    Anambra Government is targeting the acquisition of 500,000 hectares of land for its agricultural transformation programme meant to provide massive employment for over 100,000 people, especially youths.

    The Interim Chairman of the 12-man Land Acquisition Committee, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno,  made this known in Onitsha, Anambra..

    Ilouno said that over 50,000 hectares donated by two agrarian communities for the agricultural programme had already been surveyed, adding that the land were leased to the government without much pressure.

    Ilouno, who is also the Chairman of Anambra Central (Zone) Traditional Rulers’ Council, said that the committee had also secured nine natural body of large water for fish ponds under the new agricultural scheme.

    “I have not seen such a massive support from our people to any government before; Gov. Willie Obiano is highly lucky and blessed.

    “Communities, through their presidents-general and traditional rulers, are on their own calling us (committee members) to come, survey and start something on their land for the benefit of the people, especially the youths.

    “I know that most times in the South-East, it is difficult for people to give you their birth-right, which is their land no matter the circumstances.

  • Edo, MAN inspect 108 hectares of land for industrial park

    Edo State Government and a delegation of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, (MAN) yesterday, inspected a 108 hectares of land proposed for Industrial Park by the government.

    The facility is located on Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.

    The Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who led the government delegation including, the Executive Director, Public Private Partnership office, Mr. Igbinidu Ineh said: “This is a launch pad for the industrialization agenda of the Comrade Governor. This is a huge investment site with over 108 hectares. If developed, it will improve the real income of our people.

    The SSG went on: “Today is a huge step forward. I do not see a problem here in terms of making it available for MAN. We want to see activities taking place here, create employment for people and landlords can come around here too thereby making the area more developed. With this kind of land becoming an industrial park, we will make Edo great again.

    “The challenge would be to develop the proposal and make it easy for the Governor to have an overview of the plan and when investors come to us, we then know what to tell them and where to give them. There is a company coming from China that wants to do vehicle assembling in Edo State.

    “I have no doubt that the whole idea will create job, increase productivity and real income. The proposal will declare your intention to the Comrade Governor,” Ihonvbere told MAN delegation.

    But the state government says it has a strategic plan which runs through 2016. According to Ihonvbere, “a section of the strategic plan deals with industrial policy. The plan, which goes on to 2016 is such that any other government that comes will have a flow in and continue from there and can also adjust what needs to be adjusted”.

    As for the technical committee on the industrial policy, Ihonvbere said, “I think we can work on that, we can get some people from your side and from our side to look at the policy positions of government and fine tune it and see where we go.

    “Discussions are also on going with those who want to build multi-layer parking lots. We have a situation in which people have operated in a very lawless way. All the beautification done in Ring Road have been destroyed by people. They build parks anywhere, they sell vehicles anywhere, they don’t want to obey traffic laws or traffic wardens.

    “In many parts of the civilized worlds, you don’t have traffic wardens on the road but here, even with the traffic light, you still need to put somebody there. We will continue to do our best, we will continue to train our traffic officials to be discipline and respect road users and appeal to road users to do likewise.

    “The task of rehabilitating and repositioning the state is enormous. If we had met the state where it is today, you can be rest assured that we would have done more but while other states were moving forward, we now try to drag ourselves from the abyss up to where we are today.

    “Given the work of the Comrade Governor, Edo state caught the attention of international community; three weeks ago, the Governor was invited to address the World Bank on citizens response to public policy, this is very unusual.