By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice President (VP) Kashim Shettima, has assured the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) of Federal Government’s partnership towards ensuring food security in the country.

Shettima gave the assurance when he received in audience the IITA delegation led by its Director-General (D-G) and Regional Director for Africa, Simeon Ehui, at the Presidential Villa, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that President Tinubu’s administration would give all the necessary support and assistance to ensure food security and enhance agricultural practice that would produce enough food for the citizenry.

“There has to be a paradigm shift. Our agricultural output is low compared to our population and there is even the unfriendly environmental factors to deal with.

“So, this is a time for change and I want to give you the guarantee that my boss is with you and he will solidly support you to execute your mandate.

“My boss, President Bola Tinubu, is a man of courage and conviction and he has determined to reposition the nation more than ever before.”

He commended the IITA team for the many successes recorded in the agricultural sector in the West African region.

Shettima also praised IITA for doing well in the production of certain agricultural produce such as “cassava, yam and soya beans”.

The VP, who stated further that IITA has an iconic presence in Ibadan and West Africa, assured that the country must maximize the benefits which the institution can bring to bear on the agricultural sector in the country.

“Your own mantra is about the increase in agricultural yields and what tools can be used to improve such yields; ensure seed quality and availability, sound agricultural practices, fertilizer, and most importantly market accessibility”

“These are not rocket science, these are real and of course, if we can have very sound and environmentally friendly irrigation mechanism that will enhance our farm outputs, we can achieve our objectives.

“So, I want to give you my candid assurance that by my training, by my inclination as an agricultural economist and as a banker by profession, we can definitely engage with you.”

Shettima lauded the institution for its reputation and international best practices, noting that the “Federal Government can effortlessly do business with you”.

Earlier, the IITA D-G, Ehui, thanked the Federal Government for its support to IITA over the years, disclosing that it has expanded across many states in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), on Wednesday expressed readiness to work with the Federal Government to improve food security in the country.

The Director-General of IITA, Mr Simeon Ehui, made this known while answering questions from State House Correspondents, shortly after he paid a courtesy visit on the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on July 13 declared a state of emergency on food security due to the inflation in food items in the market caused by insecurity in the North-East, North-West, and South-East.

Ehui, who assured the determination of the institute towards eliminating food insecurity in Nigeria, thanked the Federal Government for its continue support to the institute since its inception in 1967.

“We came to pay a courtesy visit on Vice President Kashim Shettima, together with the Chairman of the Board of the institute.

“Our objective is really to thank the Government for all the support it has been providing the institute which has been in existence since 1967, more than 60 years ago.

“We heard good news from the Vice President about the continue support that the government of Nigeria is providing to the institute and we look forward to working with the government to increase food security and eliminate food insecurity in Nigeria.”

The D-G explained that the institute is a research institute that leverages on developing technologies to provide excellent yields and quality seeds.

He also said that the institute, apart from working with the National Government, partnered States and some agencies to improve agronomy practices and ensure disease control.

“We are also involved in ensuring agriculture business development.

“We think that with the growth in population and increasing demand, agric business becomes very important.

“To us, value chain development is very important, so IITA looks into how we can improve production of processed products, so these are the areas of our intervention, as we seek to provide the technology that can assist.”

He said in Cassava for instance, “we are doing a lot on organisation and processing to help improve the livelihood of the people who are making agriculture their business.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Dr Austin Ojogbo, (2nd R)  Director, Veterinary Services Department, MANR and Mr John Onovroke, State Coordinator, FMARD at the inauguration and handing over a modern live bird market built by the Federal Government to Delta Government at Ibusa, in the state on Wednesday

 

 

According to Agamah, the facility will serve as a model for poultry processors and a surveillance to produce wholesome and hygienic poultry products for Nigerians.

By Mercy Omoike

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has donated 50,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines to the Lagos State Government in the fight against the disease.

FMARD in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations embarked on a three-day sensitisation visit to the state Ministry of Agriculture to prevent the spread the disease, on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team paid a courtesy visit to the permanent secretary and the Cattle Market Abattoir at Oko-oba Agege.

The Permanent Secretary of FMARD, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, represented by the Deputy director, Dr AbdulKareem Durosinlorun, said the sensitisation and donation of the vaccines was part of the ministry’s efforts to contain the disease outbreak.

“As some of us are aware, there has been a confirmed outbreak of Anthrax disease in the country, in Niger and Lagos states.

“So, the essence of our visit is to create awareness and sensitisation among stakeholders in the prevention and control of diseases in Nigeria.

“We have also provided 50,000 free dosage of the Anthrax vaccine to the state in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) of the United Nations.

“The Agege Oko-oba cattle market and abattoir is one of the biggest markets in the state.

“The cattle merchants and butchers need to know the symptoms and signs of this disease so that they can immediately alert the veterinary authorities.

“We met with the permanent secretary of agriculture in the state and she has assured us that vaccination has started,” Umakhihe said.

In her response, Mrs Ibironke Emokpae, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, appreciated FMARD’s support in curbing the spread of the Anthrax disease.

“We appreciate FMARD and the FAO and we are glad to receive 50,000 dosage of the Anthrax vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease.

“Vaccinations have began in the state and we have set up surveillance and biosecurity at point of entries of abattoirs in Lagos to detect any ailing animal.

“We are collaborating with the Lagos Ministry of Health and promise to put in more efforts to prevent the spread of the disease,” Emokpae said.

Dr Otto Muhinda, the Nigeria Country Team Leader, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, also commended the government for its initiatives in creating awareness of the disease and prevention.

“We are here to accompany the government in this outbreak monitoring.

“We have seen that awareness is very high, we appreciate the way the people, the local authorities, butchers and the cattle merchants are aware of this outbreak.

“We look forward to continue the monitoring in other states, we need to  sensitise more stakeholders on national level for a national strategy to stop the spread of the disease.

“We are satisfied about what the government is doing,” Muhinda said.

In his reaction, Alhaji Abdullahi Lalega, the chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Association, Oko-oba/Agege cattle market, said the cattle merchants and butchers are ready to corporate with government in the fight against the disease.

“When we first heard of the outbreak of the Anthrax disease, the veterinary doctors from Ministry of Agriculture came to educate us and sensitise us in how to detect the disease in cattle.

“So, we have called our cattle merchants and dealer and informed of what is happening in the country. And to ensure they buy healthy cows from where source their cattle.

“We have told our members to beware in order to prevent the disease spread and also to work closely with the veterinary doctors.

“So, we lecture our people and everybody agreed that we should support the doctors to do their work and where we see a cow we are not satisfied with, we show them to check it out,” Lalega said.

Dr Emeka Asiegbu, of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), said all hands are on deck in continuous enlightenment against Anthrax disease.

“What we are doing now is the right thing to do at this moment because the outbreak just started, about three weeks ago and we are already kicking off actions in various states.

“We are in Lagos today is work in progress because there are a lot of things that we have in mind to do with time as we are going into this programme.

“For now, I will say the awareness is becoming more popular or more widespread but there is still more enlightenment we need to do, going forward,” Asiegbu said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Mercy Omoike

Some agriculture stakeholders have called for proper implementation of the Federal Government N200 billion intervention for provision of stable food and agricultural inputs.

The stakeholders made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos while reacting to the President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast.

NAN reports that the nationwide broadcast was tagged: “After Darkness Comes the Glorious Dawn.”

Tinubu said the intervention would ensure that prices of food items remained affordable, adding that the government had the buy-in of farmers’ associations and operators in the agriculture value-chain.

Mr Godwin Egbebe, the National Publicity Secretary, Poultry Association of Nigeria, called for the proper implementation of the palliatives and collaborations with relevant stakeholders.

“We appreciate the Presidential broadcast and the proposed palliatives for agriculture sector, but like we always say, it is implementation that matters.

“We want the implementation teams for these palliatives to liaise with the real farmers and accept suggestions from them on the disbursement.

“We are the ones on the field, we understand how the sector works, so they need us too.

“We are grateful the President made it as simple as even the layman can understand without the use of economic jargons.

“These palliatives will be a respite to the entire agriculture sector and value chain if it is well administered,” Egbebe told NAN.

On his part, Mr Akin Alabi, the co-founder Corporate Farmers International, called for set up of a special office for disbursement of the palliatives.

“The palliatives promised the agriculture sector in the Presidential broadcast is a welcome development.

“However, different administrations have been reeling out policies but the main concern is the implementation.

“The concern is that these palliatives get to the smallholder farmers.

“Another question is how will the stakeholders across the agriculture ecosystem be impacted by these policies and programmes?

“The Presidency needs to create a special office that will be able to tailor all these policies so that it will be implemented and directed toward the objective for which they were created.

“We need a special office that will be able to implement and carry out these programme plans successfully.

“Hopefully, maybe when we have a Minister of Agriculture in a couple of weeks, then we can have a proper direction and drive for the policies and palliatives disbursement.

“Or else it will just be the same policies being repeated over and over again with little or no impact,” Alabi said.

Also speaking, Mrs Anthonia Amakwe, chairperson of the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture, Lagos, said the palliatives needed to trickle down to the grassroots.

“We hope to see the proper implementation of these palliatives promised to the agriculture sector.

“Until we see these palliatives get to our hands, we can only hope. Will these palliatives and inputs really trickle down to the smallholder farmers that run the sector?

“We hope that it gets to the grassroots, if it gets to the local farmers it will help boost productivity and in the long run ensure the desired food security for the country,” Amakwe said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Olayinka Olawale

The Managing Director of AFEX Exchange Trade Ltd., Mr Kamaldeen Raji, has called for a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement to boost cocoa production in the country.

Raji, who made the call in  an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, said that government alone could not revive the sector.

He said that the country required a combined effort to improve cocoa production and agriculture as a whole.

“If we want to boost agriculture and cocoa plantation, it is beyond the government; it should be a public-private partnership.

“Last year, AFEX started a journey of one million cocoa seedlings and it is in collaboration with some strategic partners.

“We are producing seedlings for cocoa farmers to be able to rejuvenate plantations.

“The old cocoa trees are producing less beans, while the new ones with better varieties produce better and higher yields.

“That is indirectly an increase in revenue generation for farmers.

“If government should play its roles and the private sector is playing its own, it is going to be a combined effort in improving cocoa production and agriculture as a whole,’’ he said.

The AFEX boss said that the partnership would improve the country’s gross domestic products (GDP) and be of immense benefits to farmers as well as those involved in value addition.

“It is going to be beneficial to all,” the managing director said.

Raji also said that the removal of foreign duties on cocoa and other derivative was a positive development for Nigeria agricultural space.

He urged cocoa farmers to strive to meet the specifications of the global need to continue to benefit from the policy.

”When you move anything outside the country, you think of how much is the rate, how much did you expend on producing and how much is the duty at the end of the day.

“If you add all of these together, it is the cost to you and when you get the cost and the star price is a bit above it, you will think it is not worth it.

“I don’t need to go that route again, as I may as well look for local buyers around me for the product to be sold out.

“But now, when the duty is removed, it means there’s a bigger margin for anyone that does it well and meets the specification of the global need,” he said.

Raji said that this was a positive development for Nigerian agricultural space, as it meant that cocoa farmers needed to go back to the plantation.

“You don’t need to abandon it. Some of the first and most memorable places in Nigeria were built from cocoa money. So why can’t we do that now, even with better technology?” he queried.

He added that with such partnership, cocoa farmers should be happy to return to their plantations because there would be a better margin. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey and ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Felicia Imohimi

The Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) and Oxfam in Nigeria have urged the Federal Government to commence implementation of the Right to Food Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Right to Food Act (5th Alteration Act No 34, 2023) was passed into law on March 3, to increase citizens’ access to affordable food.

They made the call at a world news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, organised by FIF, a foundation promoting policy and best practices in agriculture and rural development.

It was organised in partnership with Voices for Food Security and Oxfarm in Nigeria.

FIF President, Prof. Gbolagade Ayoola, told journalists that the conference was designed to advocate for the full implementation of the Act to protect citizens’ right to food.

This, he said, became necessary in view of the current economic hardship affecting a larger percentage of the country’s population, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

He said the Act empowers citizens to hold government accountable in policy implementation and failure to meet their food needs and entitlement.

According to him, the government has the obligation, as provided by the Act, to respect and fulfil the right of citizens to food, adding that it entails regulation of activities of state and non-state actors and bodies inimical to people’s food entitlement.

“The obligation stipulates the limit of the state’s exercise of power, which includes refraining from destroying people’s access to food through unfavorable public policies.

“It also involves the provision of food assistance to poor and other vulnerable groups such as children at home or in school, nursing mothers, and internally displaced persons among others.

“This obligation underscores the role of agriculture as a social investment sector.”

Also speaking, Dr William Mafwalal, acting Head of Programme, Oxfam in Nigeria, expressed readiness of the organisation towards supporting policies and programmes that ensure food security and gender mainstreaming.

Mafwalal said that Oxfam in Nigeria, FIF and other organisations have supported the realisation of the Act that took 13 years to come to fruition.

According to him, the full implementation of the Act will ensure that everyone has access to food irrespective of his or her financial status. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Philip Yatai