Science, not fear, will drive Ghana’s decision on its first GMO crop, regulators vow

 

Ghana’s government says science, not fear-mongering will guide its decision on whether to approve its first genetically modified (GM) crop.

Press Release- Nigeria picks 820 Farmers to plant SAMPEA 20-T in a national demonstration

 

A total of 820 Nigerian farmers selected from 36 states in the country will participate in a nationwide demonstration of the recently released SAMPEA 20-T by planting it on their plots to create awareness about the variety.

Kenya and Nigeria progress as Uganda falters

 

Though several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, are making tremendous strides in their quest to develop and commercialize genetically modified crops, it’s not the same story in Uganda.

Press release- FG PARTNERS FRIESLAND WAMCO ON DAIRY TO STRENGTHEN SMALLHOLDER DAIRY FARMING BUSINESS AND GROW PRODUCTION

  

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has stated that strengthening of the Dairy Value Chain would improve the quality of locally produced milk, boost production and increase the network of milk suppliers in the country.

 

Biotechnology can protect Africa’s biodiversity, says conservation biologist BY JOSEPH MAINA

 

Though biotechnology is most often seen as a tool to meet Africa’s food needs, it could also play a role in protecting the continent’s unique biodiversity.

GM maize progresses in Nigeria as farmers struggle with drought and insect pests BY NKECHI ISAAC

As farmer Ahiaba Sylvanus recalls, it never used to be necessary to spray maize, millet, and guinea corn with pesticides in the Nigerian state of Kaduna, where he lives. But the recent long drought, likely resulting from climate change, weakened the cereal crops, which were then attacked by insects.

Flash Flood Occurrences expected across the Nation, NiMet predicts

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has warned of slim chances of flash floods across 34 states in the federation in the next three days.

13 Importance of Seaweed in Marine Ecosystem

Seaweed is the other name of algae. It is not plant-like seagrass. Some of us think seaweed is a plant because it produces food and energy for others like a plant.

Images speak @ the 2nd Annual Shea Conference 2021 held in Abuja.

Images speak @ the 2nd Annual Shea Conference 2021 held in Abuja. See more images below..

Minister advocates strategies to mitigate foods import, more FOREX

The Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono has stressed more galvanized strategies towards sufficient foods production that will enhance more Foreign Exchange (FOREX) earnings.

Sesame seed stakeholders ask CBN for special program

Stakeholders at the international conference on sesame seeds have demanded from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a special programme on the value chains of the produce, being among the leading crops in terms of export earning in Nigeria of lately.

Images speak @ the Feed Nigeria Summit 2021, held in Abuja.

 

Images speak @ the Feed Nigeria Summit 2021, held in Abuja.

Uganda invests in science to stop ‘brain drain’ and drive economic growth

The Ugandan government has bumped up its investments in science, a sector that has long been among the most poorly funded in the country, in a bid to boost economic growth.

Gene editing key to improving Africa’s staple crops

 

African scientists are using gene editing to improve major staple crops for increased productivity, enhanced nutrition, and climate resilience.

Bad press and wild claims have unfairly slowed GM crops on the continent, African scientists say BY JOSEPH MAINA

South African scientists are urging governments across the continent to take concrete actions to enhance the acceptability and adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMO) — a move they say could unlock the region’s vast food potential.

NANONO INAUGURATES GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR SOIL SCIENCE INSTITUTE

The Hon Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has inaugurated governing council for the institute of soil science, asked them to ensure a strategy that would enhance agricultural productivity through the appropriate use of soil by extension services across the nation.

Book review: Jennifer Thompson’s ‘GM Crops and the Global Divide’ offers lessons drawn from the history of the agricultural biotechnology revolution, for activists to CRISPR advocates

 Jennifer Thompson

  I’ve spent the last few weeks reading “GM Crops and the Global Divide,” the new book by Jennifer Thomson, emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town. Though the original title was “GM Crops:

Minister asks NASC, seed stakeholders to implement PVP effectively

The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Alhaji Sabo Nanono has urged all the involving Government agencies like National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and private organizations to ensure proactive implementation of the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) bill newly signed into an act by President Mohammadu Buhari.

Kebbi Governor, AFAN president differ on food skyrockets

The Kebbi State Governor, Sen.Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and president, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Architect Ibrahim Kabiru have taken different position on the causes of increasing prices of food, while the formal posited the cause to increase in foreign exchange on inputs, the latter attributed insecurity as the cause.

Nigeria moves forward with nitrogen-efficient GMO rice

 Still basking in the euphoria of commercializing sub-Saharan Africa’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop — insect-resistant cowpea —Nigeria has begun moving toward the environmental release of an improved GM rice.

Kenya approves disease-resistant GMO cassava

In yet another big win for its smallholder farmers, Kenya has become the first country globally to approve national performance trials of genetically modified (GM) cassava.

Agric PS hails AFCFTA working group to expand market

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Ernest Umakhihe has commended the inauguration of the working group for the effectiveness of expansion of  free trade for African agricultural produce and other services saying the initiative would enhance a single continental market with reduced tariffs without barriers.

Let us harness ginger potential says National President

The National President, Ginger Growers, Processors and Marketers Association (GGOMAN), Dr. Florence Edward 

The National President, Ginger Growers, Processors and Marketers Association (GGOMAN), Dr. Florence Edward has posited that the global position of Nigerian ginger must be a task for all levels of Government and private stakeholders to protect against stiff competition from other nations.

UN Food Systems Summit: Biotechnology key to meeting zero hunger goals

Agricultural biotechnology is a crucial tool for transforming global food systems to meet the United Nation’s goal of ensuring zero hunger by 2030, say some scientists, academics, and civil society representatives.

Images speak @ the unveiling of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act 2021

  Images speak @ the unveiling of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act 2021

Filipino farmers get approval to grow nutritious Golden Rice

Farmers in the Philippines have gotten the green light to grow Golden Rice, which has been genetically engineered to contain nutrients that can improve health, especially in young children.

Tomato scribe laments over fake greenhouse, hybrid seeds price

The National Secretary, National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Sani Danladi The National Secretary, National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Sani Danladi

The National Secretary, National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mallam Sani Danladi has expressed sadness over the sale of fake green-houses to many farmers in the state just as he condemned the hike prices of hybrid seeds being sold by merchants.

Agri. Minister, Chinese Charge d’Affaires discuss assistance for flood-affected farmers

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, in discussion with the Chinese Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Chen Xilai (left)

The Chinese Government through its embassy in Guyana has once again signalled its commitment to assist the Government with its flood-relief efforts. This was disclosed by the Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Chen Xilai, during a meeting with Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.

Bt not an option, but necessity to crops productivity, says AATF Dr. Okogbenin

The director, Programme Development and Commercialization at African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin.

The director, Programme Development and Commercialization at African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Dr. Emmanuel Okogbenin has said that the African Government should not a matter of alternative take biotechnology as a science, instrument to develop her food system towards high productivity.

More room for value-added production in ‘agric sector

–as GMC commissions new ‘one-stop shop’, ATVs and refrigerated trucks

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha making brief remarks at the commissioning ceremony

WITH the aim of moving from primary producer and subsistence farming to value-added production, the Ministry of Agriculture has invested $26 million in the new Guyana Market Corporation (GMC) by way of three all-terrain vehicles and two refrigerated trucks.

Dismal youth engagement in African agriculture tied to lack of financing/training opportunities

Despite the rapid growth of the agritech sector across Africa, a new survey of nearly 30,000 young Africans, nearly 300 smallholder farmers, and over 100 ag-tech start-ups across 11 countries by Heifer International finds that a lack of financing and training is stalling the sector and stifling opportunities for young Africans and farmers alike.

We run cluster farms for investors, says Engr. Owolabi. M.O.

                   

The concept of cluster farming in one organized large mass of land to different interested investors will change the old order of scattered  small acreages to one-stop shop production, processing, and marketplace where banks and inputs dealers can easily accessed by participating stakeholders with government involvement by provision of infrastructure.  Said Engr. Mathew Olusegun Owolabi. .

NiMet warns Nigerians against heavy rain

 

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet) has warned Nigerians of imminent heavy rainfall across the country..

Farmers ask for Fadama returns

Farmers in the Sawawi local government area of Bauchi state have demanded the return of the Fadama project, saying the project has been very impactful to food security across the nation. .

NiMet advocates climate information for national planning

The Director-General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Mansur Bako Matazu has advised that climate and weather information be taken as one key weapon to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative. Prof. Bako made this call in a press statement signed by the NiMet General Manager, Muntari Yusuf Ibrahim after the keynote address he delivered at the 61st annual conference of Nigeria geographers in Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun state. .

  

Millet Diet May Lower Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes And Help Regulate Blood Sugar

A new study has just proven that consuming millet may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and help regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, indicating the potential for preventing appropriate meals based on millet for diabetics and pre-diabetics as well as for non-diabetics. .

Press release- NASC, NESG unveils the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act 2021

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on Thursday the 29^th of July, 2021 unveiled the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Act 2021 in an event that held in Lagos, Nigeria with the theme “Unveiling the Plant Variety Protection Act 2021 and Plans for Implementation.”

Agric funding: stakeholders lament banks’ role

The agricultural stakeholders that participated at the recently held 2nd strategic planning meeting of the Forum for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Business Membership Organization of Nigeria (MSME-BMOs) have lamented over commercial banks’ high-interest rate on loans with demand for a throat-cutting collaterals. .

FG/ World Bank APPEALS empowers over 39, 000 beneficiaries across states

*Emphasizes collaborations

The Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) has revealed that a total of 39,209 direct beneficiaries of male and female with 60.84 and 39.16 percentages respectively have been economically empowered through the project .