By Felicia Imohimi

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria(SWOFON), a coalition of women farmers associations, has called on government at all levels to mechanise farming in order to enhance agricultural production in the country.

SWOFON’s spokesperson, Mrs Felicia Ukwu, made the call on Monday in Abuja at the commemoration of the World Food Day with the theme, “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.’’

Ukwu, who frowned at the manual farming system in the country, added that one of the surest ways to ensure food security and affordability was to adopt mechanisation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Food Day is observed annually on Oct. 16.

It is aimed at shedding light on the millions of people globally who lack the means to afford a nutritious diet and the crucial necessity of consistent access to wholesome food.

Ukwu identified herder-farmer conflicts as a major security challenge affecting the farmers across the country, adding that addressing the challenge was key to ensure food and nutrition security.

She blamed poor food production as well as hike in cost of food nationwide on security challenges.

The spokesperson, however, called on the government to prioritise the security of farmers in order to ensure food security.

“l wish government can take care of security, protect farmers, provide us with the needed implements for mechanisation not manual, so that we can provide enough food to feed the nation.

“At the moment women farmers are facing a lot of challenges going to the farms, so this need urgent attention so that we can have enough food in circulation ,’’ she said.

She commended Oxfam for attending to the yearnings and aspirations of farmers through the provision of fertilisers and irrigation machines.

Speaking on the theme, Eucheria Okechukwu, SWOFON member, said water was essential to health.

She urged farmers, government among others to minimise the application of chemical on the soils in order to ensure healthy water for the masses.

She also urged farmers to desist from application of chemical on farms and adopt organic farming for healthy water and healthy living.

Okechukwu, commended Oxfam for training SWOFON members on organic farming and urged governments and others to follow suit to ensure healthy food in circulation

“The water that we are taking is supposed to be life and food unfortunately is no longer safe but poison to us.

“We apply herbicide, insecticide and liquid fertiliser among others on our soil and when rain falls, it pushes it back to our stream and rivers.

“When the water gets back to our streams it turns back and we consume thereby making the water unsafe and unhealthy, ’’she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwen Moru and Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Bukola Adewumi

Mr Sam Onuigbo, member, Governing Board, North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for renaming the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to Agriculture and Food Security.

Onuigbo who is the Chairman, Security, Special Interventions, and Climate Change of NEDC, gave the commendation at the maiden conference on accelerating agricultural adaptation in Africa, on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the focus would be to ensure food security in the country with and a robust economy.

Onuigbo said he fully supported initiatives that would pave the way for a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.

He recalled that Tinubu had during his inaugural address, declared that “Agricultural hubs will be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processing.’

He said Africa’s youth population is growing rapidly, adding that transformation in agriculture is essential to create economic opportunities.

According to him, it is crucial to involve youth and women in sustainable Agriculture practices to ensure food security, poverty reduction and economic growth.

Onuigbo said that Nigeria had taken a significant step forward with its Climate Change Act 2021.

He added that the act now serves as a beacon of hope in addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change in the agricultural sector.

This, according to him is by promoting nature-based solutions, conservation, and sustainable management of forests.

He said that Nigeria is leading the way towards a more climate-resilient future for agriculture.

He further said that gender-sensitive approaches are needed to address climate change’s differential impacts on women and men.

He said the importance of these critical segments informed their inclusion as members of the National Council on Climate Change chaired by the President himself. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Aminu Garko

The Federal Government on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to partner with relevant stakeholders to enhance food production in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said this at a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Programme (SAPZ) organised by thel ministry in collaboration with IPAD and IsDB in Kano.

Kyari who represented by the Director Projects Coordinating Unit of the Ministry, Mr Musa Bukar, said the implementation mission of FGN/IFAD Special Agro-Industrial processing zone SAPZ Programme was meant to support the development of the programmes in enhancing high food production.

He said the programme would help in creating Agro Industrial Hubs and Agricultural Transformation centres through the provision of support infrastructure and policy regulatory incentives for the private sector.

This, he said was led by African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

The minister noted that the FGN/IPAD programme targets rural women and youth, stressing that the programme would also ensure social inclusion and provide opportunities for participation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and PWDs among others.

Earlier, Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Musa Shanono, said Kano was selected among the eight states for the implementation of the first phase of the programme.

He said this was to accord all the needed support to achieved the set objectives.

” As indicated, the primary objectives of SAPZ is to transform the Nigeria Agricultural sector into a more competitive advantage by eliminating the supply side constraints.

” My administration has ordered the rehabilitation and renovation of the previously established institution created during the administration of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

”This includes poultry, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, farm mechanization and Entrepreneurship development institutes,” he said.

The Country Director, IFAD Nigeria, Mrs Dede Ekoue, said the International Fund for Agricultural Development, remains steadfast to supporting sustainable agricultural development, rural and food systems transformation.

“In line with the national priority of Agri-food system transformation and the presidential emergency declaration on Nigeria’s food security with the National priority of Agri-food transformation, IFAD confirms it’s commitment to support the smallholder farmers.

”This will help to drive food systems transformation.

” We call on strong collaboration among stakeholders including but not limited to Federal Government, state government, farmer organisations, private sectors, financial institutions, youth and women groups,” she said.( NAN) www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Felicia Imohimi

Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) FCT Chapter says it has lost over N6 billion due to cash crunch resulting from the CBN cashless policy, subsidy removal on fuel and other factors.

The Secretary PAN FCT, Hon. Musa Hakeem, said this on Friday in Abuja at the commemoration of the World Egg Day.

He noted that other factors contributed to the loss included forex and ban on importation of maize and soybeans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Egg Day is commemorated annually on second Friday of October and the theme for 2023 is “Egg for a healthy future”.

Hakeem listed other challenged bedeviling the industry as high rate of diseases, lack of access to credit facilities, high cost of feed and poor quality chicks.

He said that other challenges were cost of veterinary services, lack of technical knowledge, high mortality rate among others.

He noted that the challenge had led to astronomical increase in poultry feed resulting to closure of no fewer than 127 poultry farms in FCT and reduction in the purchasing power of the consumers.

Hakeem, specifically noted that the removal of subsidy on fuel had made movement of poultry and poultry products from one destination to the other very difficult.

While commending the minister of FCT, he, however called on the administration to come to the aid of farmers to reverse increase in unemployment rate and security challenge currently bedeviling the country.

Hakeem said the industry was the largest employer of labour, urging the minister to harness the inherent potentials in the industry and protect the investment in order to attract more investors.

He further called on the interventions of President Bola Tinubu to reverse the current trend and save the industry from total collapse.

“We call on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to carry PAN along in the ministry’s ‘Home Grown School Feeding programme in area of egg supply.

” This collaboration will create wealth and employment along supply chain, “he said.

Hakeem says “World Egg Day is an opportunity to make everyone aware that eggs are excellent, cheapest sources of high quality nutrient.

“Egg has socio-economic roles which include means of livelihood, achieving a certain level of economic independence, meeting human needs for dietary animal protein supply.

“It also enhanced investment and security against risks for small scale poultry farmers”.

According to him, an egg is one of the most environmentally sustainable and cost-effective animal-source proteins available.

Also, Durojaiye Okodu, Chief Executive Officer, First Agro-Delight Nigeria, said egg was the cheapest source of protein and vitamins.

Okodu said if egg was properly harness it would help in nations building through children development.

“An egg a day makes a different in families.”
Present at the commemoration were Ibrahim Lamidi, Ex Official PAN North Central and Abdullahi Abduljabar member of PAN. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Olayinka Olawale

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, has urged farmers, food processors and marketers in the agricultural value chain to use water judiciously.

Olusanya made the call during a road walk organised by the Lagos State Government as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 World Food Day.

The theme for 2023 celebration is: “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind”.

The World Food Day is an annual celebration by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations held on Oct.16, to encourage action on food insecurity.

The commissioner said that water was becoming scare due to various environmental and human activities, noting that all hands should be on deck to reverse the trend.

According to her, without water there will be no life, no food and obviously if there is no food, there will be a problem.

”This year’s theme: “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind, speak of the resources that we require in the agricultural space, by our farmers and stakeholders and particularly that water is becoming a scares resource .

”It is, therefore, a privilege as a ministry to be part of the story about how water utilisation can be done in a way that you can utilise the same water for different purposes through recycling.

“I just want to implore everyone here, be you a farmer, processor and marketer in any part of the value chain you participate in to use water judiciously.

“Without water there is no life, without water there will be no food and obviously, if there is no food, there will be a problem which is why we should leave no one behind,” she said.

The commissioner thanked Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu who had been able to push agriculture to the next level in the state.

“I want to believe that we will be doing so much more in the next three and half years in changing the narrative around the sector in Lagos, the country and across the West African belt,” she said.

Olusanya urged the public to join the farmers on Oct. 16, to celebrate the grand finale and purchase farm produce at affordable prices.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, I want to say a big thank you to everyone that turn-up for this walk, I want to believe it was very refreshing.

“Tomorrow, we will be having our farmers’ forum and the grand finale on Oct. 16 at the Police College, Ikeja.

“I want you all to turn-up enmasse as farmers from the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas will display their produce, catch and everything they do.

“It is an opportunity to buy food directly from the farmers at good quality and affordable prices and to generally see and appreciate them for all they do,” she said.

Mrs Odiri Erewa-Meggison, Board Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, urged the public to be conscious of how they use water to have a sustainable environment.

Erewa-Meggison said the British American Tobacco was very passionate about giving back to the community in which they operate and more particularly, in forming collaboration with state governments, especially Lagos.

”We have collaborated with Lagos State for five years consistently, we have been able to impact about 2,000 farmers and 5,000 shoppers.

“We are celebrating 20 years of the foundation and this foundation is giving back to the community.

“We have impacted so many lives and have planted over 500,000 trees on over 10,000 hectares.

“We have impacted over 300,000 smallholder farmers and have so much that we have given and so much that we still want to do and all these is across the 36 states and the FCT,” she said.

The board director urged the public to ensure that they maintain and create a sustainable world and planet as well as be the catalyst that would drive the change.

“It is with great honour, this is my second year of joining you on this walk, we went through this route last year.

“It is a good form to exercise, it is good to reconnect and to show to the world and Lagos State that life is important; farmers are important and without farmers there is no food.

“I love the theme for this year; water gives life, without water we can’t survive. Water is at the centre of everything that we do.

“I join my voice with the commissioner in saying that in the world that we are now, where we are looking at how we can impact the environment in a more sustainable manner,” she said.

Erewa-Meggison said people should be conscious of how they use water, live their lives, treat each other and how they prepare for the future and generation yet to come.

She said the tobacco company was proud to work with the state government because it had shown that it cares. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has described Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery’s, innovative approach to agricultural advancement as a huge boost to the state’s agricultural development.

Makinde said this on Wednesday via a statement following his visit to the company’s processing plant in Akinyele and farm at Awe, both in Oyo State.

He said the approach adopted by the company aligned with his administration’s move to making food available to Nigerians and advancing agricultural growth in the State.

Makinde stated that the company’s empowerment and job creation initiatives for rural women through poultry farming was unparalleled as it has helped improve their living standards.

“I am ready to partner with Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery to enhance your drive to make animal protein available, not only in Oyo State but across the country.

“I promise to improve the necessary infrastructure to create improved access for the distribution of agricultural products across borders,” he said.

Dr Debo Akande, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness, International Co-operation and Development, described the company’s investment in agriculture as massive.

Akande, however, called for effective partnership to enhance its contribution to the state’s economy.

Dr Ayoola Oduntan, the Group Managing Director, Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Ltd., said the Governor’s visit provided the opportunity to explore avenues of collaboration between the company and the state.

Oduntan said Amo Farm produced a million-day-old chicks a week.

He disclosed that the company plan to raise the production by over 30 percent on a year-on-year basis.

He said the idea behind the company’s huge investment was to develop a world-class business with skills that would meet the growing requirement for animal protein which was very nutritious and essential for the body.

According to him, this has prompted the company’s empowerment of over 1.3 million rural households with the innovative bird, Noiler, with an emphasis on women.

Noiler is a genetically improved dual-purpose chicken breed that is similar in looks and taste to the native chicken, but is resistant to diseases, and produces four times more eggs and three times more meat.

“Like its eggs, which are very nutritious for all age demographics, the Noiler’s meat contains all essential amino acids and is low in saturated fats and cholesterol.

“With this, we have laid a solid foundation that could be multiplied to spread across the whole of the country, and even the rest of Africa.

“The company aims to put 20 Noiler birds in 2.5 million households by 2025 through strategic partnerships,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Bukola Adewumi

The Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), on Wednesday decried the exclusion of its members in government funding to reposition seed companies in the country.

SEEDAN President, Mr Yusuf Ado-Kibiya, who made the allegation at his maiden news conference after his election in Abuja, said that no fewer than 420 seed companies were affected.

According to him, inconsistent government policies and lack of access to credit facilities are stifling the growth and productivity of seed companies in the country.

He alleged that many government agencies in charge of contracting seed procurement gave it to their cronies and contractors who mopped up the grains in place of seeds in local markets, thereby starving the seed companies of patronage.

Ado-Kibiya said agriculture remained the backbone of every economy, while seeds remained the foundation of crop farming.

He called on government to pay attention to seed production, saying the average Nigerian seed gave a yield of 10 tons per hectare.

“Agriculture has been the backbone of every economy worldwide and seed is the most important factor in agricultural development.

“When you talk about development or economic growth worldwide, agriculture has been the foundation, but regrettably in Nigeria, we have been having problems of inconsistencies in government policies over the years.

“Seed has not been given the attention it deserves. Without good seeds, you cannot succeed; all other inputs are partners in the process of developing the plant.”

While acknowledging seeds as a big business, Ado-Kibiya urged the government to support research institutes as they formed the basis for producing quality seed for agriculture.

“Seed is not a small business;  it includes a lot of works along the chain of production, and there are a lot of activities, commitment and job opportunities.

