Agriculture - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Apr, Thu, 2025

Nigeria, Vietnam strengthen cashew trade ties

388 total views today

By Patricia Amogu

Nigeria and Vietnam have begun formal discussions to deepen trade and investment in the cashew sector, with a focus on boosting local processing and transforming its value chain.

The National President of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Dr Ojo Ajanaku. said this in Abuja following a closed-door meeting with the Head of Delegation, Ms Nguyen Phuong, and other representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy.

“We have been working towards signing some contracts, and we are hopeful they will be successful.

“With this Joint Trade Committee (JTC) and additional Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), we believe we can achieve great things for the country and elevate the cashew industry in a way that benefits our stakeholders,” he said.

Ajanaku emphasised that the initiative would further strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral relationship with Vietnam, noting that foreign investment brings increased commitment and facilitates knowledge sharing.

“There is no such thing as technology transfer unless it is bought or stolen. But this time, they are coming to us willingly, which means we will benefit from direct technology transfer,” he explained.

He added that the bulk of cashew processing would now be carried out locally, eliminating the need to export raw cashew nuts for processing abroad.

“I can say our farmers’ prayers have been answered. They will now be in high demand and valued for the quality of their produce.

“No longer will they be forced to give away their cashew at low prices, it will now command the worth it truly deserves,” he stated.

Ajanaku also highlighted the uniqueness of cashew as a commodity, pointing out that not all countries have the favourable conditions required for its production.

“Nigeria is fortunate to have the right climate and weather, which enables us to grow cashew. I say congratulations to our farmers, they should continue to support this initiative and pray for its full realisation,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that Vietnam is a key player in the global cashew market, ranked among the top producers worldwide.

Nigeria is a leading supplier of raw cashew nuts to the Southeast Asian country over the years. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

L-PRES Coordinator seeks private sector support for livestock growth

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Thu, 2025

Agriculture , Food Security

L-PRES Coordinator seeks private sector support for livestock growth

659 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project has called for collaboration with the private sector to boost commercial livestock farming, increase productivity, and strengthen the resilience of targeted livestock production systems across Nigeria.

Mr Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, made the call at the Value Chain Enhancement and Infrastructure Clinic for Effective Livestock Supply Chain and Market Orientation on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abubakar identified the Project Development Objective (PDO) as improving productivity, commercialisation, and resilience of targeted production systems in Nigeria, as well as strengthening resilience to climate change, environmental degradation, and farmer/herder conflicts.

“We cannot attain the heights, than to join hands together, cross-fertilise our ideas, tap from your expertise, professionalism through your various mandates in livestock value chain enhancement and agribusiness with the supervision of Ministry of Livestock Development key and World Bank Group.

“L-PRES beneficiaries are being profiled in a water-tight database and mapped in organic clusters/groups identification and formation across the various local governments in the 20 participating states to aid seamless implementation and achieve the PDO.

“The six livestock value chains supported by the project are beef, dairy, piggery, poultry, sheep and goat, hides and skin,” he said.

The national project coordinator noted that the project was deliberate and intentional in the inclusion of youth and women in livestock farming, in order to bridge generational gaps.

Abubakar said the main objective of the L-PRES strategy was to achieve productive alliances, benefit from common facilities and infrastructure, and ensure a well-coordinated Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in investment across “our Value Chain Hub (VCHs) and Livestock Service Centres (LSCs)”.

According to him, this approach would further optimise the livestock supply chain, strengthen value chain market linkages, and support market development, among other benefits.

Abubakar described the gathering as important, saying it aimed to address the core concerns of the project, as “necessitated for sustainability by our livestock beneficiaries across the participating states and multiplying effects of the country’s economy as a whole”.

He emphasised that these objectives could be realised through the development of the livestock sector and the achievement of the project’s result framework.

“This stakeholders engagement is sine-qua-non to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu and a key ingredient to achieving food security through livestock value chain agribusiness and value addition/processing.

“Also, packaging, cold-chain supply, branding, quality assurance, traceability and export driven to earn much needed foreign exchange.

“L-PRES within its lifespan and stakeholders support is positioned to maximise the opportunities of the African Continental Free-Trade Area (AfCFTA) through industrialisation and will naturally drive food security, food safety, economic growth, job creation among others”.

Mrs Heather-Ronke Akanni, Livestock Value Chain Consultant for L-PRES, said the clinic would support livestock agribusiness across all 20 participating states and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Akanni identified the project’s safety net as threefold: government-supported, demand-driven by beneficiaries, and assured in its sustainability.

She said the orientation aimed to enhance livestock value addition, engage youth and women, improve market opportunities, promote exports, and add value across all project value chains. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

FCTA develops agric. policy to boost food security

Philip Daniel Yatai
Apr, Thu, 2025

Agriculture

FCTA develops agric. policy to boost food security

372 total views today

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started developing its Agricultural Policy and Implementation Plan to guide interventions toward increasing food production in the FCT.

Mr Umar Malamiyo, acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, said this at an event in Gwagwalada on Wednesday, adding that the goal was to enhance food security.

Malamiyo was represented at the event by Mr Agu Igwe, the Deputy Director, Public Private Partnership in the Secretariat.

He said the engagement would help government officials and stakeholders to identify key areas that could help farmers to grow major crops in large quantities.

He pointed out that most farmers in the territory lack basic knowledge on irrigation activities and cultivation of certain food crops.

According to him, the policy, when developed, will help FCT to achieve its aims of ensuring food security through adoption of best agricultural practices in food production.

He expressed optimism that the policy document, expected to be ready in six months, would offer solutions to all challenges affecting the agricultural sector in the territory.

Malamiyo said that the FCT Administration does not have a specific policy on agriculture to provide a sense of direction towards achieving good security for residents of the territory.

“Therefore, this exercise is geared toward developing a policy that will guide us on how best to support our farmers to boost agricultural productivity,” he said.

One of the resource persons, Prof. Oyinkan Tasie, said that the policy document would capture strategic areas in the FCT agriculture sector.

Tasie added that the move would deepen the knowledge of farmers in adopting best agricultural practices.

“We are working with the FCT Administration to develop an agriculture policy. This will be the first of its kind since the creation of the FCT.

“Through the policy, the Administration will be able to articulate its vision in the area of agriculture, and in the long run, address hunger and other challenges affecting the attainment of food security” Tasie said.(NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Expert urges inclusion of adolescent nutrition in national policy

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Wed, 2025

Agriculture , Food Security

Expert urges inclusion of adolescent nutrition in national policy

578 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

Dr Patricia Ukegbu, Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has called for the inclusion of adolescent nutrition considerations in the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN).

Ukegbu, an Associate Professor at the university, stated that such a move would help reduce the long-term burden of stunting and contribute to achieving nutrition security in Nigeria.

She made the recommendation on Tuesday during the first-quarter coordination meeting of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN) in Auta-balefi, Nasarawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ukegbu is a Policy Fellow of the Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy (GRASP), an initiative of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

She delivered a presentation titled “Integrating Gender-Responsive Adolescent Nutrition Considerations into the NPFN”.

She explained that although the current policy acknowledges gender inequalities, it lacks specific provisions to address disparities related to adolescent nutrition.

She identified these inequalities as relating to food and nutrition security, access to healthcare services, educational resources, social protection, and empowerment.

“The NPFN contains no specific national provisions for younger adolescent females (aged 10–14) and males in general (aged 10–19),” she noted.

“The policy rightly focuses on children under five and women of reproductive age. However, it inadequately engages adolescents in interventions designed to meet their distinct nutritional needs”.

Ukegbu advocated for a review of the 2016 NPFN to incorporate gender-responsive strategies on adolescent nutrition, including the promotion of adolescent participation in policymaking processes.

She also recommended the development of clear objectives, targets, and strategies to improve adolescents’ nutritional knowledge and dietary behaviours.

According to her, these measures are critical to ensuring adequate nutrition for the nation’s adolescent population.

Ukegbu highlighted the opportunities for strengthening gender-responsive adolescent nutrition in Nigeria, including policy, programme, and legal frameworks.

She cited existing programmes such as school feeding, food fortification, dietary diversity, and biofortification.

The nutrition expert outlined key challenges facing adolescent nutrition, including inadequate diets, malnutrition, food insecurity, and the absence of gender-responsive policies and programmes.

She also mentioned the lack of national age- and gender-disaggregated data on adolescents’ nutritional status, food consumption, and nutrition knowledge.

She noted that most existing programmes targeting adolescents are primarily focused on reproductive health.

Also speaking at the event, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, an expert in Community and Public Health and Paediatric Nutrition at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, advocated for a life-cycle approach to nutrition.

Nnam emphasised the need to prioritise nutrition at every life stage from early childhood through adolescence and into old age.

She said: “Adolescence is a critical developmental phase.

“While most development occurs from conception through the first 1,000 days, the adolescent stage is another key window when substantial physical and cognitive growth takes place.

“If nutrition is properly addressed during adolescence, it can help correct some deficits incurred earlier in life”.

Dr Victor Ajieroh, a nutrition expert and AWARD mentee to Ukegbu, described the advocacy for adolescent nutrition inclusion in the NPFN as timely.

He stressed that such inclusion would allow the country to maximise the benefits of its demographic structure.

Ajieroh maintained that while the nutrition of mothers and children under five must remain a priority, strategic attention should also be paid to adolescents aged 10 to 14.

“The school feeding programme should be expanded to include this age group.

“We must strengthen school-based health, nutrition, and agricultural programmes, especially in secondary schools, to prepare adolescents for their most productive years.

“Once they leave school, they enter the workforce and become part of the nation’s productive population.

“From a reproductive health standpoint, as they transition into early adulthood, many begin to marry and start families.

“If we want future generations of healthy children, we must first ensure that today’s adolescents are well-nourished and healthy.

“We must equip them with the knowledge and habits that promote good nutrition, not only for themselves, but also for their future families, “he added.

NAN reports that participants at the meeting included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, civil society organisations, and development partners. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Lydia Beshel
Apr, Mon, 2025

Agriculture

Farmers task new Bank of Agriculture MD on digitalisation

369 total views today

Digitalisation
By Mercy Omoike

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has urged the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Mr Ayo Sotinrin, to ensure the digitalisation of the bank for effective service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu, on April 4, appointed Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the BoA.

Sotinrin is a seasoned finance and agribusiness expert and brings a wealth of experience from both the private and public sectors.

The Southwest Chairman of AFAN, Mr Femi Oke, who commended the President for Sotinrin’s appointment tasked him on the digitalisation of the BoA for increased efficiency.

“It is a good development for President Tinubu to have appointed a new person. What we are asking is that they should move from analogue operations to digital.

“Their system is still an old one which is very slow. If you save there, you cannot withdraw in any other place.

“The new managing director should also expedite the process of loans, so that more farmers can get access to them. Definitely, without soft loans, new intakes cannot come into the sector.

“BoA is basically set up to aid those who are about to go into the sector. So they should prioritise funding for local farmers,” Oke said.

Also speaking, Mr Omotunde Banjoko, an agriculture analyst, urged the new management to update the operations of the bank to a digitalised state.

“The new managing director has been appointed at a very crucial time and the change is really straightforward. The number one thing to be done is that the bank has to be digitalised.

“And the digital transformation will come in different ways. As of today, when you pay money into your account at Bank of Agriculture, you do not get an alert.

“You can only withdraw from your branch and no other branch and customers can pay money into your branch. This means the bank is still operating in the 1940s.

“So, the bank has to be digitalised in its processes and operations. This is what has been scaring a lot of farmers.

Now I opened a bank account in Ogun state, I cannot even transfer into the account from my phone.

“I cannot go to any of their branches in Lagos to pay into my account except I go back to Ogun state. That is a major snag the bank is facing.

“So, the bank has to be completely transformed in terms of digitalisation.

Although they have on paper 109 branches, but they are spread wide apart,” Banjoko said.

The expert also urged the new managing director to prioritise funding and loans for local farmers to boost the sector’s growth.

“So, in terms of funding, before now, they give below N1,000,000 to farmers.

But, through the recapitalisation, even before the former Managing director left, they were giving loans up to N5 million to farmers, and that is fair.

“So, the new management should follow up on that. Even though I thought they should make it N10 million. So, they should make proper funding available for farmers.

“This is what will also transform the sector. So, funding should be prioritised and not politicised. We should focus on that as well and what will make agriculture attractive to young people as well.

“The bank really needs to do a lot of branding work. You enter a BUA branch and you are not sure you are in a bank. You see one or two staff probably sleeping, probably doing their loan and all that.

