By Tosin Kolade

The Federal Government has approved the commercial release and open cultivation of a new maize variety, Tela Maize.

The maize was developed by researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research, IAR, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria that resists fall armyworm, stem borers and tolerate moderate drought.

This decision was made during the 33rd meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock breeds/Fisheries (NCNRRCVLF) in Ibadan.

The committee, headed by Prof. Olusoji Olufajo, granted approval for four innovative varieties: SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T.

These cutting-edge maize varieties boast drought tolerance and resistance to stem-borers and fall armyworm, promising a yield advantage of up to 10 tonnes per hectare.

Under optimal agronomic practices, it surpasses the national average for similar hybrids at 6 tonnes per hectare.

The suitability of these varieties for Rain Forest, Guinea, and Sudan Savannas positions them as a potential game-changer for maize production in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Stem-borers and fall armyworm have been significant challenges affecting maize production in Africa.

The latter is capable of destroying up to 20 million metric tons of maize annually, enough to feed 100 million people.

The approval follows the environmental release granted by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) in October 2021.

The development of these groundbreaking varieties was spearheaded by the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Samaru, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, under the TELA Maize Public-Private Partnership coordinated by AATF.

Currently implemented in five countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa – the TELA Maize Project signifies a collaborative effort to address agricultural challenges.

Expressing satisfaction with the release, Prof Ado Yusuf, Executive Director of IAR, commended the scientists for their dedication and emphasised the extensive research and testing that went into the development of these maize varieties.

AATF’s Executive Director, Dr Canisius Kanangire, highlighted the contribution of TELA Maize to food and nutrition security in alignment with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation agenda.

The release in Nigeria is seen as a significant step towards addressing challenges faced by farmers across the continent.

Professor Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), labeled the approval of the TELA Maize variety as a critical milestone in leveraging biotechnology for ensuring food and nutrition security.

This, he said ultimately improves the livelihoods of farming households in Africa.

Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), emphasised the potential reduction in pesticide usage on maize, benefitting humans, livestock, and the environment.

Dr Sylvester Oikeh, the TELA Maize Project Manager, expressed encouragement by Nigeria’s decision, urging other African countries to follow suit for the benefit of farmers.

The TELA Maize project involves collaboration with various partners, including National Agricultural Research Institutes in Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and others.

It has funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Mercy Omoike

Some rice traders in Lagos have lamented the inability of local rice farmers to meet the growing demand of the produce.

The traders spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

NAN recalls that the Federal Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to increasing local production of wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and soyabean, through the provision of relevant farm inputs.

Mr John Nwabueze, a food stuff trader at Alimosho, lamented the growing cost of the produce and the inability of locally grown rice to meet rising demands.

He, however, noted that the quality of locally grown rice had improved and could stand at par with foreign rice.

“If the closure of the border is completely enforced, Nigerians will have no choice but to stick to locally grown rice.

“When there is scarcity of the smuggled rice, then we will wholly embrace our home grown rice.

“Local rice farmers may not initially be able to meet the growing demands of rice if the borders are watertight shut but gradually they will meet up.’’

He said that the reason why most Nigerians patronised foreign rice was the poor awareness of the benefits of local rice.

“We have very good local rice brands without stones and well-polished but Nigerians are used to foreign rice.

“When we started eating Nigerian rice when the border was initially closed, we had a lot of poorly processed rice in the market.

“But now the situation has changed; however, most customers insist that they will rather buy expensive rice than buy local rice.

“We want the government to either completely enforce the closure of the borders and put an end to smuggled rice or officially open the borders for legal rice imports,” he said.

On his part, Mr Temitayo Abdulhakeem, another rice trader, said though Nigerian rice was picking up in quality, it was insufficient to meet growing local demands.

“If the borders are completely shut and no infiltration of rice into the country, local farmers may not be able to meet the demands.

“If we cannot even get smuggled rice, it will be more difficult for Nigerians.

“When the borders were initially shut down, and we had no access to foreign rice, we witnessed daily rise in the price of rice.

“How many Nigerian rice brands do we have? We have only five brands that are of good quality.

“We actually seek the opening of the borders for legal importation of rice but that does not mean the price will drop drastically.

