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

By Olayinka Olawale
The Lagos State Government has called on stakeholders to collaborate with the government in its transformative journey in the agricultural sector.

Ms Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this at a news conference ahead of the 2023 World Food Day celebration on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja.

Olusanya said the collaboration was the key to delivering prosperity and well-being to Lagos residents.

She listed the projects undertaken by the government to include the Food Systems Transformation Agenda, Lagos Rice Mill, Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) and Lagos CARES Projects.

Olusanya said others: Eko Agro Mechanisation Programme, Agricultural Training and Input Support, Fish Cage Culture System, Coconut Value Chain Development and Lagos Agric Scholars Programme and other special projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2023 celebration is: “Water Is Life, Water Is Food, Leave No One Behind”.

Olusanya noted that in 2021, the ministry had developed a five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Road Map to create the pathway for the achievement of 40 per cent self-sufficiency in food production by 2025.

She said the road map highlights plans to encourage youth participation, stimulate private sector investments and attract donor agency funding for agricultural projects.

She added that the road map would create new partnerships along the various agricultural value chains especially where the state has competitive and comparative advantages.

“Today, we can proudly present the initiatives of Lagos State in the agricultural sector which are the evidence of our unwavering dedication and the resilience of our farmers.

“All of these efforts which put Lagos on the path towards a sustained development of its agricultural ecosystem are a collaborative journey.

“We, therefore, invite all stakeholders, investors, researchers, farmers, fishermen, agro-processors and donor agencies to join us in this transformative journey as it is a key to delivering prosperity well-being to Lagosians.

“Together, let us press forward on this path that redefines the significance of agriculture as the bedrock of Nigeria’s economic strength as this sector not only nurtures livelihoods.

“But also drives prosperity, contributing to the achievement of a greater Lagos rising,” she said.

Olusanya said the World Food Day marked on Oct. 16 annually to encourage action on food insecurity coincided with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) year of establishment.

She said all member countries of the FAO including Nigeria, annually participate in the events which focus primarily on the state of food security, issues behind poverty and hunger and efforts made to addressed the challenges.

“This year’s edition comes up amid serious food security issues occasioned by the effect of unstable exchange rate, climate change, environmental degradation loss of biodiversity and insurgency.

“These challenges have severely impacted the global supply of food which calls for intensified efforts towards building more sustainable food systems to scale food production and processing, reduce food wastage.

“It also provide decent livelihood opportunities for rural, peri-urban, and urban farmers, as well as ensure food and nutrition security for Lagosians.

“Ninety-five per cent of our food is produced on land and all begins with soil and water.

“This year’s theme which aims to highlight the critical role of water for life on earth and water as foundation of our food, therefore, seeks to raise awareness on the importance of managing water wisely.

“Rapid population growth, economic development, urbanisation and climatic change threaten water availability,” she added.

Olusanya stressed that 40 per cent of fresh foods and vegetables, either grown or brought into Lagos annually are wasted resulting in the waste of precious resources.

“Agriculture alone accounts for 72 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals, while 16 per cent is used by municipalities for households and services and 12 per cent by industries.

“As you are all aware, Lagos State has the smallest land mass compared to other states of the federation, in Lagos, rivers and other water bodies constituting about 22 per cent of its territory.

“This peculiarity brings to fore the need for more coordinated strategies to further harness the water and marine potentials of the state,’’ she said.

Olusanya stressed the need to maximise the limited available agricultural land through efficient use of these water and land resources for a better water-food security system.

“Identifying and assessing solutions that jointly support water, food security systems are therefore critical as climate extremes and other stressors increasingly threaten access to water for all,” she said.

The commissioner highlighted activities lined up to mark the 2023 World Food Day in Lagos to include: road walk /sensitisation programme and schools’ agric quiz competition for public secondary schools on Oct. 12.

“There will also be Farmers’ Forum, an interactive forum between the ministry, farmers and other stakeholders on October 13 at NECA House, Alausa. Ikeja

“The Grand Finale with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Special guest of honour would hold on October 16,’’ she said.

Olusanya, however, commended partners that had stood by the ministry over the years for their unflinching support in marking the World Food Day celebration in Lagos state a success.(NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Dr Tony Bello, a food scientist, has urged the Federal Government to tap into the expertise of food technocrats among Nigerian diaspora to enhance the growth of the country’s consumer packaged food sub-sector.

Bello, who is the Chairman of Shine Bridge Global, a U.S.-based food technology company, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Bello said the government should reverse the brain drain phenomenon by actively involving skilled diaspora professionals in the food industry.

“Engagement of the diaspora community and private sector, not the politically inclined diaspora, but professionals with proven track records in their respective fields, especially in the food industry, will set the tone for this administration.

“During my 30 years of working for companies like PepsiCo Frito Lay, the Kellogg Company, the Heinz Frozen Foods, I came across a number of smarter Nigerians than myself, who have done great things in the food industry.

“It is high time we bring these people back. Let us reverse the brain drain to become the brain game. If this administration can focus on that, I tell you, we will be up to something,” he noted.

Bello recommended that the government should prioritise research and development innovation, utilising established food science and technologies to transform staple foods into fast-moving consumer products.

The expert said this approach, would help provide ample energy, nutrition, and micronutrients necessary for health and wellness.

According to him, Nigeria has the potential to capitalise on its processed cassava market to generate approximately 10 billion dollars in revenue if properly exploited.

He said: “We are talking about an opportunity to grow the African processed cassava market in the tune of 10 billion dollars in revenue. This is the projection for gluten free consumer packaged goods.

“Today, that market is roughly six billion dollars and is expected to grow at 9.5 per cent or 10 per cent compounded annual growth rate.

“Well, the fiscal and monetary policy has to enable private sector engagements. Then, we would grow the processed cassava sector in Nigeria in the form of, let us say, with High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF).

“HQCF, in bakery applications for export, is a 10-billion dollar opportunity. For us at Shine Bridge Global, we have kick started this industrialisation in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole,” Bello said.

Bello also mentioned his intention to secure 3,000 metric tonnes of HQCF through collaboration with a Madagascan company interested in investing in Nigeria’s cassava sub-sector for export purposes.

Citing the success of the U.S. potato chips market, Bello said Nigeria has the capability to transform cassava flour into instant tapioca flakes.

“The market is waiting on the food manufacturing industry, they are waiting and we have been able to demonstrate the concept of transforming cassava flour into instant tapioca flakes.

“Tapioca flakes opens up the opportunity to apply our humble cassava flour in a diversity of consumer packaged foods, such as baby foods earlier indicated, baked goods and bakery mixes.

“This is not to mention our ‘fufu’ mixes, I tell you the best fufu you you will ever eat is what we have done with tapioca flour. I can not wait for it to hit the Nigerian markets,” he said.

The food scientist identified infrastructure, financing, youth engagement, and the availability of raw materials as key challenges to agricultural growth in Nigeria.

Bello, therefore, called on the federal government to revitalise and rejuvenate the commercial agriculture sector.

He emphasised the importance of a mindset shift, urging policymakers to view agriculture as a viable business opportunity rather than merely a means to alleviate poverty. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has conducted training and empowerment programmes for selected women-owned farmers’ cooperative societies in Oyo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the primary objective of this initiative is to enhance the productivity and export potential of these farmers in the manufacturing and processing sectors within the state.

The Director-General, SMEDAN, Dr Olawale Fasanya, at the closing ceremony of the capacity building for the Women in Self-Employment Programme (WISE-P), in Ibadan, said the training was to enhance the production of high-quality foods.

Fasanya, who was represented by SMEDAN Deputy Director, Special Duties, Mr Tunde Oloyede, said that the programme included entrepreneurship and enterprise training, with a specific focus on Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and delivery of empowerment equipments.

According to him, the training package, designed to enhance the beneficiaries’ capacity, will not produce quality products that only meet the standards of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) but other international market requirements.

“This capacity building will also create a financial enablement for women cooperatives and their businesses on the needed sound footing for impact – in terms of pride, profit, and diversification.

“The objectives of this programme, therefore, include to encourage more women cooperatives to embrace processing and manufacturing food related products as a viable business option and to encourage the diversification of the economy away from crude oil into non-oil exports,” he said.

Also, Mr Ademola Ojo, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment, and Cooperatives in Oyo State, urged the beneficiaries to leverage the skills acquired during the training to expand and effectively manage their vocational enterprises.

Ojo said this would help them to focus on wealth creation and employment generation within the cooperative societies.

He noted that it would contribute positively to the nation’s economy and improve the standard of living for citizens.

“I wish to add that the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, will continue to provide an enabling environment for private enterprises to thrive in the state,” he said.

In his lecture, Dr James Marsh, a food safety consultant from HAACP Academy Nigeria (HAN), charged the participants to be mindful of food hygiene, food fraud, food terrorism, bioterrorism and food sabotage in their operations.

He urged the participants to always imbibe and practice food safety so that they could favourably compete with producers in the international community.

“Majority of ailments that people have is as a result of what they eat.

“Life expectancy rate in Nigeria is not an encouraging figure, we need to focus more on preventive medicine through food safety.

“Government also need to do more on food sensitisation,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries from Agricultural Exporting Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Dr Oluwatomisin Olatunji, said that the training had exposed the participants to food safety system that would ensure that Nigeria products are accepted both locally and internationally.

Another beneficiary from Olorunsogo Oba-Agbe Mechanised Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mrs Damilola Bukola, urged government to ensure strict compliance with food industry regulations.

She said this would help to improve standard of food coming out of Nigeria to international community.

NAN reports that the two selected cooperatives were empowered with dehydrator for drying food products, slicing machine, power miller for milling dried products and automatic sealing machine for sealing finished products. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Bukola Adewumi

The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa, Nigeria Chapter, has engaged editors in the Nigeria media industry in an interactive session aimed at enhancing accurate science communication.

The interaction, which held in Lagos, was supported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and hosted under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA).

Ms. Sarah Melah, Information Officer for OFAB, in a statement said the workshop was to equip editors with a comprehensive understanding of Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety.

She said the goal was to ensure that decisions regarding Genetically Modified (GM) crops were rooted in evidence-based science, and policymakers’ choices were effectively conveyed to the public.

On her part, Mrs Iweajunwa  Ogochukwu, Head of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology and Biotech Awareness Unit, outlined the objectives, which was to keep the participants informed.

According to her, the workshop is to ensure participants stay updated on agricultural biotech developments.

She said that it would also correct misconceptions related to the safety of biotechnology.

Ogochukwu said it would also enhance the capacity of participants for more informed editorial decision-making regarding agricultural biotech matters.

Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General, NABDA, emphasised on the importance of public understanding and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology.

He said that it was a collective responsibility to provide accurate and fair information to Nigerians in order to enable them to make informed decisions about biotechnology applications.

Mustapha highlighted the media’s crucial role as a bridge connecting complex scientific discoveries with the broader society, translating technical language into understandable terms, and fostering informed discussions.

Dr Rose Gidado, Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department, NABDA, drew attention to Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change and its detrimental impact on agricultural production.

She underscored biotechnology’s potential to address challenges posed by climate change, such as heat, floods, and droughts.(NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee Foundation (NAPAC), an NGO, on Monday trained Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in FCT on sustainable organic garden farming and waste to wealth skills.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two IDP camps of Wassa and Kuchigoro, are located in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT.

Mrs Zainab Mohammed, the NAPAC Board Director, Sustainable Food Security and Economic Empowerment Programme, explained that the event was part of the NGO’s annual programmes to commemorate Nigeria Independence Anniversary.

Mohammed, while addressing the beneficiaries of the training at Wassa IDP Camp, said the programme was to teach them modern day innovative farming at their backyards using organic materials.

She said it was part of the group’s mission to give back to the people as well to contribute to food security and economic empowerment in the country.

“ We are here to celebrate Nigeria Independence Day with them, not just to bring food for them to eat, but to teach them to fend for themselves.

“ There will be a waste to wealth training and when we leave this place we are going to Kuchigoro to do exactly what we are doing here.

“ We need them to start having an exit plan; once you are economically stable, you will now start thinking of how do you move on.

” We are here to train them how to do modern day farming, purely organic farming for health reasons.

“ Also to teach some of the women on waste to wealth, using the common day household items such as plastic, throwaway bottles to make school bags, purses and tyres to make earrings.’’

Mohammed said that the modern day farming was important, especially with the challenges hindering people, especially women from going to farm in different parts of the country.

The director said that the beneficiaries would be equipped on healthy methods of farming so that they could also eat healthy and sell some of the products in their local markets.

She described organic farming as one of the innovative way of farming these days, saying ” We farm in sacks; farm around our environment.

“ All the time we like to use our environment for just flowers, but right now we can actually farm to feed your community right from home.

“ We use plastic bottles to do some spices, herbs; we brought almost 200 sacks here because we are going to grow yam in sacks, potatoes in sacks, and so many things in a sack; that is the modern day farming.

“ You all know what is happening; men cannot go to the farm; women cannot go to the farm because they are being raped; they are being killed or kidnapped because of the banditry.

“ As you know they all ran from their communities to be here in Abuja. They want to be safe here,” Mohammed said.

She added that the training had nothing to do with politics and government, but individuals who believed in giving back to the society.

Also, Ijeoma Ndulue, Sustainable Organic Farming Expert, said one aspect of the training was how the beneficiaries could use organic materials around them to farm instead of using chemical base fertiliser.

Ndulue said that the organic farming was not only sustainable, but also had high yields as well help to reduce the effect of climate change.

“ We are here to teach you the organic way of farming with high output. You do not have to go out to far distance before you can farm.

“ You can use sack and other input to plant and get good yield from the crops,” she said.

Responding, Mr Joffre Bitrus, Chairman of Wassa IDP Camp, commended the NGO for donating farm seedlings and other food items.

Bitrus said that the training helped a lot of them to realise that they could farm at their backyards with sacks.

“I have been a farmer right from Borno; my father was also a farmer but I never knew I can use sacks to grow crops in my backyard.

“ A lot of us just got to know this today; we are grateful for that, “ he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Hadiza Mohammed from Adamawa, said that the training would not only help her to grow food to feed her family but also sell to meet their other needs.

Some of the organic items donated to the IDPs included sweet potatoes vines, vegetable seedlings, pepper seedlings, tomatoes seedlings, spinach seeds, pumpkin leaf seedlings and about 200 empty sacks for planting.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo