By Felicia Imohimi

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), project of the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Thursday launched the Agribusiness Innovative Forum (LAbIF) in Calabar.

Dr Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND in Calabar, described the forum as a multi-stakeholder platform, comprising the project beneficiaries and key players in the agri-entrepreneurship space.

Sanni said LAbIF is intended to be an institutional structure that would address multidimensional issues of profitability, access to factors of production, price control among others.

According to him, LAbIF aligns with the policies of the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ encapsulated in the food system transformation pathways adopted by the country.

He said it is a direct implementation response of the Federal Government on innovative financing in the agriculture sector.

“The deliberate and increased involvement of the private sector in agriculture is the reason why LAbIF is an ecology of agro-commodity value chain actors..

“They  are expected to collectively help develop specific value chains they find themselves for the overall improvement in the agricultural and rural development sector,” he said.

Sanni said that LIFE-ND has created and supported 22,150 enterprises out of the targeted 25,500 across the participating six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo.

The coordinator said the project had injected over 30 million dollars into the rural economy of the states, and boosting agricultural productivity and value addition across seven commodities.

These included chain of cassava, cocoa, oil palm, rice livestock among others.

He identified poverty alleviation and empowerment of the youth and women as the core of the project activities.

Ntufam Anom, Cross River State Commissioner for Livestock, Aquaculture and Fishery, said LAbIF would ensure food sufficiency of the populace and boost income generation.

He assured of the state government`s commitment to meet its counterpart funding of LIFE-ND to further boost the economy of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Bukola Adewumi

The Federal Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Service has pledged to promote animal health, enhance food safety and facilitate trade in animals and animal products in the country.

Dr Columba Vakuru, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, unveiled this ambitious plan during a consultative stakeholders meeting on the sanitary mandate held in Abuja on Monday.

Vakuru emphasised that the council’s mission is to pave the way for a paradigm shift in Animal Health Care delivery, advancing veterinary sanitation in Nigeria.

Addressing the stakeholders, he articulated that the strategic priorities, objectives, and tactics outlined in the sanitary mandate are geared towards protecting the health of both animals and humans.

“The overall goal is to achieve animal welfare, guarantee food security, ultimately leading to improved public health,” he affirmed.

The veterinary director urged members to actively engage in the discussions, share thoughts constructively, adding that their inputs would shape the future direction of veterinary services in Nigeria.

He also said that members should reaffirm their commitment to excellence, innovation, and partnership.

Dr Mustapha Mohammed, the Animal Component Officer, highlighted the severe threat posed by Transboundary Animal Diseases in the sub-region, underscoring their impact on livestock productivity and mortality.

The L-PRES project, developed by the Federal Government Preparation Team and experts, focuses on preventing, controlling, and possibly eradicating four key transboundary diseases in the animal health component.

Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative of Propcom+, stressed the importance of robust Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to institutionalise routine livestock vaccination at various government levels, ultimately saving costs and boosting efficiency.

Propcom+ aims to strengthen the last mile delivery of animal health vaccines by scaling models such as Community Animal Health Workers and Veterinary Para-Professionals.

Ode highlighted that PPPs have been successfully piloted in several locations in Nigeria and emphasised the need for a comprehensive framework to support these initiatives. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chinyere Bassey and Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has announced plans to implement a comprehensive deratisation framework targeting states in a bid to curb the persistent annual outbreaks of Lassa Fever.

Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, revealed the initiative during a press conference on Monday, addressing the recent outbreak of Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF), suspected to be Lassa Fever, at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

During the briefing, Salako disclosed that the Ministry, in response to the outbreak, had assembled a team and recommended the deratisation of affected facilities to reduce the rat population, known carriers of the disease.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the minister highlighted that the team had engaged with the Kaduna State emergency response team to address the situation.

The state epidemiologist reported six confirmed cases and five fatalities out of 12 suspected cases as of Feb. 25, with an additional 92 persons under surveillance as contact persons.

Salako outlined key interventions under the Environmental Health Pillar, including the dispatch of rodenticides for massive deratisation, activation of environmental health personnel for surveillance, and mandatory compliance of public facilities with deratisation exercises.

He emphasised that the Environmental Health Council and other authorities would issue deratisation certificates or exemptions to facilities post-deratisation.

Dr Yakubu Baba, the Registrar of EHCON, expressed concern about the annual recurrence of Lassa Fever and assured a change in approach, targeting reduction within Kaduna and preventing escalation to other states.

“Deratisation and awareness creation at the community level we are embarking on, are part of the preventive measures. We will issue certificates of deratisation to communities without evidence of rat infestation.

“We will focus on communities and states that are prone to the disease annually,” he stated. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Maharazu Ahmed

By Ismail Abdulaziz
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food items to support the vulnerable populations across the country.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the grains were bagged in seven locations for onward distributions to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The presidential aide said that after the bagging,  the distribution would commence immediately.

Onanuga said that the  first batch would be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.”The Federal Government is also ramping up food production by boosting Dry Season Farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project .

”The First Phase of the Dry Season Farming was launched in November, 2023. It focuses on the cultivation of wheat across 15 wheat-producing states, covering 118,657 hectares and involving 107,429 farmers.

“The fields are green now and harvest will commence in a matter of weeks. There are fantastic reports of growth of wheat from Jigawa State, which is now targeting harvest from about 50,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more than initially allotted under the programme.”

He said that the Phase two  of the Dry Season Farming for rice, maize and cassava would commence soon across all 36 states and the FCT.

“For rice, the target is 250,000 hectares involving 500,000 farmers with the expected output of one million metric tons of paddy rice.

“For maize, we are cultivating 55,000 hectares with 110,000 farmers thereby adding 165,000 metric tons to national maize production.

”For cassava, we are doing 35,000 hectares with 70,000 farmers to produce 525,000 metric tons of cassava.

“The NAGS-AP Project offers a 50 per cent  subsidy.

”However, the Federal Government is providing additional support for Phase two, which will bring aggregate subsidy to about 93 per cent to farmers cultivating the crops.”

Onanuga said that state governors are also showing strong support to further enhance the subsidy.

He added that solar-powered water pumps for irrigation are being deployed to aid the upcoming phase of the programme. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Olayinka Olawale

The Lagos State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (LAGOS CARES) says it will continue to provide quality and sustainable interventions in agriculture and markets.

Mr Jonathan Obayemi, the State Project Coordinator, Fadama Programme in Lagos, stated this at a one-day workshop for representatives of six wet markets in Alimosho Local Government Areas on Tuesday.

Obayemi noted that the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, through the Fadama office under the Lagos CARES programme, had upgraded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in 71 markets across the 57 Local Government and Council Development Areas.

The Fadama coordinator noted that the capacity building would hold for one week in eight locations across the state.

The locations, he said, were: Ikorodu LG, Orile Agege LCDA, Alimosho LG, Coker-Aguda LCDA, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Ajeromi- Ifelodun and Otto-Awori LCDA secretariats.

He said the participants were drawn from the market unit, sanitation unit, and agriculture and social services departments of concerned local governments and local council development areas alongside market leaders.

According to him, Lagos State government is committed to quality delivery of interventions along the agriculture value chain from ‘Farm to Fork.’

“The state Fadama coordination office is building the capacity of stakeholders on the operation, utilisation, maintenance, and management of projects to ensure sustainability even while the programme ends,” he said.

Obayemi urged the participants to step down the knowledge acquired during the workshop to market operators across the state and imbibe the culture of good hygiene and maintenance of government facilities in their various markets.

Also, Mr Mustapha Raji, the Environment Officer, FADAMA, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, urged the participants to imbibe good maintenance culture of the facilities within the markets.

The NG CARES programme was set up by the Federal Government, World Bank, and State Governments after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support to mitigate its impact on livelihood, food security and small businesses.

He said the Result Area 2 of the Lagos CARES would bridge resources gaps of small scale farmers through provision of farm inputs and productive assets.

He said N-CARES had been promoting hygienic environment for agricultural produce through provision of water and sanitation facilities in wet markets.

He said the objectives of the workshop was to discuss sustainability, environmental and grievance related issues within the markets as the NG CARES programme was rounding off.

He listed some of the projects undertaken in the wet markets to include potable water, generating set, toilet facility, hand washing facility as well as fumigation equipment.

He said the workshop would educate the market traders and their leaders on how to maintain all government funded facilities within the markets to ensure sustainability.

“We want you embrace timely maintenance of the various equipment and facilities provided for you in the markets. We want you to form water users’ association to oversee the water project.