“It is just that we will have more people importing and the monopoly of the few importers will be broken,” Abdulhakeem said.

He added that the traders had not been able to access foreign rice recently.

NAN reports that a bag of short grain rice sells for N54,000 while the long grain rice bag sells at N65,000 to N66,000; Nigerian rice sells for between N49,000 to N50,000 per bag.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Doris Esa

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has debunked stories of its deliberate delay in the distribution of rice palliative.

The Director of Information in the ministry, Dr Joel Oruche, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the issue under reference concerns constituency projects budgeted for under the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation and domiciled in the Ministry.

“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is not distributing any palliative.

“The issue under reference concerns constituency projects budgeted for under the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“It is common knowledge that funds for National Assembly constituency projects are domiciled in the relevant Ministry for purposes of implementation.”

The statement acknowledged the ongoing implementation process for the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation, with Oruche providing insights into the diverse needs of constituents addressed through these projects.

These include provisions for staple grains and the development of various agricultural infrastructure, as determined by the respective members of the National Assembly. (NAN)   

www.nannews.ng

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Ismail Abdulaziz

By Felicia Imohimi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

“Never in my life did l believe I could earn a living let alone living a sustainable life“. This is the testimony of Mr Esemiteye Erukoghene, 35 years, from Uwheru, Ugheli North Local Government Area, Delta. He is living with a disability.

Erukoghene is one of the beneficiaries of the IFAD Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).

“As a person with disability, the programme has helped me a lot because initially when l had this accident feeding was a problem and depended on my father and siblings for daily bread.

“Since I was enlisted into the programme I can boast that l cannot depend on anybody for survival but rather proceed from my farm,” said

Moses Azibalua, another person living with disability and resident of Imiringi Community, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa said his life has been transformed from being financially dependent to self-reliance.

Azibalua said he found life and a reason to live through LIFE-ND.

“The project not only granted him the opportunity to be trained on layers production for three months in Veejay Farms but also empowered me and other beneficiaries with 150 birds and 19 bags of feed after the training.

“The project paid everything concerning the programme and even supported us with transportation to the training centre for three months.

“Now, with what I get from selling from my farm I have been financially stable. I thank LIFE-ND for the programme and urge them to continue so that others can benefit also.

“My life has turn around, I thank LIFE-ND and other partners for bringing this programme to the downtrodden,” Azibalua told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

LIFE-ND is a project of the Federal Government and the IFAD in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well as participating states.

It is targeted at disadvantaged youths and women-headed households in the rural and suburban communities.

It is purposely for transforming the rural economy, enhancing income, creating jobs, boosting food security and empowering rural youth and women through agribusiness enterprise development in a sustainable manner for the Niger Delta region.

Another beneficiary, an unemployed housewife
Rita Iluma, from Bayelsa said LIFE-ND has greatly impacted on her, describing it as a game changer for her.

She explained that she was elated having been selected for the programme, adding that after the interview they were trained for about three months on fish farming later on given 1000 fish and 50 bags of feed.

My life turned around from then on because everything was happening fast, another beneficiary, Pat Oki from Njedo, community in Delta State told NAN.

Oki said she was captured in the programme in 2021.

“I was in a tricycle when I heard that there is a programme that wants to empower people. So, I called my sister doing fishery at Urukpoghene and she told me she was already there filling forms.

“The man in charge asked if I was interested, adding that the programme is not an easy one. I said that I am interested and I was enrolled.

Oki said at the moment she has 1500 fishes ready for sale and smaller ones.

“God will bless LIFE-ND and whoever that initiated this programme God will bless them and all participants.

“My life has turned around for the better. Generations will benefit from what they have started,” she said.

Gloria Isito from Ogigba Community in Orhionmwon LGA, Edo, said she joined the programme in 2021 with training on cassava farming at the end of every participant was given N160, 000, fertiliser, chemicals and cassava stems.

Isito said they were given cassava stems, fertilizer and all the chemicals needed for the farming, adding that it has helped her to scale up her farming.

“The project is really encouraging, in December 2022 they took.us to Sapele for training so that we can know about standardization, measurement weight and others.

”So, now l am harvesting and selling’’, said another cassava farmer, Philomina Arimukwu an NCE holder.

Mrs Mary Asara a trainer on Fish farming said beneficiaries were trained on how to breed fish from fingerlings to selling stage.

Asara said they were also taught how to clean up the ponds before stocking fingerlings and their medication requirements, among others.

“They were given one thousand fingerlings and 50 bags of fish each, they had gloves, boot and stipends of N15,000 each, “she said.

The project is targeted at nine states in Niger Delta region and currently implemented in six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Cross Rivers and Ondo.

Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Imo supposed to be funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would join later.

Dr Abiodun Sanni, National Programme Coordinator, FG/IFAD LIFE-ND said the project which has 12 years duration is targeted at 32,500 beneficiaries.

He said no fewer than 15,960 youth and women have so far benefited from it.

Giving the breakdown of the beneficiaries across the states, he said 2,379 women-headed households and youths had been reached in Abia, 2,349 in Bayelsa, Cross River 2,370, Delta 2373, Edo 2, 330 and Ondo 2,354.

Sanni said the project covered staple crops of rice, cocoa, cassava, oil palm, plantain, poultry and fishery.

“The project promotes community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities along key agricultural value chains as a mechanism for job creation among unemployed youths and women-headed households.

“The project implemented in nine states in the Niger Delta focuses on agricultural communities which are cocoa, plantain, palm oil, cassava, rice, poultry and fishery.

“The overall goal is to realise a transformed rural economy in which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefits.

“The objectives are to enhance income, achieve food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agri-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the region,” he said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Ebere Agozie

Mr Daniel Okafor, National President of Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN), has urged the Federal Government to support genuine farmers and not political farmers.

Okafor said this at the end of the year get-together of the members of the association in Abuja.

He said that the event was aimed at taking a critical look at the 2023 agricultural scorecard, and to also deliberate on expectations of farmers in 2024.

Okafor said the Federal Government should profile all farmers in order to have a data base of genuine farmers.

“All these people you see parading themselves as farmers policy and implementation makers are political farmers.

“They are not practising farmers, they don’t plant anything and yet they highjack all the incentives provided by the Federal Government for genuine farmers.

“If government continues to patronise political farmers they will continue to experience the same result, which is severe hunger in the country.

“Let them change their strategy, work with real farmers and they will get results.

“I have seen the government sending some people abroad, spending our scarce resources to buy seeds, when our own researchers can give them same if properly funded.

“They should properly fund our research institutes, and they will get better results even cheaper than global-trotting in the name of getting seeds for farmers.

“I also call on the research institutes to carry farmers along because these farmers are in the best position to help them in the field trials and revert with honest results”.

Okafor said government at all levels should intensify efforts in tackling insecurity in the country to enhance food security.

“Many farmers have been deprived access to their farmlands for fear of either being kidnapped for ransom, or being attacked or killed by herders”.

He, however, promised his members a better 2024 farming season where most of the challenges of 2023 would have be improved.

“By God’s grace, we will embark on more capacity building of our farmers to create more awareness, and in the monitoring and evaluation of Impact Assessment on farmers.

“We will increase government- farmers interaction so that we can share ideas on how to have sustainable food security in our dear country,” he said”. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Femi Ogunshola

Gov. Umar Bago of Niger, says his administration will likely hit N1 trillion in revenue through the Niger Food Security and Logistics Company, in the next five years.

Mr Abdullberqy Ebbo, Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy to the governor, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, the move will employ over 100,000 farmers who will be cultivating over 100,000 hectares across the state.

He said that an agreement was signed between the Chairman of Niger Foods, Mr Sammy Adigun, and the Executive Director of TGI Group, Sadik Kassim, a commodity off-takers firm.

Ebbo said the signing was witnessed by the Chairman, Union Bank, and the EVC, TGI Group, Malam Faruk Gumel.

According to the agreement, the state and the producer shall be responsible for the cultivation, harvesting, aggregation, and sale of rice paddy, soybeans, maize, and sesame seeds to the off-taker.

This, he said, includes Tropical General Investments, which would be responsible for the transportation, logistics, and purchase of the produce.

Tropical General Investment was part of the conglomerate which included Union Bank, WACOT Rice, Wasil, and Chi groups.

He said the transaction involved the production of 600,000 to one million tonne of various produce per annum,  concurrently for five years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Chioma Ugboma