Welcome to 2019, From Team FoodFarmNews

Count Down to 2019

UN aircraft lift over 58,000 passengers in Nigeria in 2018

UNHAS helicopters serve a vital purpose supporting humanitarian operations across Borno State in Northeast Nigeria. Photo: WFP/ Rein Skullerud

 The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) successfully transported over 58,000 passengers by both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft between January and November 2018 in support of humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.

Asian countries to see net gain from automation

Asian countries to see net gain from automation

Jobs could be lost to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, but Asia is well-positioned to benefit from automation, says a report on the impact of technology on livelihoods.

Our support for Buhari will go zonal says RIFAN President

Group picture at RIFAN office with the National President

Preparation to replicate the Aso Rock Villa support for President Mohammadu Buhari re-elect by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) at the six Geo political zones will soon be embarked upon according to the President of the association, Alh. Aminu Mohammed Goronyo.

Wheat and barley shortage devastates Iraq

Wheat and barley shortage devastates Iraq

 Iraq’s farmlands are declining due to lack of rainfall and depleted soils, a report by the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics has revealed. Wheat and barley were affected particularly hard, the report said, but it also observed a general decline in the yield per acre of Iraq’s farmland due to “off-season rainfall and dust storms”.

Science is still biased towards staple crops

Info Lady Mahfuza answers farmer Nojrul Islam's question by showing him an advice video on her laptop. In rural Bangladesh the Info Ladies are bringing internet services to men and women who need info 

This year’s world food security report found world hunger rising for the third year in a row. The report cited climate change and conflict as the most important drivers behind this trend.

Import curbs on pulses may continue till March

Kothari said if there was a shortfall in production of tur crop and rabi pulses, then India may allow import of pulses.

Import restrictions on pulses are likely to be extended till March as the government looks to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce. In April, the government had allowed traders to import 1 lakh tonnes of yellow peas, 2 lakh tonnes of arhar and 3 lakh tonne of urad and moong through December. Traders now say arhar and urad output had been lower than expected and that the government should open import of pulses.

NGO tasks FG on increased budgetary allocations to agric

Bar. Nkiruka Nnaemego

A nongovernmental organization, The Fresh and Young Brains Development Initiative (FYBIN) has urged the Federal Government to increase its funding to the agricultural sector, especially for women and youth farmers to increase their yields and attain food sufficiency. Founder of the organisation Bar. Nkiruka Nnaemego, made the call during Yfarm National Colloquium on Attracting Public Financing in Sustainable Agriculture for Youth and Women Small Scale Farmers held in Abuja.

Pesticides blamed for rise in colon cancer deaths

Pesticides blamed for rise in colon cancer deaths

The use of pesticides has been linked to a sharp rise in colon cancer deaths in a developing country for the first time.

Role of technology in the future of food security

Role of technology in the future of food security

World hunger is on the rise. Today, over 820 million people are undernourished, and the number is growing, with conflict and climate change exacerbating food insecurity and crises around the world.

USDA cuts global wheat production estimate to 729.63 mil mt for 2018-19

USDA 

The US Department of Agriculture projected global wheat production at 729.63 million mt at the end of the 2018-2019 marketing year, down 28.39 million mt from the 2017-2018 estimate and 6.63 million mt lower from its prior forecast for the period.

Smallholders’ global food production underestimated

Smallholders’ global food production underestimated

The share of farmland cultivated by smallholder farms may be much larger than previously thought, suggesting that their contribution to global food production could be underestimated, a crowdsourcing study reveals.

Images speak at the special board session on Thursday 20th December, 2018, for the Outgoing Provost, Dr Samson Adeola Odedina of FCA, Akure Ondo State

14-Member Governing Board of Federal College of Agriculture Akure Ondo State from all the Geo-Political zones of the country

The 14-Member Governing Board of Federal College of Agriculture Akure Ondo State from all the Geo-Political zones of the country held a special board session on Thursday 20th December, 2018, for the Outgoing Provost, Dr Samson Adeola Odedina, who was honoured with praise and a fun filled cocktail evening.

WFP News Release - REPUBLIC OF KOREA CONTRIBUTION PROVIDES LIFESAVING WFP FOOD ASSISTANCE TO CONFLICT-AFFECTED NIGERIANS

WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of US$500,000 from the Republic of Korea that will provide one month of food assistance for nearly 125,000 food-insecure people in the conflicted-affected northeast Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

“We Will Compensate Farmers Affected By Flooding This Year” – President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that succour is on the way for farmers negatively impacted by the excessive rains of this year.

SGF demands accurate data for agriculture

The Statisticians-General of the Federation (SGF) Dr. Yemi Kale

The Statisticians-General of the Federation (SGF) Dr. Yemi Kale has called for accurate data to better planning and development of agriculture towards achieving food security through efficient productivity in Nigeria and Africa.  

Future group ties up with USAID horticulture & agriculture marketing programme

Future group ties up with USAID horticulture & agriculture marketing programme  

Future group, through its various retail formats including Big Bazaar, is collaborating with USAID Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Programme (CHAMP) to deliver mutual benefits to Indian consumers and Afghanistan horticultural producers.

Sachin Bansal sets sights on Fin & Agri tech to stage comeback

The Flipkart cofounder will establish a holding company through which he will run his new businesses and make investments, said two people familiar with his plans.

The Flipkart cofounder will establish a holding company through which he will run his new businesses and make investments, said two people familiar with his plans. Bansal, 37, has brought in Ankit Agarwal, whom he has known from his IIT-Delhi days, as a partner and founding employee of this platform, they said.

NAQS boss warns dealers on the use sniper

·       Describes pesticide as weapon of ‘mass destruction’

The Coordinating Director (CD), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Dr. Vincent Isegbe

 The Coordinating Director (CD), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Dr. Vincent Isegbe has warned beans dealers against the use of a pesticide called ‘’sniper’’ as food produce preservation saying its chemical is too toxic for human consumption.

News Release- WFP distributes milling machines to improve the lives of 5,000 displaced families in Borno State

The Milling Machines are improving the lives of families in Borno State

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners have commenced the distribution of 766 milling machines to 5,000 displaced families in Northeast Nigeria to ease the problems they face in processing grains.

NABDA promises more GMO items for Nigeria

·         *Budget planning to support

Group Picture during the end of year media party organised to journalists

The Acting Director General (DG), National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)  Prof. Alex  Akpo  has said that more Genetically Modified (GM) Crops with bio fertilizers and pesticides  are expected to be produced in Nigeria against next year  just as he added the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning is ready to give support to the plan. He stated this during the end of year media party organised to journalists.

FIIRO tasks stakeholders on value addition

The Director General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Prof.(Mrs) Gloria Elemo

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have been advised to go beyond production of produce and its export, but also do value-addition through processing for better market and for wealth and job creation.

Disease control: FAO, Agric Ministry partner on capacity building

The FAO Country Representative, Nigeria H.E. Suffyan Koroma

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) through the Emergency Centre for Trans-Boundary Animal Disease (FAO – ECTAD), in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) have recently conducted a three-day extensive training of animals and livestock stakeholders on how to curtail Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ( HPAI) outbreak and other affiliated animal diseases that could be economically disadvantageous to farmers.

LIBERAL PLATFORM HONOURS DR ODEDINA WITH OUTSTANDING AWARD

LIBERAL PLATFORM HONOURS DR ODEDINA WITH OUTSTANDING AWARD

Dr Samson Adeola Odedina has been honoured with an outstanding award by the Liberal Platform at the 3rd Edition of the IMERI Convergence held on Saturday, 15th December, 2018, at Dipo Resort, Imeri, Ondo State.

NASS threatens NIRSAL with anti-graft agencies over seeds quality

·       SEEDAN, Seed Council want N10b GESS debt paid

Group picture

The National Assembly has vowed to drag Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) officials to either Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) or Economic and Financial Crime Commissions (EFCC) for noncompliance to technical procurement procedure standard of quality seeds to farmers through the registered companies that could give tracking and checkmate adulteration in its ongoing programme just as stakeholders asked for the payment of outstanding debt.

Rice farmers re-count losses, ask CBN for loan relief

Group image

Rice farmers have appealed to the Government to write off the loans given to them because of the flood that wiped away 70% of their produce for the year 2018 while another one be given for 2019 planting season. The request was made by the National Deputy Secretary, Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Alhaji IIiyasu Awodi at the 4^th Nigerian Rice Forum held in Abuja, recently.

Minister vouches support for BT hybrid cotton

·       Association lauds effort

Minister vouches support for BT hybrid cotton

The Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the two recently released biotechnology transgenic hybrid cottons had been well tested with no negative health implication on human beings, asking critics to always provide scientific evidence for any negative opinion just as the National President of Cotton Association commended the government’s effort to ensuring approval of the new varieties for commercialization to the economic use of farmers.

Agric forum tasks government on strategic subsidy

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has said agriculture in Nigeria needs to be strategically subsidized for food security to be achieved.

FG raises alarm over $650m cassava product import bill

FG raises alarm over $650m cassava product import bill

The Federal Government has raised alarm over spending of $650 million on the importation of cassava end products annually.

Poultry farmers’ boss confirms FG’s compensation to farrmes

National President of the Association Dr. Onallo Akpa

The president of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN)Dr. Onallo Akpa has confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria had made the payment of N2.4billion as compensation to poultry farmers who suffered losses from Avian Influenza across the country over the last four years. He made this statement during the just concluded maiden summit of the Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria [ACAN] in Abuja.

Traders group advocates budget hike for agric

NANT President Berr.Ken Ukaoha- Traders

National Association of Nigerian Traders [NANTS] has once again called for increased budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector in Nigeria’s quest to attaining food security and zero hunger by 2030.

Forum warns of harmful effects of herbicides on environment

 

Dr. Rose Suniso Maxwell Gidado is the Assistant Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Development Agency

Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology [OFAB] has warned of the harmful effects of application of herbicides and pesticides to the environment. Coordinator, OFAB, Nigeria Chapter,Dr. Rose Gidado gave the warning at an event in Abuja.   

Contractors threaten to drag ministry before anti-graft agency

Contractors threaten to drag ministry before anti-graft agency

Contractors who executed the year 2017 appropriated capital projects towards food security may have concluded plans to take the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to any of the anti-graft agencies for investigations into why their monies for jobs completed since have not been paid. A source close to the affected contractors told Food Farm News.

Fertilizer application without soil test threatens food security, warns Prof Chude

The National President, Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN), Prof. Victor Chude

The immediate past President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, and Registrar of the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science, Prof. Victor Chude, has warned that Nigeria risked not attaining food security as long as her citizenry continued to treat the soil with levity and unless the mode of application of fertilizer to crops was changed, the country would continue producing below quantity needed for self-sufficiency.He said this at the maiden summit of the Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), held in Abuja, recently.

Report reveals massive pension fund investment in farmland

Report reveals massive pension fund investment in farmland

Money from pension funds has fueled a massive investment in farmland over the past decade, with negative consequences for rural communities.

World meat production to reach record high in 2018, FAO

World meat production to reach record high in 2018, FAO

The world is projected to produce a record 335 million tons of meat in 2018, according to the latest Food Outlook published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

River Basin Development Authorities will boost Agric production, Says Minister

Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu

As a part of efforts of the Federal Government to boost food production across the country, using an all year round farming method, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu during the weekend disclosed that the ministry has revitalized the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) for efficiency, while recounting the achievements of the ministry in the past three and half years,

We will make mechanization, tractor hiring work- Agric. Minister

·       NAMEL signs MOU with TOHFAN, TOOAN

event session

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief AuduOgbeh has said that government was determined to ensure efficient working of mechanization and availability of tractors for hiring in rural areas so as to remove drudgery in  farming.

Minister asks farmers to claim BOA ownership

·       Says banks agree on 9% single digit

Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh

The minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh has implored Nigerian farmers to purchase shares in the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) as the process to conclude the reform and repositioning of the financial institution which would commence before Christmas of 2018.

Gender Plan to transform women to commercial farmers, says minister- By Seun Ayeni

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has said that the objectives of the National Gender Action plan was to build the capacities of women farmers to transit from subsistence farming to medium/large scale farming. He made the remark at the launching of the National Gender Action Plan (NGAP) for Agriculture in Abuja, recently.

EPO revokes patent on conventionally bred “severed broccoli”

EPO revokes patent on conventionally bred “severed broccoli”

The European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked a controversial patent on conventionally bred broccoli. This is a great success for “No Patents on Seeds!”, a broad coalition of civil society organizations, which had filed an opposition to the patent.

FG to enforce seed laws, deter fraudsters, says minister

·      * It is Illegal to produce, sell seeds without accreditation-Seed Council

Chief Audu Ogbeh- Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has promised that  the government would strengthen Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to enforce the seed laws and continue to deter those defrauding farmers through the sale of low quality seeds.  He made the promise at the council’s annual National Seeds Fair and Farmers Field Day held at Sheda, near Abuja.

Small-scale farmers are the custodians of Africa’s seed diversity

Small-scale farmers are the custodians of Africa’s seed diversity

Small-scale farmers save, use, share and enhance the seed diversity of the crops that feed Africa. However, their traditional practices and their freedom to manage their own seeds are increasingly under threat, according to a new report published by GRAIN and the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). In this report, the two organizations, together with partners from Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, outline the battle over seeds, agricultural resources, environmental degradation and the impact on local seed and food systems.

Procurement :National Assembly hails FCA, Akure

The members of public procurement committee, National Assembly chaired by Hon. Wale Oke and provost of the college, Dr. Samson Odedina in a picture

The members of public procurement committee, National Assembly chaired by Hon. Wale Oke, has commended the Federal College of Agriculture (FCA),Akure for its compliance to procurement rules as they are impressive of structures they met on ground.

Humanity has wiped out 60% of the planet’s wildlife since 1970, report

Humanity has wiped out 60% of the planet’s wildlife since 1970, report

The way we feed, fuel and finance our societies and economies is pushing nature and the services it provides to the brink, warns a new report.

Editorial- Ensuring food safety and security

Ensuring food safety and security

Recently, issue of food poisoning in the country took another dimension from the usual accounts of bacterial, viral and fungal infestation of consumable agricultural produce like cassava, yam flour, beans, maize and peppers etc through rodents and other animals.

UN committee approves declaration on the rights of peasants

UN committee approves declaration on the rights of peasants

The UN has passed a resolution adopting a declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

Climate change to disrupt agricultural productivity in the U.S., report

Climate change to disrupt agricultural productivity in the U.S., report

Climate change is affecting the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation, and human health and welfare across the U.S. and its territories, warns a federal report released on November 23.

Images speak at the Farmers Field Day at Agbenti 1, near Badeggi in Niger State, FARO 60 and 61 Varieties

Group image at the Farmers Field Day at Agbenti 1, near Badeggi in Niger State, FARO 60 and 61 Varieties

Images speak at the Farmers Field Day at Agbenti 1, near Badeggi in Niger State, FARO 60 and 61 Varieties.