By Abigael Joshua

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on Thursday in Abuja said that it would review its biosafety guidelines to conform with international treaties.

Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General, NBMA, said this at the review and validation workshop on technical regulatory frameworks for modern and emerging technologies.

She noted that the review was on Genetically Modified (GM) Trees and Animals to ensure the safety and health of citizens.

“We are particular about the safety of Nigerians, plants, animals and the environment in general.

“GM trees and animals are to be packaged with a robust strategy to ensure that we maintain the quality of work for which NBMA is known for.

“We are committed to continue to record remarkable progress in the country’s standard for Genetically Modified Organisms,” Asagbra said.

The D-G said that the agency had finally sealed a collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service to ensure a close surveillance on all imported items.

“This will ensure a semi detection on, unauthorised boundary movement of all GMOs to and fro the country,” she said.

She commended the stakeholders for their support to review and have a robust guidelines.

Mr Umoh Umoh, a stakeholder with Mirista International Limited, expressed optimism that the outcome of the workshop would satisfy the yearnings of the agency and the country.

“I pray for the enablement to justice to the review and the validation of the guidelines on GM trees and animals,” he said.

Also, Mrs Scholastica Bello, Acting Director Planning, Research and Statistics Department, NBMA, noted that the workshop was expected to correct errors and capture omissions from the reviewed document on guidelines on GM trees and animals.

She added that the workshop would ensure that GM trees and animals are safe for citizens in the country and also ensure ease in doing business. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Mustapha Yauri

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Wednesday pledged to support the Federal Government in the recovery of Anchor Borrowers loans granted to farmers.

IAR’s Executive Director, Prof. Mohammad Ishiyaku, assured of the support as he toured its Tela Maize Farmers Field at Kakangi in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

He appealed to stakeholders and beneficiaries of the loan scheme to support President Bola Tinubu’s drive on the recovery of the loans.

“It is a legal and economic matter; there is nothing that legitimises refusal to repay a loan taken.

“Nigerians should rally behind the president to ensure that money provided by government to improve food security is not mismanaged by few Nigerians.

“I am one of those Nigerians who believe in whatever it will take to recover these funds and put them back into appropriate use,’’ Ishiyaku said.

He decried the attitude of those condemning government’s loan recovery drive and called for a re-evaluation of the approach to the loan recovery processes.

Ishiyaku noted that if farmers formed the habit of not repaying loans, they would be depriving people interested in starting agriculture business access to funds.

He said his visit to the field was to extend the appreciation of the institute to the farmers on behalf of scientists and technologists of the institute.

He expressed excitement that IAR’s TELA maize was being embraced by farmers and translated into economic development for the country.

Earlier, the principal investigator of TELA Maize Project, Prof. Rabiu Adamu, said the trial was part of the requirements for the release of new seed varieties.

He added that the trial was an on-farm exercise, a farmer-managed trial on four different maize hybrids for test and evaluation.

Adamu said IAR was demonstrating the Tela maize fields in more than 15 locations.

He added that the result gathered by farmers’ reference would guide the institute on the eventual release of the variety preferred by farmers.

Responding, Alhaji Kabiru Salihu, Chairman, Maize Farmers Association, Kaduna State chapter commended IAR for developing Tela Maize and other improved maize varieties.

Salihu observed that improved seeds and better agronomic practices introduced by IAR had increased farmers’ yields and enhanced their earnings. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Alli Hakeem

Vegetable

By Mercy Omoike

Horti Nigeria and EnGRAIS project have begun a two-day workshop for development of vegetable crops Agricultural Input Packages (AIPs) to facilitate growth of sustainable and inclusive vegetable sector.

Mr Mohammed Salasi, Programme Director, Horti Nigeria, said in Lagos on Monday that the vegetable sector was under utilised with a deficit supply gap of about 13 million metric tonnes into the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Horti Nigeria is a four-year Netherlands funded vegetable programme.

While the Fertiliser and Seed Recommendations Map for West Africa (FeSeRWAM) is an e-platform funded by United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) “Feed the Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems” (EnGRAIS) Project.

The workshop is co- funded by Horti Nigeria and EnGRAIS project of the USAID to project vegetable AIPs and the sector’s growth.

According to Salasi, there are lots of interventions in other crops but very few on vegetables.

“Today we are bringing together stakeholders in the agric sector to help develop AIPs for vegetable crops.

“First of all, we have a sister project funded by USAID that has already developed AIPs on a digital platform and also in hardcopies for maize, rice, cassava and others.

“So, when we discussed the programme, we realise vegetable is not part of the available packages that have been developed for West Africa.

“As a programme funded by the Netherlands in Nigeria, we think this document is incomplete without vegetable,” he said.

Salasi said that they invited the government, private sector, agro input companies and research institutes to bring the available technologies on production of vegetables.

He said that they all agreed that this was the right technology and would be able to have it on a platform that was easily accessible by all stakeholders across the region.

Mr Kido Kouassi, the Deputy Chief of party – Implementation, Feed the Future EnGRAIS project said the workshop was geared toward democratisation of agro knowledge and extension services across local farmers.

He said that the workshop was about ensuring that information on agricultural inputs which are seeds, fertilisers and good practices was accessible to the farmers through the e-platform, an online website called FeseRWAM.

Kouassi said that the stakeholders chose vegetables because currently on the platform for Nigeria, there was no information about vegetables.

”We have information about a lot of food crops. Vegetables have potential to increase the quality of the food being consumed.

”They also have a high potential to take the farmer out of poverty and provide him with more income.

“So for this reason, it is important that such a platform that facilitate access to the information that increases farmers’ productivity has information on vegetables.

“This platform tend to democratise access to information so that the extension agent can have access to the right information to pass to the farmer.

”The agro dealer will also have access to that information that normally would have been at the research centre, which he doesn’t have access to,” he said. In response,

Prof. Christogonos Dawodu of the National Agriculture Extension and Research Liaison Services, said that the importance of the workshop could not be overstated as agricultural sector faced formidable challenges ranging from inadequate access to quality seeds and fertiliser to the need for improved agricultural practices.

According to him, these challenges if not adequately addressed, have the potential to hinder the nation’s productivity, food security and overall economic development.

“We applaud the initiatives undertaken by IFDC through EnGRAIS project and the Horti Nigeria.

The workshop is addressing key issues in agricultural landscape and providing innovative solutions that can transform the lives of farmers.

“Collaboration between EnGRAIS and Horti Nigeria is representative of the visionary approach to expanding the reach and impact of agricultural interventions.

“By developing AIPs specifically tailored for vegetable crops and disseminating them through the FeseRWAM platform, we are taking a significant step to empower farmers with knowledge and resources that can enhance their agricultural practices and crop yields,” he said.

Dawodu commended the experts, stakeholders and partners who had come together to make the workshop a reality.

He noted that their expertise, dedication and collaborative spirit were crucial to advancing the agricultural sector.

Also, Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, represented by Dr Muhammad Attanda, the Director, National Horticultural Research Institute said the workshop was coming at the right time and necessary as it related especially to vegetables.

Sharubutu also said that vegetables had a great potential contributing to food security and alleviating poverty.

“When you plant vegetables, you can start harvesting within three months, there is no other crop with such potential.

“The workshop is very timely and the development of input packages for vegetable will go a long way to enhance performance of the sector,” Sharubutu said.

Also, Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, Federal Ministry Agriculture-Horticulture unit, represented by Mrs Omotosho Agbani, said the workshop was in line with the government’s policies on food security.

Abubakar pointed out that the programme was apt and in tandem with the policy of the present administration geared toward achieving food and national security.

He noted that vegetables known for their nutrients were promoted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

He said it was, therefore, heart-warming to know that the workshop would be looking at some basic challenges of vegetables. Abubakar added that the aim was to proffer solution for the good of farmers and food security for the nation at large. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Vivian Ihechu

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Sunday said the Federal Government had obtained 163 million dollars loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) support wheat production in the country.

Shettima stated this at the palace of the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sumaila Mera, when he paid a condolence visit to the Emirate and family of late Sheikh Abubakar Giro.

He re-affirmed the determination of the Tinubu administration to fulfill all its promises to Nigerians, particularly in the agricultural sector.

The Vice President also assured that food security would receive serious attention from the government.

” We have obtained 163 million dollars loan from the African Development Bank to support wheat production. The scheme would be launched soon.

“We need 10,000 hectares of land in Kebbi State. But the scheme would be well executed in Jigawa State with a cultivation of 50,000 hectares of land to boost wheat production.”

In his remarks, the Emir of Argungu, Mera, who prayed for the unity and progress of Nigeria, thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their support. (NAN)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Joseph Edeh

By Polycarp Auta

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has launched a five-year National Strategy on Potato.

Speaking at the event on Thursday in Jos, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said that the strategy would run from 2023 to 2028.

Represented by Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, the Director, Department of Agriculture of the ministry, Umakhihe said that the move was timely, following President Tinubu’s recent directive on the intensification of crop production.

The permanent secretary said that the move would usher in an era of productive competitiveness in the Nigerian potato industry.

He explained that the essence of the strategy was aimed at ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security in the country

Umakhihe added that the move also aimed at catalysing the rapid transformation of the Nigerian potato sector into a commercially viable sub-sector of the agricultural value chains into a major export product.

”Our goal is to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities, thereby creating employment opportunities and improved livelihoods for our teeming youths and women.

”Let me assure you that food and nutrition security is a priority for the ministry and we are committed to achieving it.

”The ministry is embarking on massive production, processing, value addition and product development to be the bedrock for driving our industries.

” I have no doubt that the Nigerian Potato industry has the potential to become globally competitive given the country’s strong comparative advantage in production,”he said

The permanent secretary maintained that potato could be commercially grown in twelve states, adding that it holds well for the activities of many stakeholders.

He said government is aware of the challenges farmers are currently facing, adding that modalities have been adopted towards addressing them.

”The ministry is aware of the challenges in the agricultural sector, nevertheless I assure that necessary measures are taken to address them accordingly.

” Proactive initiatives, such as this National Potato Strategy creates avenue for inclusive collaborations to chart the way forward.

”I am optimistic this potato strategy document would be a springboard for the realisation of Nigeria’s aspiration to achieve food and nutrition security,”he added.

The permanent secretary thanked GIZ, a German organisation for supporting the initiative.

He explained that it is supporting the national strategy through its global programmes, Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector-Nigeria (GIAE), and the International Potato Centre (CIP) Nairobi, Kenya.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Olayinka Olawale
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday flagged off the distribution of food items for 500,000 vulnerable households in the state to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking during the exercise at the Lagos State House, Alausa, Ikeja, the governor said that the strategic goal of the programme was to reach vulnerable households in the state with staple food items, using two methodologies.

He said that under the category one, groups would receive bulk food items including 50kg rice, 50kg  Garri and 100kg of  beans.

He said that category two, individual vulnerable households would receive food boxes which consist of 10kg rice, 5kg garri and 5kg Beans.

“I stand before you all today, deeply aware of the challenges that many Lagosians have been facing with regards to the sharp increases in transportation cost and the prices of essential food items across the state as a direct effect of the policy on the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

“As a responsive government, we announced a number of measures aimed at ameliorating the effect of the policy on our people, most especially the vulnerable.

“These palliative measures which are already being implemented includes a 50 per cent reduction in transportation cost in the government-owned bus system and free health services for pregnant women in government hospitals among others.

“One of the measures which we announced and being formally flagged off today is the distribution of food items for vulnerable households through the Lagos Food Bank Programme.

“The strategic goal of this programme is to reach 500,000 vulnerable households in the state with staple food items using two methodologies – bulk and individual.

“Bulk food items include (50kg Rice, 50kg Garri and 100kg Beans) for groups, and food boxes (10kg Rice, 5kg Garri, and 5kg Beans) for individual vulnerable households,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu said that to ensure transparency in the implementation of this intervention, a monitoring committee would be constituted.

According to him, members of the committee would be drawn from religious groups, trade unions, people with disabilities, civil society/non-governmental organisations, youth groups, community development councils and representatives of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He said that distribution would be done in phases  among the various beneficiary groups for ease of the process.

The governor noted that in line with this plan, each group would be duly informed of the date for collection.

“Overall, this initiative will directly impact 500,000 benefitting households, over 2,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises involved in bag manufacturing, food aggregation, packaging, and logistics, while over 25,000 employees of the MSMEs will be indirectly impacted.

“I will like to use this opportunity to solicit for the support of well-meaning and public spirited individuals and organisations for this programme so that more of our people in need of this intervention can be reached.

“Be rest assured that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that all items received get to the intended beneficiaries,” he said.

The governor said that his administration acknowledges  the economic challenges experienced  at this time.

According to him, the policies being implemented by the federal government are difficult but necessary measures that must be taken to reposition our economy on the path of sustainable development and prosperity for all citizens.

“I am, therefore, appealing for the continued understanding of all Lagosians with the assurance that we will do everything within our capacity to implement measures that will cushion this temporary pain.

“We will continue to initiate programmes and projects that will uplift our people and provide quality living conditions to all.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the governor for the support to reduce the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

Mrs Josephine Babalola, Vice Chairperson, People Living with Disabilities, Lagos State Chapter, thanked the governor for his continuous support to the physically challenged in the state.

Alhaji Anifat-Amosa Babaniji, an Islamic cleric, lauded the government,  urging it to do more in alleviating  the economy hardship in the state.

“I am very happy about it because it will go a long way for the less privileged  people.

“The impact of fuel subsidy is being felt by everyone in general. So, this is a welcome development.

“When this palliatives goe round, people will be relieved a little bit from  the policy,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of 18 groups received their food palliatives.

They include Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), religious groups  and physically challenged group. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran