By Olayinka Olawale

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the Federal Government to introduce solar powered silos across the country to boost food storage and reserve system.

Dr Femi Oke, AFAN’s Chairman in Lagos State and South-West Zone, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

Oke said solar powered silos would increase food security if introduced.

He noted that solar powered silos was well known in many developed countries and urged the government to key into it.

Oke explained that solar powered silos had become necessary in the country due to epileptic power supply.

“Despite the fact that we have travelled far and near, we have not seen it in government owned storage facility.

“A very few private sector farmers have fund to establish solar powdered silos.

“We use this opportunity to ask the Federal Government to embrace solar due to the epileptic power supply in the country.

“Having solar powered silos might be better because not every farmer can afford independent power generator,” he said.

Oke urged the government to subsidise solar powered storage facility for smallholder farmers, while urging big mechanised farmers to volunteer to have it.

The AFAN boss said the available silos were underutilised and should be revived.

According to him, if the solar system can be subsidised by the government, it will reduce the price of food commodity in the market.

“The storage facility which we have in the country are not functioning, very many are moribund and are not properly maintained.

“We are trying to appeal to our state governors, especially the South-West governors, to come on board and also support it.

“Look at the time when COVID-19 came and we never expected it, it was the little grains that was in the nation’s reserves that the Federal Government gave out as palliatives.

“Now, we don’t pray for such a thing to happen again, we definitely need to improve it.

“Government need to do more and to encourage new farmers that have functioning storage system in the country because we don’t pray for anything like what we have experienced in the past three years to happen again,” he noted.

Oke also appealed to government to establish new silos to encourage farmers to increase their production.

“As at now, the silos are not well utilised; we appeal to government at all levels to work closely in this regard.

“No farmer want to run at a loss but if there are reserves where farmers can keep the excess produce, definitely, they will be encouraged to do more.

“We are using this medium to tell the government that new silos should be established and the farmers will be happy,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Tosin Kolade

The World Bank announced its commitment to reposition Nigeria’s irrigation farming for sustainable economic development and for food security on Thursday in Abuja.

It announced the commitment when its team on Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria/ Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, (SPIN/TRIMING) project officials visited the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev.

The officials were led by Mr Jun Matsumoto, the Team Lead.

Matsumoto acknowledged the successful transformation of irrigation asset management in Nigeria through the establishment of water users associations.

He noted the pivotal role played by the associations in ensuring the sustainable management of irrigation resources and called for support in achieving the project’s objectives.

He emphasised the critical importance of collaboration in the upcoming SPIN project and elaborated on its core objectives.

Matsumoto said one of the objectives was the utilisation of existing water resources infrastructure to address Nigeria’s water resources and energy requirements.

He said the project would include comprehensive technical assistance studies focused on large-scale water resources management, and the development of multi-purpose dam hydropower projects.

Responding, Prof. Utsev said achievements already recorded in Nigeria’s TRIMING project was impressive.

He emphasised the integral connection between economic sustainability and food security underlining the TRIMING project’s pivotal role in enhancing food production.

The minister welcomed the proposal to replace TRIMING, set to expire in 2024, with SPIN, saying it would address Nigeria’s pressing challenges in the area of food sufficiency.

Prof. Utsev reaffirmed Federal Government’s commitment to food security, improved irrigation techniques, and enhanced farming practices across the country.

He expressed gratitude to the World Bank for the remarkable progress recorded on the project over the past nine years and expressed optimism that it would yield even more significant outcomes.

TRIMING strengthened quality of and access to productivity-enhancing and market access services for 130,000 farmers in four rehabilitated irrigation schemes.

They are the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Zamfara, Middle Rima Irrigation Scheme in Sokoto State, Kano River Irrigation Scheme, and Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme in Jigawa.

The project provides technical assistance to establish a Farmers’ Management Centre at each of the irrigation schemes. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

By Tosin Kolade

The Green Sahara Farms (GSF) on Wednesday announced that it had planted 386,000 trees in some communities to manage the impact of climate change in the country.

