By Adebola Adegoke

Mr Adekoya Oluwagbemiga, Chief Executive Officer, Adbond, Nigeria’s pioneering Agro-to-Home Development Company, has emphasised the need to reawaken the interest of agriculture among youths to boost food production.

Oluwagbemiga said the call became pertinent to ensure food security and food sufficiency in the country.

He said this during a press conference to mark the company’s seventh year anniversary on Friday in Lagos.

Oluwagbemiga said Nigerians needed to embrace the fact that we were first farmers before any profession.

“We all should go back to promoting agriculture as our backbone in Nigeria.

“The truth is that agriculture from inception is the core profession of Africans and our forefathers that have been the source of our national, corporation, and individual prosperity .

“You can be a medical doctor, you can still own a farm, as a legal practitioner you can still own a farm, as a tech giant owning a farm doesn’t leave you out.

“Owning a farm is a simple task every generation of Africa needs to be part of starting from Nigeria in fulfilling the Nigeria purpose to aid its gross domestic product.

“No farm goes big without starting small and note you don’t have to buy it from Adbond, all you need is just start from where you are,” he said.

He said the company, since its inception, had embarked on initiatives to woo youths to agriculture.

He said the company had sensitised 50 people on gardening and global approach in solving food insecurity through its green wealth summit event where they gave out seeds to encourage people.

“Also, we have 2,000 youths employed both directly and indirectly as virtual staff, who work passionately to realise the vision and they remain the backbone of our success.

“We have also successfully awarded 10 outstanding students with lands through our academic excellence award programme, a platform for nurturing talents,learning and encouraging quality education.

“We have successfully empowered the lives of 600 corps members as landowners, which we call villa owners.

“By integrating agriculture and residential development, we not only redefine comfortable living but also pave the way for sustainable and prosperous communities in Africa,” he said.

According to him, the company’s vision and purpose is to promote wealth and unity from Nigeria and Africa.

“Our impact over the years cut across also fulfilling some sustainable development goals in the areas of zero hunger, no poverty, gender equality, quality education and economic growth and empowerment,” Oluwagbemiga added.

On his part, Mr Steven Awoyemi, Director of Agriculture for Adbond, called on governments to support farmers with grants to enable them venture into mechanised farming.

Awoyemi also urged the government to provide farmers with resources to market their produce to avoid wastage and loss. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Bukola Adewumi

By Hajara Leman

Gombe State government has commended women farmers in the state over their contributions to boosting food security in the state and country.

Mr Barnabas Malle, the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, gave the commendation while speaking in Gombe on Wednesday at an event to commemorate the 2023 World Food Day in the state.

Malle said that small-scale women farmers had made immense contributions to both the federal and the state government’s efforts at boosting food security and ensuring availability of food in the country.

He said women were critical stakeholders in agricultural value chain and had been helping to process harvested crops to improve the nutrition of households in the state.

The commissioner said that it was in view of such contributions that the state government regarded them as partners in the sector, adding that without women in agriculture, the success so far recorded would not have been possible.

“As you are aware, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has prioritised agriculture sector and women are major stakeholders in this administration because of their contributions to the sector.

“Huge sums of money have been allocated and expended on the purchase and distribution of assorted fertilisers, improved seedlings and agro-chemicals and other equipment annually in order to achieve sustainable food availability in the state.

“Women and youths are major partners in progress to this government whose contributions cannot be over emphasised.

“We are aware that the Small- Holder women farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) is one of the associations that empowers women farmer groups.

“The increase of budgetary allocation to smallholder women farmers from N40 million in 2022 to N70 million in 2023 was not a coincidence but a deliberate action to ensure that SWOFON has carried out its mandate conveniently and successfully,” he said.

Malle urged women farmers in the state to continue to put in their best by embracing modern farming techniques and ensure use of improved seedlings in efforts to sustain the successes so far recorded by the government.

Speaking earlier, Mrs Airudia Mamman, the state coordinator of SWOFON, Gombe State chapter, commended the Gov. Yahaya-led administration for prioritising agriculture through the state government’s deliberate intervention in providing farm inputs to farmers annually.

Mamman said that members of SWOFON had played key roles in boosting food production in the state and had been alleviating poverty amongst women in rural areas.

She, however, urged the government to ensure timely release of funds allocated to smallholder farmers in the state annual budget to SWOFON to enable it implement its work plan towards boosting food security and reducing poverty.

According to her, there is the need for the government to increase allocation to agriculture sector and ensure timely release of the budget to meet the 10 per cent Maputo Declaration Commitment on Agriculture and Food Security.

She also urged the government to constitute a gender steering committee which will include SWOFON for the implementation of the Gender Policy in the agriculture sector in a bid to offer equal access and gender- sensitive approaches towards food security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the 2023 World Food Day which was marked on Monday is, “Water is Life, Water is Food: Leave no One Behind.’’

The event to commemorate the day in the state was organised by the Gombe State chapter of SWOFON, Hope Foundation for the Lonely in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry with support from ActionAid Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

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