September 11, 2024

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1 Group drums support for FGs plan to privatise refineries

2 FG committed to independence of auditor-general’s office – Tinubu

3 FCTA, GAIN sign MoU on access to affordable, nutritious food

4 FG, stakeholders synergise to boost poultry production

5 Eguavoen says report of quitting false

Agriculture

FAO distributes farm inputs to 187,250 farmers in 3 states

By Talatu Maiwada

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to 187,250 farmers in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Mr Dominique Kouacou, FAO’s Nigeria/ECOWAS Representative, said at the event on Thursday at Jabbi-Lamba, Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa, that the intervention followed the seeming escalation of food insecurity in the country.

Represented by Mr Luc Manga, Head of Office, North-East, Kouacou, said that a large population of people in the North-East were at the risk of facing food insecurity.

Kouacou said that the intervention, supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), USAID, Norway’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, and Swiss Development and Cooperation was targeted at benefiting about 26,750 households.

“In all, the intervention will benefit no fewer than 187,250 individuals across the the three states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe,” he said.

The FAO representative, said that a total of 5,350 households and 37,450 individuals would benefit from the programme in Guyuk, Madagali, Michika and Girei areas of Adamawa.

“They will receive essential inputs such as cereal seeds, legume seeds, vegetable seeds and NPK fertilisers.

“This collaborative effort is geared towards restoring and strengthening food security in the state.

“It is also aimed at supporting the communities to restart their individual means of livelihood, improve food production and foster economic resilience,” he said.

Earlier, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, said that the collaboration was a significant milestone in the effort to transform agriculture in the state and the North-East region at large

Represented by Prof. David Jatau, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Fintiri commended FAO for the support, describing it as timely and impactful.

“Agriculture is not just a sector, it is a way of life. Your support has been instrumental in building resilience in our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.

“From these initiatives, the farmers will receive high quality seeds, fertiliser and other inputs that will help to produce high yielding crops,” he said.

The governor said that the state government was already providing training supports to farmers to improve their skills and competence.

“Our intention is to develop sustainable agricultural practices that will ensure long-term food security for our people,” he said.

Halilu Bello, a beneficiary, appreciated FAO and the state government for the initiative, saying that the inputs would help the farmers to eliminate hunger and rebuild their sources of livelihood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is leading international efforts to eliminate hunger. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu and Azubuike Okeh

Agriculture

FAO trains ACReSAL officials on land preparation using Delfino Plough

By Abigael Joshua

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has started a field-level training programme for officials of Agro-Climatic Resilience in the Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) in selected states.

The training focuses on land preparation using the Delfino plough.

Mrs Jane Ozuruoke, the Communication Specialist for ACReSAL, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Delfino plough is a technological innovation that makes large, half-moon-shaped furrows in which one can immediately sow and plant.

“Recognising the critical role of land preparation in restoration efforts, FAO is delivering capacity-building sessions on land preparation techniques with the use of Delfino plough.

“FAO will also conduct a train-the-trainer programme for selected states on the operation and maintenance of Delfino plough.

“Under the ACReSAL project, FAO is spearheading initiatives to enhance the project’s technical team’s proficiency in land preparation techniques, with a key focus on introducing the state-of-the-art Delfino plough for optimised processes.

“This initiative represents a significant advancement towards the sustainable restoration and management of large landscapes in the region.’’

According to her, the Delfino plough functionality includes deep penetration into hard soil, facilitating its overturning and the creation of holes for water harvesting with great potential for improving soil regeneration and agricultural productivity.

She said the ACReSAL project, which was FAO’s Technical Assistance to Nigeria, would be implemented in the 19 Northern States of Nigeria and the FCT as well as the 11 Great Green Wall frontline states.

“The Technical Assistance is deploying optimum use of the large accumulation of relevant experience on technical aspects of landscape restoration and innovative methodologies,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Chijioke Okoronkwo

Agriculture

FG addressing food, nutrition insecurity—Agric ministry

By Bukola Adewumi

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Temitope Fashedemi, says the Federal Government has put machinery in place to address challenges of food and nutrition insecurity.

Fashedemi spoke at the presentation of the March 2024 round of Cadre Harmonisé analysis national consolidation report on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cadre Harmonisé(CH) is a Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with technical partners including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Special duties, Adedayo Modupe, said the results of the cycle of CH analysis came at a time when government was leaving no stone unturned in reinvigorating the nation’s economy.

The permanent secretary said the removal of petroleum subsidy had further heightened pressure, resulting in food inflation and increase in consumer price index.

He assured of the ministry’s commitments to upholding and utilising the outcome and recommendations proffered at the workshop for the implementation of food and nutrition security interventions.

The Cadre Harmonisé report indicated that no fewer than 31.5 million people including 83,846 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 26 states and the FCT were expected to be in crisis between June and August 2024.

According to the report, no fewer than 24.7 million people including 14,000 IDPs in 26 states and the FCT are in food crisis between March and May 2024.

The report revealed that about 1.1 million people in Adamawa were expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August 2024, and about 2.1 million people in Borno were expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August.

“Also, 1.5 million people in Yobe are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year.

“During the current period, food consumption was under stress in most of the states and Crisis in some LGAs in Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, and Yobe, Zamfara States.

“Deteriorated food consumption situation was also observed among populations in the inaccessible areas and the IDPs in Adanawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.

“During the projected period (June to August 2024) more households are expected to face crisis level of food consumption in the states.”

It said that the deteriorating food consumption resulted from a significant spike in food prices due to high production and transportation costs caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and its resultant impact on inflation and consumer price index rates on both food and basic non-food items.

The report said that in all the states analysed, livelihood evolution was either under stress or crisis.

“The consequences of insecurity have led to the loss of livelihoods in Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe states.

“Poor macroeconomic conditions are restricting access to agricultural inputs in the country; the high cost of transport, inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income.

“In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities.

“The nutrition situation in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara revealed the prevalence of malnutrition for Under-5 children to be in crisis in the current situation,” the report said.

The report said key drivers of the crisis included conflict and insecurity, fuel scarcity, naira devaluation currency crisis, and rising inflation and Consumer Price Index (CPI) rates.

In his remarks at the presentation, the Country Representative of the FAO to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Koffy Kouacou said the main goal of the CH workshops was to analyse available food security data.

Kouacou, who was represented by the Assistant FAO representative (program) Abubakar Suleiman, said the CH analysis produced the most reliable and widely acceptable data/results for humanitarian programming and food security.

He said the FAO would continue to support the CH process, both in terms of funding as well as technical support and capacity building across the country. (NAN) www.nannews.ng 

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Agriculture

Scaling up innovation, critical in transforming food system—International partners

By Bukola Adewumi

International partners and agricultural stakeholders have called for the scaling up of innovation for food system transformation to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
Al-Hasssn Cisse, Head, Food and Agricultural Organisation(FAO), Northeast Sub Office, made the call at the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers(CGIAR) and Partners Exhibition and Open Day to mark the 2023 World Food Day on Thursday in Abuja.
Cisse said the World Food Day was an occasion for raising awareness not only for the decision makers, but for all  stakeholders including the farmer themselves, the civil society, private sector and technical organisations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Food Day is been celebrated Oct. 16 yearly.
The theme for this year celebration is, “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave no One Behind.’’
He said the aim of scaling up innovation was to work with the community and develop policy for responsible use of the water for the benefit of all in the context of climate change as it affected food production.
According to him, it is estimated that by  2050, the world population will be about nine billion people; hence the need to explore other ways of transforming food system by putting into consideration climate change as it affects agriculture.
“We cannot continue to do as we used to do; it means that we have to transform our food system to the point of consumption; there is need to harvest rainfall for dry season farming.
“We need to find new way of adapting to the climate change, and make sure that the population is socially, culturally and environmentally acceptable by meeting the needs of the people.
“We need all stakeholders including the government, donors, technical organisation, the farmer and private sector to work together in other to achieve food security.’’
Cisse said that FAO was working with state governments to advise and support them on policy design as well as supporting the community in the field.
“At FAO our biggest programme is support Borno  and Adamawa governments to have climate smart agriculture profile, and also Climate Smart Agriculture Investment Plan.
“ It contains all elements that are needed to do to deal with the climate change and its effect on the future population,’’ Cisse said.
He said there was need for up scaling innovation to help fighting against food insecurity and malnutrition.
On her part, Ms Aline Mugisho, CGIAR Country Convener, Nigeria, said there was need to make agriculture attractive to encourage youths by putting in place mechanised tools which involved digital technologies to accelerate food system transformation.
“Our goal is reaching Zero Hunger by 2023; we are complementary in the way in which we operate with FAO; we produce the innovations; FAO works directly with farmers to make sure that we catalyse those innovations.
“We produce seeds; FAO needs to approve those seeds and get them to the farmers timely,’’ she said.
According to her, there is need to factor in climate smart agriculture and ensure that the aspects of climate change that are impacting the result of food system of farming and food production are mitigated.
Dr Kumar Lava, Head Germplasm Health Unit, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said that the institute had different innovations that had been tested and proven to be effective to transform the agricultural food system.
According to him, the most important thing needed by farmers is the applicable use of right information that will help farmers get the best out of what they do.
He said that scaling up innovation in the food system was very important in transforming agriculture.(NAN)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
Catfish farming
Agriculture

Boosting Catfish: Stakeholders begin implementation of programme in Africa

By Bukola Adewumi

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector, on Thursday in Abuja, launched the African Catfish Value Chain to address the challenges in its farming and boost productivity.

The Representative of UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Fred Kafeero, during the launch of the flagship programme, themed: “FISH4ACP”, said the project was an opportunity to reiterate FAO’s commitment to a blue transformation of the catfish sub-sector.

Kafeero said FISH4ACP” was a global fish value chain development programme, set up by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), being implemented by the FAO, and funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

“Nigeria is a very important and strategic member state in the development. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of African catfish, with an estimated annual production of one million tonnes (in 2021), worth around 2.6 billion dollars.

“Additionally, Nigeria has an estimated 285, 000 producers, of which small-scale farmers represent over 60 per cent. The catfish value chain itself offers employment to about one million people.

“This data, according to the value chain, followed the analysis conducted by FISH4ACP and the FMARD (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), which underpins the strategy we are launching today,” he said.

Kafeero noted that the strategy would reduce harm to human health, and lessen the burden on the environment, through the introduction of cleaner smoking technologies.

Frank Okafor, who represented the International Partnership Officer of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Urszula Solkiewics, said the African Catfish Strategy, developed under the Fish4ACP Programme, reflected stakeholders’ commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in the fisheries sector.

“The EU and the German Government, have long recognised the importance of investing in the fisheries sector, both as a means of livelihood for communities, and as a contributor to the overall economic growth of the continent.

“Through the Fish4ACP Programme, we aim to strengthen the capacities of African countries to sustainably manage their fisheries resources, enhance the competitiveness of the sector, and foster regional cooperation.

“By supporting the African Catfish Strategy, we strive to address the challenges faced by catfish farmers and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and beyond,” Solkiewics said.

The Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, represented by the Director of Special Duties at the Ministry, Fausat Lawal, said Fish4ACP Initiative aimed to ensure economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the fishery and aquaculture value chains.

Umakhihe said the ministry was supporting fish farmers’ efforts at boosting the catfish sector due to its potential for job creation and widening business opportunities.

The National President, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Dr. Ebinimi Ansa, said the catfish value chain played a vital role in meeting the growing demand for quality fish products, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to Nigeria’s food security and economic growth.

Ansa said the launch of the programme marked a significant milestone in the collective efforts to harness the potential of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, by focusing on the value chain approach. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===================
Edited by Nkiru ifeajuna/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

Economy/Business

AfCFTA can transform Africa’s food system, says FAO

By Temitope Ponle

 Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a unique opportunity for the transformation of the continent’s food system.

FAO’s Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, said the AFCFTA would address the continent’s hunger issues.

A statement from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Wednesday said Haile-Gabriel made the remark at the ongoing Seventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) in Brazzaville, Congo.

The meeting was co-organised by the ECA and the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the government of Congo.

Haile-Gabriel said Africa was not on track to achieve zero hunger by 2030 but, however, emphasised the importance of the political will and commitment of African governments at the highest level.

“The results remain unsatisfactory and there are many challenges due to climate change, the poor economic situation and the negative impacts of COVID -19 as well as the lack of public investments,” he said.

He added that national and local level actions and investments were also critical to addressing the issues of hunger in Africa.

He said there was an urgent need for the continent to build back and forward better after the COVID-19 pandemic, with governments being called on to invest in social protection measures to save the most vulnerable in society.

“The transformation of the African food system is crucial to help end hunger,” he said.

Haile-Gabriel added that the adoption of holistic multi sectoral approach was needed.

A representative of WFP, Chris Toe, said African countries needed to prioritise and scale up investments in rural transformation, sustainable infrastructure and human capital development as they worked toward eliminating hunger and food insecurity.

Toe noted that the approach would assist in Africa’s quest to achieve zero hunger as espoused in the SDGs and Africa’s 2025 commitment to end hunger and Agenda 2063 aspirations.

The Congolese Agriculture Minister, Mr Joseph-Antoine Kasongo, said the new administration was determined to accelerate the development of agriculture to end hunger.

A Congolese government official, Mukena Bantu, an adviser in charge of cooperation and projects, spoke on behalf of the minister.

“We have declared that the soil must take over the subsoil. There is political will to carry out all the actions necessary to achieve food security,” said Bantu.

The side event provided a platform for member states to reflect and share on transformative actions and investments that would facilitate the building of Africa’s food systems better.

The actions were toward meeting the aspirations and goals of the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. (NAN)

Economy/Business , Food Security

FAO trains 600 crop, livestock farmers in Benue

By Philip Dzeremo

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said it had trained 600 crop and livestock farmers in rural communities of Benue on alternative feedstock.

The five-day training, which began on February 1 with a refresher training for extension workers, was followed by mobilisation of farmers in some communities in Logo, Makurdi, Guma and Kwande Local Government Areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was sponsored by the United Nations, in collaboration with the Center for Social Change and Economic Development (CSCED).

Mr Idris Gabdo, a consultant with CSCED, an implementing partner of FAO, said in an interview with NAN in Makurdi on Tuesday that the initiative was designed to teach the participants hydroponics fodder, multi nutrient block and urea treatment.

Gabdo explained that the three layers of feedstock were aimed at boosting both crop production and animal feed.

He said: “So far, we have achieved more than 50 per cent of our training requirements by handing out our deliverables.

“The training involved stepping-down knowledge of alternative feedstock and value chain, opportunities in alternative feedstock, feed quality and safety, animal nutrition and feed processing.

“We also had training on three practical step-down skills on hydroponics fodder production, multi nutrients block-making and urea treatment.

“We started the training with 20 extension workers, one absconded during the refresher  training, while another absconded during the step-down training.

“But we have some of our extension workers working in more than one community, so, by and large, we have done well.

“In fact, we have already sent our interim report to FAO, stating the progress already made from mobilisation to training in the rural communities.

Gabdo said that each of the 20 extension workers was expected to train at least 30 people in each community.
A trainee, Mrs Msughshima Vershima, described the training as impactful.

According to Vershima, who rears pigs and sheep, she learnt a lot on animal hygiene, urea treatment for animals and new methods of crop production.

Mrs Adikwu Oyiwodu from Agatu, who rears goats, expressed gratitude to FAO for the training and said she would no longer allow her goats to graze openly.

“I have learnt so many things during this training. I learnt about urea treatment and hydroponics, which will help me improve the feed for my goats,” she said.

Mr Godwin Abu said, “With the knowledge acquired from this training, I can use small amount of money to provide feed for my goats and chicken.”

An extension worker, Mr Augustine Ojotu, said he exceeded the 30 trainees target because of the response from the community.

Ojotu said seven herdsmen turned out for the training and were taught in Hausa Language, through an interpreter.

He said the herders were impressed with the training and promised to utilise the skills to improve the nutrition of their cattle.

The programme, an initiative of the UN, United Nations Human Rights Commission and the UN Women, is aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between herders and rural farmers. (NAN)

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