“So, there is serious branding work waiting for the new managing director. And then, he should engage stakeholders more,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Sat, 2025

Agriculture

LIFE-ND begins project in 3 states

399 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project has commenced the implementation of an agri-entrepreneurship initiative across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Imo states.

Dr Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

His statement followed a sensitisation and inspection tour by project officials.

Sanni identified the three states as part of those funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He emphasised that implementation has begun with community sensitisation and the identification of both incubators and incubatees in the participating states.

According to him, the sensitisation aims to create awareness within the communities and instil a sense of ownership.

He noted that the exercise involved engaging community members and leaders, as well as identifying potential incubators (trainers) and incubatees (trainees) in the respective Local Government Areas.

“This sensitisation exercise creates a background to the next exercise, which is profiling of potential incubators and incubatees who are the key players in the LIFE-ND incubation model.

“This model takes it roots from the traditional master-apprenticeship system popularly practised in the eastern region of Nigeria.

“The set target is that each state is expected to empower 4,250 beneficiaries and there is a deliberate effort at ensuring gender balance is achieved,” he said.

Sanni explained that the identified beneficiaries would be profiled and that prospective incubators and incubatees would subsequently be selected.

“In terms of commodity focus, Akwa Ibom will prioritise cassava, oil palm, poultry, and aquaculture; Imo will focus on cassava, rice, poultry, and aquaculture; while Rivers will target cassava, plantain, poultry, and aquaculture.

“The overall goal of the LIFE-ND project is to realise a transformed rural economy in the Niger Delta from which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefit.

“The project development objective is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agri-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria”.

The LIFE-ND project, a joint initiative of the Federal Government and IFAD, officially began on February 21, 2019.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) serves as the lead implementing agency, while NDDC acts as a partner in delivering the project across the nine Niger Delta states.

The project is targeting a total of 38,250 beneficiaries across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states.

Sanni clarified that IFAD is funding six of the states; Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, while the remaining three are funded by NDDC.

He further noted that the project includes an initial six-year phase with parallel funding from NDDC, and an additional six years under future IFAD financing.

According to Sanni, “IFAD has released 60 million US dollars in the first which has enabled the implementation of the project in the six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo from 2019 to 2025.

“NDDC funded states commenced implementation in 2024 when its made the initial commitment of 2.5 million dollars in August 2024 and another 2.5 million dollars in Jan. 2025. The said amount will enable the three states swing into full implementation”.

Meanwhile, on the ground in Imo State, stakeholders are already witnessing the impact of the project.

Mr Mbaeyi Emeka, an incubator and owner of Prince Mbaeyi Emeka Farm in Obollo Autonomous Community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, commended the LIFE-ND intervention.

Emeka recounted that he had previously operated as a subsistence cassava farmer before joining the project.

Now, he proudly identifies as a full-fledged commercial farmer.

“I advise youth and women indulging in cassava production to be dedicated. If you can endure for one year when the cassava has matured, you will realise bumper harvest, self-sustaining economically and employer of labour.

“There is money in farming, especially cassava.

“When l came back from Italy after spending four years l went into farming which is profitable.

“So, l advise people to be courageous and go into farming especially cassava production rather than waiting time in expectation of civil service and oil job that is not available,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Njoku, an incubatee under Mbaeyi Farms, described cassava farming as a lucrative venture.

She encouraged other women to take advantage of the LIFE-ND project to improve their livelihoods and boost household incomes.

She praised the project for alleviating the struggles of the less privileged.

Also, Mr Young-man Soseipiri, Assistant Farm Manager at Petros Poultry Farms in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, said the initiative had provided an opportunity to train incubatees in broiler and layer production. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Apr, Sat, 2025

Agriculture

Enugu Govt. trains 100 farmers on Climate Smart Agriculture

346 total views today

By Stanley Nwanosike

No fewer than 100 farmers from the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State have received training on Climate Smart Agriculture to mitigate agricultural losses.

The workshop is aimed to enlighten farmers on best agronomy, seedlings and planting/harvest periods as well as protection of crops and the farmer and family against harsh weather, disasters and sicknesses.

The workshop on “Downscaling of 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction for Enugu State Farmers” was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation in collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

Declaring open the workshop on Friday in Enugu, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that participating farmers would be part of trainers meant to further stepdown the training.