“The research institutes in Nigeria are not supported, government should do something because research is the fundamental base where you produce success especially in agriculture, so government should support research and seed companies.

“We are over 420 seed companies in Nigeria and we are on our own, there were policies that really helped in the previous years and these policies are no longer possible because they were not sustained by successive governments.”

He, however, called for policy frameworks to support the seed companies, especially in the areas of funding and patronage especially from government agencies.

“Seed companies are not really supported in terms of policies to ease access to fund, funding is critical but financial institutions do not even understand what agriculture is.

“So, government should come up with policies that will ease access to funds for seed companies, extension services has collapsed, farmers are on their own with knowledge.

“Farmers are not being educated to buy seeds from competent companies, companies will produce seeds, there is no market to sell.

“They end up selling the seeds as grains because the government agencies don’t patronise seed companies”, the SEEDAN President added. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade and Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have recommended the scaling-up of commodity alliance forum in all the states of the country.

The recommendation is with a view to enhance farmers access to market as well as transforming the nation’s food system.

They made the recommendation on Wednesday in Abuja at the Wrap-up workshop of the FG/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) 10th Supervision Mission.

Dr Dede Ekoue, the Country Director, IFAD Nigeria, identified Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) operational in VCDP implementing states as an effective platform to enhance farmers’ access to market as well as strengthening agro industry.

Ekoue identified CAF capacity building for youths and women empowerment as key strength that have propelled VCDP to its current level of excellence across the nine participating states of Ebonyi, Enugu, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra, Benue, Ogun and Niger.

She explained that VCDP had leverage on the power of collaboration through CAF which successfully applied the Public Private-Producer Partnership (4Ps) model, setting an example for effective market-led value chain development especially in the rice sector.

According to her, the result has been global and regional recognition for VCDP’s effectiveness, notably the recent praises from the Vice President of Nigeria at the UN Food Systems Summit stocktaking in Rome.

She therefore recommended youth and women empowerment.

“We have seen that youths are very happy to have the support of the VCDP and it is helping them to increase their income along the value chain.

“For example, in seed entrepreneur, there are young people that have been trained, we also have youths providing some services like mechanisation to farmers which is very important.

“Women have also shown that they are really happy about the programme because it does not only allow them to have access to input but also work within the community to improve gender equality using household approach called Gender Learning Action System,” she said.

While lauding all participating states for paying their counterpart fund, the country director however urged all states covered by the programme to pay up their counterpart fund.

Similarly, Mr Bukar Musa, the Director, Programme Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAF), said the VCDP’s commitment to capacity building for farmer organisations in both technical and business aspects were remarkable.

Musa said the commitment combined with improved access to production inputs had yielded impressive results.

“We have witnessed a staggering increase in yields with cassava recording a 100 per cent improvement and rice production seeing an incredible 200 per cent increase.

“We have witnessed increased yields, improved livelihoods and enhanced food security as a result of the programme’s interventions. This is a testament to the transformative power of targeted investments in agriculture and value chain development,” he said.

He added that the VCDP had played a pivotal role in promoting youth and women entrepreneurship and employment across the entire value chain.

Musa also said that the role was evidenced from service provision in seed multiplication and mechanisation to chemical spraying and value addition in cassava and rice.

“We have witnessed the incredible transformation of these two groups. Their productivity, incomes and recognition speaks volume about the success of the project.

“VCDP’s dedication to gender equality, youth empowerment and environmental sustainability sets a commendable standard for inclusive and responsible agricultural development.

“These principles not only drive positive outcomes but also ensure that the benefits of our efforts are shared equitably among all segments of the society.

“We acknowledge the resilience and adaptability of all stakeholders involved, particularly in the face of unprecedented challenges such as global pandemic. Our collective commitment to the VCDP’s objectives made us to navigate these challenges and emerge stronger than ever,” he said.

In the same vein, Dr Fatima Aliyu, the National Coordinator FGN/IFAD-VCDP, said the supervision mission examined and assessed the various facets of the VCDP’s implementation, learning from both successes and challenges.

Aliyu said these processes had been invaluable in shaping the future direction of the programme and ensuring that “we continue to deliver impactful results”.

“The main objective is to access the implementation of the additional financing one and two of the project, assess programme implementation.

“What is working and what is not working well and as well to assess the challenges and bottle neck militating against VCDP effective implementation and also to agree together on how best to move the project forward,” she said.

She said that the supervision mission had found out that VCDP had done well in terms of outreach, adding that the project is expected to reach 135 smallholder farmers and processors across the nine participating states by 2024.

“At the moment we are at 94 per cent, so we are on track to achieving the set target. We have done well in targeting as well because we have targeted the real smallholder farmers that needed the interventions most,” she stated. (NAN)

Edited by Deborah Coker/Muhammad Suleiman Tola