The Managing Director of the farm, Mr Suleiman Dikwa, who said this while unveiling the Environment Social Governance (ESG) Principles report in Abuja said 10,000 trees were also planted in 24 unity schools across the country.

The ESG is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organisation is managing risks and opportunities related to environmental, social and governance issues.

According to him, the activities are part of efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 13, which is targeted at taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

He said through its activities, young foresters’ clubs have been formed to promote afforestation in schools in targeted states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation is working in five states of Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Nasarawa.

He said that within the last 10 years, the organisation had been addressing the obstacles that inhibit the realisation of agro-development goals using landscape restoration and boosting agricultural productivity.

This, he added was to consolidate value chains, synergise resources and ensure food sufficiency in the world with Sub-Saharan Africa as a reliable base.

The managing director said the organisation is focused on achieving SDGs which bother on no poverty, no hunger,  partnerships, climate change,  education among others.

Dikwa said the organisation had reviewed its current operation to identify emission activities and understand their carbon footprint, saying this provided an insight on the data to be collected and metrics to be tracked.

He stated that no fewer than 85 households had been impacted in the use of bio-gas to achieve the net- zero emission target.

On gender equality and inclusion, Dikwa said 40 per cent of farmers so far reached are females, adding that this had sustained participation.

The organisation, being the first to commit to ESG principles, got recognition from Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), a program targeted at developing global network of living labs for nature, people and the planet.

CBA was established by His Royal Majesty King Charles III, aimed at demonstrating how harmony can be achieved by empowering people and nature while restoring biodiversity globally. (NAN)

Edited Julius Toba-Jegede

By Christian Njoku

The National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPMAN), Cross River Chapter, has sought the approval of the state government to cultivate 100,000 hectares of rubber plantation.

Mr Umo Inameti, State Chairman, NARPMAN, sought the approval on Wednesday when he led his members on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Crops and Irrigation Development, Mr Johnson Ebokpo.

Inameti said that years ago, the state depended heavily on rubber, but presently, it does not have up to 10,000 hectares of prime producing rubber trees.

According to him, as the plantations disappeared, all the processing factories in the state went with them except for Royal Farms which started in 2018.

“Our prayer therefore to the state government is an approved policy document to develop 100,000 hectares of land for rubber cultivation and the crop should be added in the state’s 2024 budget.

“If we are able to do 50,000 hectares in the next few years, we will drastically be reducing rural-urban migration and we will be making about N200 billion direct incomes to our primary industries annually,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Usen Umo, National Vice President, NARPMAN, South-South, said that developing rubber plantation in the state is an urgent need because of the important role rubber plays in everyday human life.

Umo who doubles as the General Manager, Royal Farms in Cross River, said that years ago; Pamol, CREL and other rubber processing plants had huge plantations with facilities that made life easy for the community dwellers but today, they are all dead.

He reminded the commissioner of the promise of the state government to establish 50,000 hectares each for rubber, cocoa and oil palm trees, adding that this would help the state be on its way to economic growth.

In his response, Ebokpo, while harping on the importance of the cultivation and processing of rubber said that the importance and economic benefits of the crop could not be over-emphasised.

He disclosed that Gov. Bassey Otu had made a pronouncement on some mandate crops such as oil palm, cocoa, rice, cassava including rubber to be effectively developed in the state.

He said that with the pronouncement, next is to put up a full proof policy framework that would drive the process.

“Before we come up with a policy document, we will meet all the players in the rubber value chain, so that we will have a policy document that gives clarity to the entire value chain.

“It is my desire that processing takes place here. So, one of the things I intend to do is to visit Royal Farms and officially inaugurate it.

“This administration is very serious with agriculture because we don’t have a choice; it is the evacuation of some of our produce that will make our seaport work and boost our economy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Fidelis Obi, Managing Director, Pamol Nigeria Limited, a rubber plantation and processing plant said there is no other way to boost Cross River’s economy other than through Agriculture, just like other nations have done.

He added that the rubber estates established by colonialists had all been destroyed, adding that the state needs to start empowering local farmers for the processing plants to return. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Patricia Amogu

Tremma Agro Services, an agro-ecosystem firm in Africa, is poised to inaugurate an “incubator hub” in Nigeria, a project designed for agro-entrepreneurs and viable innovators ready to kick start businesses.

The agro-ecosystem is aimed at supporting the food production systems in farms and gardens.

Dr Emmanuel Abuhson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja on Thursday.

Abuhson told journalists that the inauguration of the programme is scheduled to hold in September and will develop and build up practical skills, and nurture entrepreneurial ideas among young people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the main objective of the project is to nurture, equip, and support agro-entrepreneurs as well as strengthen youth participation in agriculture.

The project is also aimed at making Africa a hub for agro-business to thrive.

“Less than five per cent of investments in Africa go to agriculture due to the risk factors in the business.

“Agriculture should be youth-driven to ensure food security in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

“Again, the rate of failure of investments in agro-businesses is another gap that needs to be bridged, hence the need to curtail it.

“We can build agro-businesses to become profitable and viable. This way youths can drive the sector.

“One thing that stands out for us at the “incubator hub” is changing the narrative. We want to see young educated people with good agro-business initiatives empowered to start, nurture, and grow their businesses and become empowered to kick-start viable businesses and make profit.

“When youths are driving the agri-business sector, we will no longer struggle with food security, food crisis, and under-capitalisation in the agro eco-system.

“Educated youths can conveniently run lucrative agro-businesses” he said.

He maintained that the project which is scheduled to last two months, is aimed at grooming young people between 18 and 38 years of age on agro-business within an eight-week incubation period.

“After the incubation period, the participants will face judges, who will determine the winner of the most outstanding and viable innovation award using a set of criteria and guidelines.

The winner, he said. will win a seed capital of one million naira. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=======

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Bukola Adewumi

Some associations in the Aagric sector have asked President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the N100 billion agriculture fund is disbursed through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to avoid bottlenecks in accessing the funds.

The National Agricultural Commodities Projects (NACP) and Strategic Alliance of Presidents of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (SAPACAN) made the call on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the President of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr Bello Abubakar, said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

He appealed that the President should approve 70 per cent of the fund to be disbursed as grants, while 30 per cent of it to be disbursed as loans respectively

He suggested the setting up of an implementation committee, and its membership to include the National Presidents of the four priority commodities.

He said the committee’s task would be to immediately design the strategy that would help to mop the unsold produce in the rural areas and turn them into local food derivatives.

“The N100 billion fund should be 70% Grant and 30% Loan and the PFIs through the CBN not like previous program create unnecessary bottlenecks that will hinder easy accessing of the fund timely.

“We urge the government to ensure smooth and effective implementation of the measures and regularly engage the citizens and the organized private sector to ensure accountability.

“There should be proper monitoring and evaluation of the implementation process to ensure benefits to the people. Appropriate reprimands and sanctions should be applied for glaring infractions and wilful sabotage,” Dr Bello said.

The Associations, however, advised the government that in the short term, they should mop up Cassava, Rice, Maize and Wheat for food and animal feeds.

“Development of existing Grazing Reserves and support for the cultivation of specialized pasture and feeds for Livestock, in collaboration with with willing state governments, should also be given the required attention.

“The president should reinforce the cultivation of the priority crops and livestocks by supporting widespread mechanization and training of extension workers across the country,” he said.

Speaking on the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly, the Associations urged government to closely monitor the banking sector in the provision of these loan facilities so that the eventual cost of funds is not above 9 per cent from other banking fees and charges.

“The focus on improving food production by supporting cultivation of 500,000 hectares of farmland and all-year-round farming practice is a welcome initiative.

He suggested that N200 billion out of the N500 billion approved by the National Assembly should be managed by a special team involving the entire Agricultural Value Chain to avoid the mistakes of the previous administration.

“Multi stakeholder involvement in funds management and disbursement would ensure synergy and collective operations to the mutual benefit of all involved and the Nation at large,” he added.

Bello requested that the planned release of 200,000 Metric Tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT, to moderate prices, should include the Leadership of NACP and SAPACAN for easy access and equitable distribution to teeming members, who constitute the bulk of the target beneficiaries.

“NACP & SAPACAN should also be part of the distribution of 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers, in order to ensure proper targeted so as to assure productive achievement of our food security agenda,” Bello noted.

“Security has not been given sufficient attention in the President’s pronouncements yet. It is also of utmost importance to deal with the issue of insecurity because, without security, there can be no prosperity.

“If the issue of insecurity is not adequately dealt with, the implementation of these strategies could be in jeopardy”, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that President Tinubu during a Nationwide broadcast recently, approved N50 billion for the cultivation of 150,000 hectares of rice and maize and another N50 billion for cultivation of 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Abigael Joshua

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has warned tobacco companies in the country that it would push for their sanction if they fail to indicate the new anti-smoking warnings on their products.

Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, the chairman of the alliance said this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference on the implementation of graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

“The current approved warning by the Federal Ministry of Health shows a graphic image of a tobacco user with mouth cancer, with the text warning ‘smoking causes mouth cancer’.

“The profit-centered tobacco industry is foot dragging to weaken this policy.

“This is because it knows that graphic health warnings reduce the number of people who start smoking, just as it encourages current smokers to quit.

“We thereby urge the Federal Ministry of Health, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON) Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the new health warnings are implemented,” Oluwafemi said.

He said regulation is is contained in Article 11 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and in our local laws.

“Section 20 of the National Tobacco Control Act, (NTC Act)2015 Nigeria requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors of tobacco products to ensure that their products carry full coloured graphic health warnings.

“This should cover 50 per cent of the principal display area.

“Similarly, that the approved graphic photo must clearly show the health implications of tobacco use and exposure,” he said.

The chairman said the law anticipated that the shock value of the warnings would begin to wane after two years, saying this is why the warnings are required to be rotated every two year.

“Section 20 (3) of the NTC Act stipulates that graphic health warnings must be changed after an initial period no later than 24 months to new graphic warnings and messages prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Health.

“The first set of warnings, a contrast image of healthy lungs and diseased lungs of a smoker was issued on June 23, 2021, and expired on June 22, 2023.

“It is now one month since the warnings expired, and as an alliance we alerted our members in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Ebonyi, Kano and Lagos states to monitor compliance with the second phase of the warnings,” he said.

The chairman said that it was unfortunate that findings showed that compliance was at zero per cent.

Oluwafemi said that tobacco use is a major public health concern and is a major leading death cause in the world.

“It is responsible for more than eight million deaths each year and if current tread continues death rate is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.

“In Nigeria there is a growing concern about the use of tobacco, especially the use of shisha, and several products entering our country particularly amongst the youths.

“The introduction of graphic health warnings on tobacco products is an effective way to reduce tobacco use and its associated harms.

“Several studies have shown that graphic health warnings are more effective than text only warnings,”he said.

Oluwafemi said that graphic health warnings are important “because we have some illiterates who cannot read or right in English language but can view pictures.”

Mrs Hilda Ochefu, a member of Campaign for Tobacco-free kids, said that everybody is at risk of second hand smoke generated from tobacco smokers.

“The tobacco fight is about our country and our children. We want to make sure that our children are protected while also protecting ourselves.

“We call on SON, ministry of health and the Consumer Protection Council to wade into the issue of non-compliance by tobacco companies because it is of multi-sectorial concern,” Ochefu appealed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NTCA is a network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and several professionals.

It is concerned with human rights, public health, cancer, and tobacco control with a view to ensuring qualitative health; sustainable human development; and good governance for all Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=======

Edited by Uche Anunne