By Ikenna Uwadileke.

Solidaridad, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Saturday, says it will provide technical support to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in developing Nigeria’s oil palm sector.

Solidaridad made the pledge in a statement issued by its Programme Officer – Communication Outreach and Network, Mr Pita Ochai.

The statement quoted Solidaridad’s Senior Climate Specialist, Africa and Country Technical Lead in Nigeria, Dr Samuel Ogallah, as “expressing optimism that the NGO’s collaboration with the ministry would contribute significantly to the growth of agriculture in Nigeria’’.

According to it, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Solidaridad and the ministry on March 4, in Enugu, aligned with the organisation’s aim to support Nigeria’s capacity-building.

The statement noted that the efforts would also ensure that Nigeria regained its leading role in the global production of oil palm.

It emphasised that the support would guarantee Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in agriculture and divestment of the economy from dependency on crude oil.

“With this, the two parties will collaborate based on mutual goals, interests, competency, expertise, and resources in the agricultural sector.

“The collaboration will also  improve the productivity of the agricultural sector and ensure that it contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

“Solidaridad has immense expertise in agriculture, guided by over 50 years of experience working across various supply chains.

“Nigeria will benefit from Solidaridad’s expertise in her effort to transform the agricultural sector,’’ the statement elucidated.

While describing the MoU as a welcome development, it pointed out that it would propel the efforts of Solidaridad West Africa and FMARD toward the achievement of food sufficiency and export for the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Solidaridad’s footprints in Nigeria spans more than a decade and has largely been on improving oil palm, cocoa and horticulture.

Presently, Solidaridad is implementing the National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, and Kogi states, while its partner, IDH, is implementing NISCOPS in Edo and Ondo.

According to the statement, NISCOPS is improving the production of oil palm through best management and sustainable land-use practices and climate-smart agriculture.

“The programme is aimed at improving the income and livelihoods of smallholder oil palm farmers in the project implementing states and the national food security at large.

“Additionally, Solidaridad is implementing the horticultural programme, the Sustainable Development Goal Project 1, dubbed “Transforming Nigeria’s Vegetable Markets” in Kano and Kaduna,’’ it added.

The two programmes are funded by the Government of Netherlands. (NAN)

By Bukola Adewumi

The National Potato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NAPOGPMAN) called on the Federal Government to re-introduce the produce marketing boards to reduce some challenges faced by farmers.

Mrs Christie Sunkur, the new National President of the association, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the newly elected executive members after 13 years which the association has been without leadership.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that produce marketing boards were established by government during the first republic to regulate quality of some farm produce, fix their prices and sell them locally or export.

There were different boards for each of the produce like cocoa marketing board, rubber marketing board, etc.
Sunkur said the marketing board was to regulate prices of goods and a place where produce could be taken to get buyers.

“It is a board where farmers’ products are taken to in order to market outside the country and even within the country. The marketing board also regulates the activities of pests and insects.

“We are calling on the Federal Government to bring up a legislation that will help farmers through the creation of the marketing board which is very possible to be done with their will power.

“We also want the government to create agric centres all over the country where all the farmers will belong,’’ she said.

The president described the last election as a milestone for the association, saying that the association had not achieved anything in the past 13 years.

“ Both the potato farmers and processors are happy, potato marketers are happy because they have an umbrella body to channel their issues to.

“ We are calling on development partners, individual and the Federal Government to sensitise and help our farmers with inputs to move the association forward.

According to her, potato is very strategic in every household in Nigeria as potato has helped to bridge food insecurity gap.

Sunkur said that one could make vegetable soup with the leaves which also have so many health benefits.

“With the strike by the various unions, most of our members have suffered various losses as potato is perishable.

“We thank God there was a meeting organised by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and Mr Femi Fani-Kayode to resolve the matter with the union and yesterday the strike was called off.

“We are calling on the government to help us find ways that we can preserve potatoes just as we preserve rice, corn and other food items.

“We will want to apply to research centre in Umudike in Abia that has the mandate for tuber research to help make research on how to preserve potato so that we can keep it for six to one year’’.

Mr Paul Ojoku, one of the elected members of the association, expressed his happiness and promised to work to see that the association is moved forward.

NAN reports that 14 members were elected and inaugurated from the six geographical zones of the association

By Bukola Adewumi

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), says various research works have been put to use in farms but no off-takers to boost food security.

Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary of the ARCN, made this known on Wednesday In Abuja while presenting his Scorecard to Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN).

Sharubutu said off-takers were yet to buy those research works and it is the major problem research institutes are facing.

“There is a lot of competition between quick yielding trade and agriculture unless we begin to look at agriculture as short and long term, we will never be able to get it right.”

According to him, the government released fund to the Cocoa Research Institute (CRIN) to develop new varieties of the crop.

“When we went to brief the minister over the issue of cocoa research, his first challenge to us there is some of the best breeders we have in this country are Yoruba.

“Cocoa is a Yoruba crop, how come the best brains are now allowing the best product to be taken over by Ivory Coast.

“Just last week, the Executive Director of Cocoa Research Institute was given a grant to develop Cocoa, and that was out of the observation that was raised,” he said.

For livestock, the ARCN boss said National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) has been making efforts to improve the milk and meat output of cattle, but it has been faced with the challenge of getting the animals in one place.

“We are trying to improve on the milk production. The problem is that NAPRI attempted to do artificial insemination in order to improve the genetic material of our breeds in order to have higher yielding milk as well as high-yielding meat.

“What is the problem? Artificial insemination has to do with getting the animals to stay in one place because you cannot artificially inseminate an animal that is hungry.

“So, you put them in one place, you flush them, when they come on heat, you inseminate them.

“We have keyed into the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP), and this is the best way to go. Ban grazing in terms of moving from one place to the other, and locate them (livestocks),” he explained.

He said a proposal has been sent to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to approve the establishment of internship in all the colleges to serve as training centre for Agriculture graduates.

“I have under my purview 11 colleges of Agriculture, and let us assume that these colleges are producing 20 HND holders, so we’re going to have 220, now you have 220 farmers every year in this country, it is going to impact seriously.

“But the total number of Colleges of Agriculture we have in this country is 52 so if each of them produce 20 HND holders, what are we doing with this 20?

“By our own analysis, we have found out that less than 30 per cent of them go into agriculture. We have written a proposal, right now the proposal is on the table of the Minister.

“We create entrepreneurship centres in all our colleges of agriculture, that will serve as internship, let the graduates of agriculture go there and learn the trade

“So, the proposal is there, we are trying to see how we would do in order to encourage people to go into Agriculture, and internship is the best method for us,” he added.

By Mustapha Yauri

The National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, is to train 75,000 agricultural extension agents on best agricultural practices to enhance food production in Nigeria.

Prof. Emmanuel Ikani, Executive Director, NAERLS told newsmen on Wednesday in Zaria that already, 12,600 agricultural extension agents had been trained by the institute under its e-extension training programme.

According to Ikani, the e-extension training programme was introduced following security challenges in parts of the country and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He explained that the institute had to leverage on the ICT to reach agricultural extension agents and farmers, adding that the virtual training would help to reach millions of farmers using mobile phones.

Ikani said NAERLS would use its offices in the six geopolitical zones to educate farmers, using local languages, to transit to modern agriculture.

He stressed that the mandate of the institute was to provide information on best agricultural practices to boost farmers’ production and productivity.

The director added that the information would help processors and agro allied industries.

“I want to recalibrate the attitude of the farmers to begin to see agriculture as a clean business where people of integrity can go into,” he added. (NAN)

By Muhammad Lawal
Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has announced that the newly established modern tomatoes factory in Ngaski would begin production in March.

Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to the governor on Media, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

Sarki said the governor made this known during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu-Abdullahi in Yauri.

Bagudu told the Emir that he had already intimated President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue to seek for his blessings for the event.

He said: “Officials of GB Foods have informed me that plans are underway for the launching and commencement of production .

“I have also informed the Presidency about it and sought for permission for the event, between March 22 and 24 in Ngaski so that the President could join us virtually due to COVID-19 protocols.

“The advantages of the firm cannot in anyway be over emphasised, as it cannot come at a better time than now when more sources of revenues for the government are direly needed.”

He explained that the firm would boost the tomatoes value chain in the state, reduce unemployment and boost the economy of the state and Nigeria in general.

Bagudu further noted that the firm would help to reduce capital flight and boost food security in the country, saying that thousands would benefit from it, down the value chain .

The governor acknowledged the sustained support of the Emir towards the Buhari administration and that of Kebbi State and urged him to sustain the tempo.

According to him, Buhari has honoured Yauri Emirate and Kebbi State by completing the road construction in the area and appointing two illustrious sons of the state.

He listed the appointees as Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq and AbdulRasheed Bawa as the Pioneer Managing Director of Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) and Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) respectively.

The Emir thanked the governor and his entourage for the visit, saying that Yauri Emirate would always remain grateful to the governor for the various developments in the area.

Bagudu was accompanied on the visit by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Alhaji Sahabi Lolo, APC Zonal Vice Chairman, Kebbi North and top Government officials.

Idowu Gabriel

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ekiti Region 25, is to float a foundation to drive  agribusiness among its youth members as a strategy to tackle  unemployment.

Adeoye Aribasoye,  the  newly-ordained  Youth Pastor In-Charge of the region, gave the assurance   on Sunday while addressing some  RCCG youths in Ado-Ekiti.

Aribasoye said that the aim  was to ensure youths’ contributions to national development.

According to the youth pastor, promotion of agribusiness is part of the region’s vision tagged, “R 25 Y-SAWPER”.

He explained that R 25 Y-SAWPER meant Region 25 Youth Development for Spirituality, Agribusiness, Women Empowerment, Political Integration, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation and Rural Rugged Evangelism.

“We are focusing on agribusiness as one of our focal points because of the rate of unemployment that we have observed in the country.

“We believe that the economy of Nigeria can be grown on agribusiness, if we take it seriously.

“One of the things we want to do, is to open the eyes of our young adults to see the opportunities in agribusiness.

“We will set up a foundation, known as Covenant People, R25 Development Foundation, that will support these youths in the area of empowering them,” Aribasoye said.

He said that youths interested in livestock farming would be provided with chicks and feeds.

“Those who want to go into arable crop farming will be supported and provided with linkages, ” he added.

The pastor said that RCCG was committed to ensuring that Nigerian youths would be heaven-focused and earthly relevant. (NAN)