“We also want you to maintain general cleanliness of toilets, drains and hand washing facility, fumigation services, usage of body protective equipment like eye guards, gloves, booths and apron.

“We want you all to adopt a grievance resolution mechanism in the market involving representatives of local government and council development areas.

“We urge you to set up grievance redress committee that will provide a clear transparent framework to address complaints lodged by members of any market associations as a result of the projects,” he said.

Raji noted that by June, the NG CARES programme in Lagos would have increased the number of wet markets supported well above the present 71 markets.

“In the markets, we have the representatives of local government, agric department, FADAMA and market associations, we want to discuss the management of those projects because we cannot do it alone.

“FADAMA, through the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, has supported markets in the last one year and we want to ensure that these facilities are in good condition.

“All these projects that we have undertaken, we want them to be sustained and properly maintained. We want you to own it because they are provided to make your lives easier and better,” he said.

Mrs Rachael Babajide, Head, Environmental Health Services, Ayobo Ipaja, LCDA, called for more collaboration between the local government environmental office and market associations for proper management of the markets.

Babajide said such collaborations would facilitate development, improve environmental sanitation and hygiene as well as proper monitoring of health officials.

She urged market leaders to abide by all rules and regulations laid down by the local government area to avoid sanctions.

“We want you to abide by the rules and regulations in the market. We want you to ensure that the projects provided by government are well maintained and its surroundings are clean,” she said.

Mrs Oluwakemi King, HOD Agriculture and Social Services, Egbe-Idimu LCDA, also urged the participants to always work together as a team and take ownership of the projects donated to their markets for sustainability.

“Don’t carry out self maintenance, always inform the management of N-CARES programme whenever the need arises and cooperate with your leaders,” she said.

Some of the participants who spoke to NAN expressed their appreciation to the state government and coordinator of FADAMA.

Mrs Sherifat Olaiya, a representative of Ipaja market, thanked the government for supporting the markets with potable water with hand washing facility.

“We have se tup a committee to manage our water facility and also ensure clear environment in and around the facilities,” she said.

Mrs Kudirat Emosi, Iya Oja Esidara market, Idimu, urged the representatives of Lagos N-CARES to visit the markets periodically for proper monitoring. (NAN)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Doris Esa

The Federal Government has empowered 250 small holder farmers in the Federal Capital Territory with agricultural inputs in order to enhance productivity, improve resilience and embrace sustainable practices.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Temitope Fadeshemi, who spoke at the opening of the empowerment on Tuesday in Abuja, said the event was critical to food production.

Fadeshemi said that the empowerment of verified and validated farmers under the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) was a crucial initiative.

The permanent secretary was represented by the Director, Department of Agricultural Extension Services, Mr Michael Brooks.

He said that the support for smallholder farmers became really necessary to ensure there was enough food to meet the demands of Nigerians.

Fadeshemi explained that farmers were not just the backbone of the agricultural sector and heartbeat but also the heartbeat of national prosperity.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to uplifting the lives of our smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable agricultural practices.

“I am delighted to remind you that the NPRGS, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Service (FDAE), has diligently enumerated and validated approximately 250 farmers for participation in this transformative programme.

“These farmers are not just the backbone of our agricultural sector; they are the heartbeat that form the heartbeat of our nation’s prosperity.

“The NPRGS reflects our government’s dedication to addressing poverty at its roots, emphasising the pivotal role agriculture plays in economic growth and development.

“Through initiatives like today’s training and empowerment programme, we are sowing the seeds of positive change, ensuring that smallholder farmers have the knowledge, resources, and support needed to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

“This programme is not merely an investment in agriculture; it is an investment in the future of our nation.

“As we equip these farmers with the tools to enhance productivity, improve resilience and embrace sustainable practices, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous agricultural sector,” he said.

Fadeshemi called on stakeholders to build a future where smallholder farmers were not just beneficiaries of progress but active contributors to nation’s growth.

Earlier, the Head of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Deola Lordbanjou, said that the inputs would boost productivity of farmers.

He urged Nigerians to also do backyard farming to ease pressure, saying it would go a long way to solve the problem of hunger in the land.

One of the beneficiaries, Elizabeth Oyerinde, expressed excitement over the intervention and assistance given to smallholder farmers.

She promised that the inputs would be used to achieve the purpose for which they were given. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo