By Felicia Imohimi

In commemoration of World Soil Day on December 5, the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS) has called on both federal and state governments to prioritise soil and water preservation in their developmental policies.

Professor Victor Chude, the Registrar of NISS, emphasised the profound relationship between soil and water, highlighting them as the foundation of agrifood systems and essential for our environment and existence.

Chude expressed concern over soil degradation, attributing it to human activities and climate change, putting pressure on water resources.

He stressed the significance of sustainable soil management practices, such as minimum tillage, crop rotation, and cover cropping, as effective measures to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance water infiltration and storage.

He quoted QU Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), stating that soils are a virtual Sustainable Development Goal.

While acknowledging the discussions within the academia about the interconnectedness of soil and water management globally, Chude highlighted existing knowledge gaps.

He urged intensified public awareness to address challenges posed by daily activities detrimental to healthy soil and water resources.

In celebration of World Soil Day, NISS plans a series of events, including a talk show on mass media, school projects, road walks, and guest lectures, aiming to engage citizens in improving soil health and advocating for sustainable soil management. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Tosin Kolade

The President of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), Prof. Rufus Sha’ato, has pledged to work with all stakeholders to tackle the misuse of agrochemicals in food production in the country.

Sha’ato, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, said the move was necessary to improve export quality of agricultural products and to promote economic development.

According to him, high concentration of agrochemicals in food production especially in fruit ripening is a major problem in exportation of agricultural products from most African countries including Nigeria.

Sha’ato, who is the 16th President of the society, assured Nigerians that chemists would collaborate with other stakeholders to sensitise rural farmers on safe use of chemicals in farming practices.

This, he said would go a long way to reduce health risks and make Nigeria’s agricultural products acceptable locally and internationally.

Sha’ato also noted that 11 goals of the 17 sustainable development goals required the application of chemistry, saying that was why many developed countries engage chemists actively in its attainment.

He underscored the significance of chemistry in achieving sustainable development goals, pledging to advocate for the prioritisation of chemistry in national policies.

The president assured that CSN would continue to push for prioritisation of the use of chemistry in those areas so that all tiers of government could understand the importance of the profession.

“In the next three years of our tenure, CSN will deploy modern and innovative technology, leveraging on use of ICT for effective communication and service delivery.

“This is so to enhance the practice of chemistry with greater impacts to be mainstreamed into national social economic life and to drive industrial development as well as create more employment opportunities for graduates, “he said.

In his remarks, immediate past President of the society, Prof. Moses Chendo, called on the new administration to improve partnership with relevant public and private sectors, including the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON).

He said that such partnership was to maximally utilise the chemistry profession towards solving national problems.

The don, however, regretted that Nigeria had not invested adequately in Research and Development which has been our bane.

“Nigeria must invest in research and development, taking our research output out of the laboratory to the market is the best way to go.

“Unless we commercialise our academic research products, self-reliance and economic sustainability will be a mirage, “Chendo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that CSN, formed since 1972, is one of the frontline professional bodies that has played key roles in national development.

Worthy of note is the mass production of “Chemsotiser” high quality hand sanitisers, donated to the Presidential Task Force during the peak of the fight again COVID-19 pandemic.

CSN is an umbrella body of chemical scientists in Nigeria whose members are professionals from the academia, MDAs and industries. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Bukola Adewumi

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), has highlighted the potential of catfish consumption to combat malnutrition in Nigeria.

The D-G said this during the training of catfish farmers on the state of research on the genetics of African catfish in Abuja on Thursday.

Represented by Mrs Rose Gidado, Director of Agriculture at NABDA, he emphasised the agency’s commitment to research and development in agriculture, health, environment, and industry for economic growth.

“We can curb malnutrition through catfish because it is highly proteinous and cholesterol-free.”

He encouraged catfish farmers, gathered from various parts of the country, to expand their farming efforts, citing the economic promise it holds.

Addressing reported losses by farmers, the workshop aimed to equip trainees with knowledge to improve catfish farming practices.

Mustapha expressed the agency’s dedication to collaborating for the development of the agriculture sector.

Dr Suleiman Isa, speaking on “Catfish genetics and improving catfish hatchery and seed supply,” disclosed that Nigeria’s catfish production currently stands at almost 300,000 tons.

He urged trainees to apply the acquired knowledge to enhance catfish farming nationwide.

One trainee, Mr Musa Abdullahi from Kaduna State, commended the organisers for the valuable training, foreseeing its positive impact on his work.

Another participant, Mrs Kate Davies, a catfish farmer, described the workshop as an eye-opener that would boost her productivity in the fish farming business.

The training, attended by both male and female participants from diverse regions, signifies a concerted effort to promote sustainable agriculture and combat malnutrition in the country.  (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Olayinka Olawale

The Lagos State Government says it has begun the distribution of Eko Rice to various major markets in the state, ahead of the Yuletide.

Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Agriculture, stated this on Wednesday during a facility tour of the Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

Fashola said that a 50kg bag of Eko rice would be sold between N43,000 and N45,000 while the 25kg bag would be sold at N22,500.

He said residents could purchase the Eko Rice through the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE), who manages the mill.

Fashola said residents can purchase the rice from some markets which include Daleko in Mushin, Ketu and Iddo, Ikorodu and other major markets in the state.

He said for public servants, provision had been made for them to buy from the Lagos State Inputs Supply Authority (LAISA), Oko-Oba, Agege.

“I also need to let you know that we do not sell rice directly. We are in partnership with the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange.

“They are the major and are the owners of our rice, lets put it that way.

“Because the partnership that we have with them is that they buy and pay the distributors or the suppliers of the paddy and distributors of the head rice equally pay to them.

“You cannot buy outside commodities exchange, the partnership is such that they are the only one that sells the rice. LAISA pay to the commodities and sell within Alausa.

“So, every paddy that comes into this mill is through commodity exchange and every head of rice that goes out is equally through commodity exchange.

“We are like the power room that makes all this activity happen and that’s a major investment or partnership between the private and public sectors, which Mr Governor has made possible.

“It’s the first time in this nation that a public company is managed by a private company.

“So, while we have rice going to the public market, we equally have the interest of the civil servants and the public servants at heart. LAISA is that intermediary  that does that,” he said.

The special adviser said the LCFE has a representative in the rice mill that oversees the approved sales and distribution

“The commodity exchange have a collateral managers that serve as their eye here. So, when you pay to commodities exchange, the manager ensures that things are done properly,” he noted.

Fashola said the state government would improve the distribution channels with time.

He, however, urged the residents to bear with the present reality.

Fashola noted that the government was hoping to improve the mill’s capacity by 20 per cent.

“But right now, the mill could only produce 10 per cent,” he said.

Fashola said the rice could not be available in all markets now but promised to improve the distribution with time.

“We need to manage our expectations when it comes to seeing it in the market, it is in the market but let us understand something.

“Lagos is the largest consumer of rice in Nigeria. Lagos consumes 40 million bags of rice annually.

“On a daily basis, we have about 25 million people and each person consume on a yearly basis about 50kg, so we can start breaking it down to what a person consume in a year.

“We produced 10 per cent of what Lagos consume. We’re hoping we will go to 20 per cent, but right now we produce 10 per cent.

“Now, if you look at that proportion, you will see that we can only do as much, and that is why we’re saying that go to this market, go to that market and you will get.

“We cannot flood all markets in Lagos with Eko Rice. So, if you go to Ikorodu, you will get, if you go to Daleko Market in Mushin, you will get it, if you go to Ketu Market, you will get.

“You can go to Lagos Commodities Futures Exchange and you want to buy a bag, you can buy,” he noted. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Habibu Harisu

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has partnered with USAID Breakthrough Action in a strategic move to tackle the escalating issue of antibiotic misuse in veterinary practices.

Dr Zainab Abdulkarim, an official from the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, delivered this announcement during a lecture on Wednesday in Sokoto as part of the 2023 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week.

The collaborative effort involves key partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), USAID Breakthrough Action, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The initiative aims to address the misuse of antibiotics, particularly targeting students of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) to instill responsible practices early in their careers.

Abdulkarim emphasised the multifaceted approach, including awareness creation, surveillance, infection prevention and control, responsible antibiotic stewardship, and research to reduce dependency on antimicrobials.

The focus is on educating stakeholders about the dangers of indiscriminate antibiotic use, which can lead to resistance, posing a significant threat to future generations.

Mr Dominic Lazarus, a Veterinary Epidemiologist, Laboratory and AMR Specialist with the Emergency Center for Transborder Animal Disease in FAO, commended the initiative as timely.

He highlighted the link between unnecessary antibiotic use and the rise in resistance cases, stressing the need for a shift in public perceptions regarding standard application modalities.

Lazarus pointed out that AMR poses a significant challenge in Africa, necessitating urgent collaborative efforts.

He further explained that such actions would also help counter the increasing antibiotic resistance exacerbated by economic challenges, including the floating of the Nigerian naira and the removal of fuel subsidy.

The event featured presentations on antimicrobial use, cure, prevention, and treatment, with Dr Nafi’u Lawal of UDUS leading a question and answer session.

The initiative signifies a crucial step towards safeguarding the efficacy of antibiotics in both animal and human healthcare. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government says over five million smallholder farmers have benefitted from the IFAD supported agricultural programmes in the country.

The programmes were funded by the Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (FG/IFAD).

They include Value Chain Development Programme; Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta; Climate Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme; and Rural Finance Institution-Building Programme.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday at the National Launch of the Value Chain North (VCN) Project Design Mission, being funded by the FG, IFAD and French Development Agency (AFD).

Kyari expressed delight that the programmes generated positive impacts in spite of challenges such as COVID-19 pandemic, drought, flood, among others.

The minister, represented by Mr Musa Bukar, Director Programme Coordinating Unit in the ministry, said the VCN is an intervention that would contribute to sustainable poverty reduction, enhance nutrition and resilient rural economy in some northern states.

He said the project co-financed by IFAD, AFD and other development partners would boost food production and climate resilience while reducing post harvest losses, enhancing food security and nutrition in the states with fragile situations.

“The VCN design mission is in line with the food systems transformation agenda and the recent Presidential declaration of emergency in Nigeria’s food sector which require a multi-sectoral, multifaceted approach if we are to succeed.

“VCN is in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals one two, three and 13 among others.”

Kyari added that it was also aligned to the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy, Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy, National Development Plan, and National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).

“The intervention is also in line with IFAD Policies and Corporate Priorities in the areas of its Strategic Framework, Strategy and Action Plan on Environment and Climate Change 2019 to 2025, and Nutrition Action Plan 2019 to 2025, among others,” he said.

The minister called on the design team to pay attention to the voices of smallholder farmers, women, youth and vulnerable groups, the private sector, off-takers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, and service providers.

Mrs Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, said VCD would engage 456,000 beneficiaries equivalent to 91,000 households in the northern states to boost food production, climate adaptive capacity and resilience, among others.

“It is in line with NATIP and the president’s agenda for agribusiness transformation.

“The project’s ambition is to enhance the integration of farmers in agribusiness value chains while taking specific measures to facilitate youth and women agric-entrepreneurship, foster partnership with private sector, modernising agriculture through the use of digital solutions.

“This aims to harness the potential of agri-food system for promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, increase job creation and income.

“These can be achieved through development of stronger, better integrated, inclusive and resilient value chains that boost rural development,” she said.

Ms Sally Ibrahim, Project Manager, AFD identified nutrition as the major component of the programme.

Ibrahim, representing Mr Xavier Muron, the AFD Country Director, said better coordination among different stakeholders in the project was key in achieving its objectives.

Samuel Eremie, Lead Consultant of the project, said the VCN has eight years duration, and will start in Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Yobe and Kano States. (NAN)(www.na news.ng)

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed