Australia free trade deal talks to push for greater access to EU's agriculture markets

Malcolm Turnbull on Australia's EU trade deal:

Australia will push for expanded access to Europe’s agricultural markets in free trade talks with the EU after its member states gave the green light for negotiations to start within weeks.

Change policy to scale up climate-smart farming in Africa - experts

Climate change

ISHIARA, Kenya, May 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Even during the dry season, Venanzio Njiru’s farm stands out as a rare patch of lush greenery in this arid part of east Kenya.

FARMS UNDER THREAT: THE STATE OF AMERICA’S FARMLAND REPORT SOUNDS A STARK WARNING

FARMS UNDER THREAT

Are we conserving enough farmland to protect our legacy and ensure food security for future generations?

U.S. CORN CROP REACHES 81% PLANTED

Farm

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. corn planting pace and crop emergence catch up with average estimates, as the trade expected.

TRUMP: CHINA WILL BUY ‘PRACTICALLY AS MUCH AS OUR FARMERS CAN PRODUCE’

TRUMP

In a pair of tweets on Monday, President Trump touted a potential trade deal with China that would mean massive Chinese purchases of U.S. farm exports, “practically as much as our Farmers can produce.”

HOUSE SETS NEW VOTE ON FARM BILL

HOUSE SETS NEW VOTE ON FARM BILL

*ATTEMPT TO REVIVE FARM BILL IS DELAYED.

WASHINGTON - The House quietly delayed Speaker Paul Ryan’s attempt to revive the farm bill until June 22, with GOP leaders intending to remove conservative opposition to the bill by holding a vote on immigration control in the interim.

Fisheries: FG, Worldfish team set to upscale

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri

In view of 3.1 million metric tons of fisheries requirement in the country for local consumption, the Federal Government (FG) and Worldfish research centre have come up with a proactive strategy to scale up production through sea captures and aquaculture using improved technologies.

FARMERS AND RANCHERS WELCOME PERDUE TO NEW MEXICO, COLORADO, WYOMING, AND NEBRASKA

USDA

“They are very proud producers. They’re resilient. They’re hardy, but they’re hurting. And that’s the message I’m taking back to the president.

Growing Curious: How GMOs Benefit Farmers

Ex-President Obasanjo support biotech in agribusiness for nourishment generation

Ex-President Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, announced that unless imaginative advances, for example, biotechnology are accomplished in agribusiness, worldwide endeavors at closure appetite would remain a delusion.

Pictures speak at the official Commissioning of the Uyo Zonal office for the implementation of the Nigeria-Agricbusines and agro industry Initiative (NAADI) today

Representative of the Gov. of Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, Dr . Moses Ekpo in blue kafta and blue cap, Permanent Sec. FMITI, Deacon Edet Sunday Akpan  , Coordinator Federation of Agricultural Commodities (FACAN)  Akwa- Ibom Chapter, Mr. Harward Usen in black cap, at the  the official Commissioning of the Uyo Zonal office for the implementation of the Nigeria-Agricbusines and agro industry Initiative (NAADI) by the PS of the FMITI.

Antibiotic-resistant genes are being spread all over the world in animal feed, scientists discover

A Government-commissioned report estimated the rise of ‘superbugs’ could kill as many as 10 million people a year worldwide by 2050 Rex

Ten million people could die every year by 2050 if the rise of superbugs is not checked, experts have warned.

KANSAS AND NEBRASKA LEAP AHEAD OF AVERAGE CORN, SOYBEAN PLANTING PACE

KANSAS AND NEBRASKA LEAP AHEAD OF AVERAGE CORN, SOYBEAN PLANTING PACE

After a productive week in the fields farmers in Nebraska and Kansas are at or ahead of average planting pace for both corn and soybeans according to the USDA Crop Progress Report released Monday, May 21, 2018.

Sunflower Association alerts FG on foreigners posing as tourists to exploit farmers

Middle in white without cap Md-Ceo Alhaji M. A Adeyemi Starlink Global- Ideal limited with sunflower members

·     * Kebbi Governor cautions on distortion 

Stakeholders at the meeting of Sunflower Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria have alerted and called on the government to curb the influx of foreigners who came in the guise of tourists but only to end up buying agricultural produce at exploitive prices from the farmers.

Editorial -Food security: Using Monitoring and Evaluation

 Using Monitoring and Evaluation

One significant gap in the Nigerian agricultural value chains is lack of effective use of monitoring and constant feedback to measure performance

Improve on finishing, partner fabricators says ICRISAT rep to NCAM

Dr. Hakeem Ayinde Ajeigbe,(ICRISAT) - Kano Station and  Country Representative - Nigeria West & Central Africa Program

The ICRISAT Nigerian representative, Dr. Hakeem Ajeigbe has advised National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) to work harder towards achieving a good finishing machines and other equipment saying more fabricators should be engaged for commercial production of the proto type designs with royalty charges.

FECA Provost advocates training for cassava bread entrepreneurial

Dr. Samson A. Odedina

The Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture Akure Dr. Samson A. Odedina has emphasized on the need to expand the training of the youths in the value chains of cassava productivity which had already started in his college.

2018 IAR Annual Research Review/REFILs: Funding not in consonant with economic diversification

·     

The FMARD Minister Representative, Mr. Ime. S. Umoh, Former ED, NAERLS Prof.  Z. Abubakar, Prof Ado on day two of the Cropping Scheme.

  * Stakeholders exhort research monitoring and evaluation.

·     *  IAR recounts achievements.

The 2018 Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting / Extension Farmers Inputs Linkage System (REFILS) held for three days (April10-12) at Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samara, Zaria were very revealing as funding was very conspicuous as one of the major factors militating against new improved technologies development cum transfer to farmers at the grassroots.

Price of cassava stems nosedives to N400 per bundle

cassava stems

·       National Agric Seed Council to set standard, certify seeds

Prices of cassava stems have nosedived to N400 per bundle after touching a high of N1200 as demand eases in Nigeria.

Shea butter: Minister raises concern on $200b for other

Hajiya. Salima Makama, Minister of state, FMITI Hajia Aisha Abubarkar & Director, Commodities and Products Inspectorate Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Mrs. Ope Ewe

The Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar has said that the untapped Shea butter industry was already attracting an annual income of over $200 billion into other countries where its potential is properly harnessed for employment and wealth creation. She said this at Alliance Agenda conference held at Abuja.

In Defense of Food Evolution

Are GMOs the key to global food security?

Men unload sacks of onions at a farmers market in Bamako, Mali

Food security is, and will continue to be, one of our greatest ongoing development challenges.

IITA to hold training on Novel Techniques for Weed Management in Cassava

Cassava

Farming Systems that guarantee more than 20 tons per ha.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) plans to hold a training on innovative technologies for weed management in cassava in July.

Pictures at the strategy to form a strong working relationships with all partners of NAPRI Integrated Commercial Livestock Model Farm for robus national sensitization as requested by the Minister of state, Hajia Aisha. Mrs Toyin Asanu, Jet Age Energy Solutions Nigeria limited, speaking on the use of wind to generate waters for grazing animals and feeds for animals at the FMITI yesterday. On the upper table listening..Deputy Director, CPI, Mr. Abalaka, opposite him,Asst Dir, Mr. Adegoke. Sitting are Mr. Oke and NAPRI Prof. Lakpini.Also standing is Edward Mba , Folder Green Technologies .. The dead line for the speaking paper to be presented at the end of this month tentatively

Pictures at the strategy to form a strong working relationships with all partners of NAPRI Integrated Commercial Livestock Model Farm for robus national sensitization as requested by the Minister of  state, Hajia Aisha.   Jet Age Energy Solutions Nigeria limited, Toyin George Taylor, speaking on the use of wind to generate waters for grazing animals and feeds for animals at the FMITI yesterday. On the upper table listening..Deputy Director, CPI, Mr. Abalaka, opposite him,Asst Dir, Mr. Adegoke. Sitting are Mr. Oke and NAPRI Prof. Lakpini.Also standing is Edward Mba , Folder Green Technologies
.. The dead line for the speaking paper to be presented at the end of this month tentatively

Pictures at the strategy to form a strong working relationships with all partners of NAPRI Integrated Commercial Livestock Model Farm for robus national sensitization as requested by the Minister of  state, Hajia Aisha. Mrs Toyin Asanu, Jet Age Energy Solutions Nigeria limited, speaking on the use of wind to generate waters for grazing animals and feeds for animals at the FMITI yesterday. On the upper table listening..Deputy Director, CPI, Mr. Abalaka, opposite him,Asst Dir, Mr. Adegoke. Sitting are Mr. Oke and NAPRI Prof. Lakpini.Also standing is Edward Mba , Folder Green Technologies .. The dead line for the speaking paper to be presented at the end of this month tentatively

IAR&T appoints Ekiti man best farmer for S/W 2017

IAR&T REFILs for 2018: Pictures speak as the best farmer from South West was honored with an award of excellence along with Prof. Oluwatosin for excellent performance as immediate past Refils coordinator. Here, Agric Commissioner, Ekiti state Hon. Odebunmi presents the award to Mr. Adekunle Adeniji, an illustrious son of Omuo Ekiti
accompanied by his wife as best farmer. Others are pictures from the event.

The Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T) committee of South West Zonal Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS) for 2018 has conferred on Hon. Adekunle Adeniyi,  an All Farmers’ Association Chairman (AFAN) , Ekiti East, and Managing Director, Samtex Integrated Agro Industry with the best farmer of the year 2017 agricultural productivity for his best agronomics practices  in the zone.

S/W 2018 REFILS: technologies transfer suffer in 2017

The upper table at the 2018 REFils-Oyo state Agric Comm. Prince Oyewumi Oyewole, IAR&T, ED, Prof. Adediran, Ekiti Comm. Agric Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi, Ogun Agric Mrs. Peju Adebajo & Mr. Tony.

*Royal father advises youth on partnership

The recently concluded Research Extension Farmers Input Linkage System (REFILS) under the coordination of Institute for Agricultural Research& Training (IAR&T) Moorplantation has revealed poor transfer of new improved technologies for enhanced productivity of farmers’ produce and other agro processors in the value chains of the crops, animals and livestock, even as the Royal father of Alawowo of Awowo Owu Kingdom, Oba Abdul-Gafar Olasunkanmi Tijani has advised the youths to explore business partnership in crops and animal productivity to create jobs without waiting for government for themselves.

The Truth about Genetically Modified Food

Apple

Proponents of genetically modified crops say the technology is the only way to feed a warming, increasingly populous world. Critics say we tamper with nature at our peril. Who is right?

Public hearing: NASS set to pass six agricultural bills

Standing for National Anthem in redcap and white, Chairman Committee on Agric, Colleges and Institutions Hon. Linus Okorie

·       *Shea butter Research Institute faces no objection.

The recently held public hearing at the National Assembly, House of Representative Committee on Agriculture, Colleges and Institutions led by Hon. Linus Okorie was very receptive to inputs and objective criticisms to six agricultural bills that may soon be passed into law for efficient global practice towards meeting global market.

Normal rainfall expected this year, says NiMet

Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi

·        Planting can start from April to avoid losses, says Zero Hunger’s Arosanyin

Normal rainfall is expected this year, especially in some parts of the North but this would not rule out possibility of flash floods.

Soil Scientists call Presidential Initiative for soil pally on fertilizer

Professor Chude, President, Soil Science Society of Nigeria; Professor Kolawole Salako, the Awardee and Mrs. Mabel Salako during the SSSN 2018 conference in

·       Oyo Gov. demands  soil test equipment for farmers

The President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSCN) Prof. Victor Chude has emphasized the need for the Presidential Initiative on fertilizer constituted by President Mohammadu Buhari to partner with his association so as to be able to achieve soil specific micro nutrients for crops increased yield, soil management and sustainability to ensuring commercialization through fertilizers supply to farmers.

Editorial- Time to jack up allocations to agriculture

Farmland

That the Federal and States’ Governments spent a paltry 1.8% of the N44trn budgetary allocation translating to N810.4bn on agriculture in three years is, to say the least, very callous. It shows that Nigeria as a country is not serious with food productivity and commercialization of the sector to creating wealth and job for the teeming youths.

Tobacco Deliveries Up

Tobacco

Tobacco deliveries to the auction floors have increased as most farmers have finished processing their crop for sale.

Food prices hold steady in April

FAO

* FAO’s first forecasts for the year ahead: Cereals output to ease off record highs.

The FAO Food Price Index remained broadly steady in April, averaging 173.5 points for the month, a tiny notch up from March and 2.7 percent higher than in the same month of 2017.

FAO embarks on Sustainable Livestock development project in Africa

FAO

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with relevant stakeholders is embarking on a project to identify strategies for curtailing any threats to the sustainable long term growth of the livestock sector in Africa.

Pictures speak at National Assembly Public Hearing on Six bill presented for objective criticism according to Speaker National Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Dogara by House Committee Colleges of Agriculture, and Institutions led by Hon. Linus Okorie, today at Abuja.

Standing for National Anthem in redcap and white, Chairman Committee on Agric, Colleges and Institutions Hon. Linus Okorie

Pictures speak at National Assembly Public Hearing on Six bills presented for objective criticism according to Speaker, National Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Dogara held under the auspices of House Committee on Agric  Colleges  and Institutions led by Hon. Linus Okorie, today at Abuja.

Ending Extreme Poverty - Wives of African Leaders Honour Nigerian Foundation

Hope to live

The Coalition of Wives of Presidents and Vice Presidents in Africa for Peace, COWAP, has honoured Nigerian international humanitarian organisation, Jose Foundation, for its efforts and philanthropic activities in championing the cause of women and children towards ending extreme poverty in Africa.

Farmers, CBN disagree on anchor fertilizer

*farmers task NAIC on 80% insurance. 

Participants at the CBN/NIRSAL Anchor Borrowers' Programme Town Hall Meeting

As the preparation for the 2018 rainy season for food production in the North Central of Nigeria is about to commence, the town hall meeting between farmers and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) NIRSAL had a stalemate as the Community Allied Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS)  kicked against the official use of NPK fertilizer

Palm Buyers Urged to Work On Sustainability, Not Ban Vegetable Oil

Oil Palm

Buyers are wrong to remove palm oil from their products and should instead focus on working with sustainability schemes and smallholder farmers, an Indonesia-based conservation organisation said on Tuesday.

GMOs Might Feed the World If Only Investors Weren’t So Scared

A farmer picks genetically engineered papayas in Oahu, Hawaii.

In the basement of Koshland Hall at the University of California at Berkeley is a trove of seeds with the potential to fix some of agriculture’s most vexing problems.

Food Evolution the Trailer

EAC Trailing in Exportation of Bananas

Bananas

Tanzania and Uganda consume 50 per cent of bananas grown in Africa, but realise only nine per cent of the potential yield due to poor productivity due to pests and diseases.

USAID Offers Prize Money to Combat Fall Armyworm

USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development is offering prize money for ways to combat the fall armyworm, a crop-eating pest that has spread across sub-Saharan Africa.

9million seed gap: Farmers lament, PERL advocates quality.

Pictures speak at the recently held Experience sharing and advocacy strategies review technical session on Agricultural seed, Organized by the Partnership to Engage Reform and Learning (PERL)

In a bid to ensure the use of quality seed to fill up the nine million gaps in the Agricultural sector across the country, the Partnerships to Engage Reform and Learning (PERL) held a two-day workshop on “Sharing the Experience and Advocacy Strategies Review Technical Session on Agricultural Seeds”.