According to him, the 100 registered farmers participating will serve as trainers and ambassadors for the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in the Climate Smart Agriculture to farmers in each of the 17 council areas.

“Their experiences and insights will be invaluable as we work together to implement these innovative agricultural strategies and step it down to each farmer and his or her farmland.

“Our mission to transform Enugu State into the food basket of Nigeria and an export hub is bolstered by robust partnerships with private investors.

“We have signed partnership agreements with the following private partners: Pragmatic Palm Ltd, Biosources and Technology Ltd, Ugwu Anama Farm and Fungtai Engineering Company LTD.

“Others are Atletico Farm Concepts Ltd, Whit Rabbit Agro Concept Limited, and the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN).

“More partners are in the pipeline for both rehabilitation of existing farms and establishment of new ones,” he said.

Ubru said that the state government, its partners and the people were cultivating vast areas of land and developing produce cities that would serve as centers of excellence in agriculture.

“These collaborations are essential as we strive to create value chains that not only enhance production but also improve the livelihoods of our farmers.

“Under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, we envision a future where Enugu State is synonymous with agricultural prosperity.

“Our goal is to feed the people of Enugu and beyond while establishing our state as a key player in the national and international agricultural markets.

“Today’s event is not just about climate predictions; it is about equipping you, our farmers, with the knowledge and tools necessary to adapt to changing climatic conditions.

“In a world where climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, we must stay informed and proactive,” he said.

The commissioner urged the participants to take full advantage of the workshop and use the information provided to implement best practices that enhanced the state’s agricultural resilience.

Ubru expressed gratitude to farmers especially the youth and women, private partners, and stakeholders for their unrestingly commitments to the development of Enugu State.

Speaking, Mrs Glory Onyegbule, Director, Applied Meteorological Services in NiMET, said that Enugu State, according to the 2025 rainfall prediction, would have ample and long stretch of abundant rainfall between April and November.

“However, farmers should start planting when there must have been series of rainfall and the ground saturated with enough water. This should be so since most farmers in the state depend on rain feed, sustained type of agriculture.

“This will ensure better and bumper food harvest for direct consumption, local market and foreign exchange earnings as well as reduce or eliminate losses due to wrong rainfall or climatic timing,” Onyegbule said.

Corroborating, Prof. Ifeanyi Enete, Director, Institute for Maritime Studies of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture was a current global best practice and it opened up better understanding of modern agriculture.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Victor Ngwu, urged farmers in the state to adopt the new learning and modify their farming practices to check losses and ensure constant profitability in their farming business. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Apr, Sat, 2025

Agriculture

Climate Smart Agriculture : ICEHD, ROSE Foundation empower 100 women farmers

367 total views today

By Doris Esa

The International Centre for Environmental Health and Development (ICEHD), in partnership with Rose of Sharon Foundation (ROSF), has empowered no fewer than 100 rural women farmers in the FCT and its environs.

The women were empowered with solar powered irrigation pumping machines, knapsack sprayers, sprinklers, bio-fertiliser, among others.

ICEHD and ROSF also trained the women in climate-smart agriculture and agroecology practices to enhance productivity in farming.

Speaking at the ocassion in Abuja, Dr Ndudi Bowei, Consulting Partner for ICEHD, said the initiative aimed to help women farmers adapt to the problem of climate change.

Bowei said that climate change had greatly affected women farmers’ productivity which had led to the reduction in the quality and quantity of their harvest.

“Now climate change is affecting women farmers terribly, starting from the dryness of the soil to the reduction in the nutrients in the soil.

“The problems of pests, heat, lack of adequate rainfall, and so many other problems reduce the quality and quantity of their harvest and the amount of income these women can make.

“We want to teach them to produce tomorrow. We also have farming tools and implements we want to give them,” she said.

She explained that the training would also help the women to apply adaptation practices that would enable them to adapt to the problem of climate change.

“It will also assist them to mitigate the impact on themselves as farmers, and on their incomes,” she said.

Bowei said the women farmers were taught on how to grow their farm business, how to process their produce, package, label and export them.

According to her, they were also taught how to produce organic compost and organic pesticides, how to use them on their soil and on the farm as well to improve the quality of their soil.

Also speaking, Mrs Oloruntosin Taiwo, National Coordinator, ROSF, said that the initiative sought to get stability for widowed farmers.

“We have our widows that are also farmers. So, what we hope to achieve working with this partner (ICEHD) is to get stability for our widow farmers.

“So, from this training, they are going to increase their knowledge of smart agriculture, everything that has to do with climate agriculture, so that even as they have a change in the climate, their produce is not affected,” she said.

“We want them to be able to take care of themselves, take care of their children.

“So, we know that if their farming occupation is doing well, definitely they’ll be able to have something to fall back on aside all the other support that they are getting from the foundation,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Comfort Peter, thanked the organisers of the event for the gesture.

Another beneficiary, Ruth Sunday, equally appreciated the foundation for supporting women empowerment through training in climate-smart agricultural practices.

They pledged to utilise the knowledge acquired from the training and the farming inputs and tools given to them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Association partners FG to boost tomato production in Southern Nigeria

Magdalene Ukuedojor
Apr, Fri, 2025

Agriculture

Association partners FG to boost tomato production in Southern Nigeria

355 total views today

By Mercy Omoike

The Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) says it is partnering with the Federal Government to boost tomato production in Southern Nigeria.

The TOPAN National President, Mr Bola Oyeleke, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Oyeleke said that boosting tomato production in the South was a proactive step by the government to address price hike.

“We want to step up tomato production in the South-West, and we are doing this in partnership with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, under the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government wants to make sure that we expand the production of tomato across the South-West and the South-East.

“It is being proactive before the rainy season problem, when there is usually an increase in the cost of tomatoes in the South.

“So, this year, we are preparing to make sure that we reduce the price of the produce and meet demand down South,” he said.

The TOPAN chairman said that the project, which began on April 3, would be piloted in four South-Western states – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti.

According to him, the association will work with farmers in these states to increase the production and supply of tomatoes to the open market at affordable rates.

He said that on April 3, local farmers were trained on seedlings, using seeds developed by NIHORT which are very compatible with the land in the South.

“The farmers will be trained in the best agronomic practices and on the right use of fertilisers,” Oyeleke said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Christiana Fadare

New Sokoto river basin MD vows to restore lost glory

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Fri, 2025

Agriculture , Food Security

New Sokoto river basin MD vows to restore lost glory

539 total views today

By Muhammad Nasir

Alhaji Abubakar Malam, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), officially assumed office on Thursday, pledging to restore its lost glory.

Malam emphasised the grassroots-driven importance of the organisation and urged the management to establish a sustainable synergy to realign its activities with its original mandate.

“Our focus will be on increasing food production, reducing poverty, fostering grassroots development and ensuring sustainable rural investments.

“We will also strive to improve the livelihoods of the people across the four states under our jurisdiction,” Malam stated.

He further highlighted the need to provide a strong impetus for sustainable growth through agricultural investments to enhance the economic fortunes of the people.

Reflecting on the challenges ahead, Malam acknowledged that the task before the new SRRBDA management was a daunting one, given the current realities that necessitate the restoration of the organisation’s lost prestige.

“As we take on the responsibility of leading this organisation, I assure you that under my leadership.

“We will strive to improve staff welfare, uphold discipline and work ethics, recognise productivity, and reward excellence to motivate employees for maximum output,” he affirmed.

The managing director also announced plans to develop a comprehensive action plan aligned with the organisation’s mandate.

He said, “This plan will clearly define responsibilities at all levels to facilitate effective assessment and quality control”.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the new SRRBDA Executive Directors, Malam thanked President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Water Resources, and the Governors of Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina States for the trust placed in them.

“I wish to extend our profound appreciation to president Bola Tinubu for this opportunity to serve.

“We remain deeply indebted and firmly committed to the president developmental agenda and campaign promises,” he stated.

Malam assured that SRRBDA would complement the president’s initiatives in agriculture, agro-industrial zones, livestock development, rural economic growth, sanitation, and food security.

Additionally, Malam extended a hand of partnership to all federal and state organisations, agencies, and stakeholders, inviting them to collaborate in his mission to make a meaningful impact.

“We are determined to make a difference, and we welcome all stakeholders to join us in this commitment to progress,” he added. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani