About thirteen (13) organized farmers' cooperatives in Oyo state have asked the Government to distribute their pumping irrigation machines sent by the Federal Government ( FG)since last October as Agriculture palliative to boost food production.
About thirteen (13) organized farmers' cooperatives in Oyo state have asked the Government to distribute their pumping irrigation machines sent by the Federal Government ( FG)since last October as Agriculture palliative to boost food production.
*Encourages Dry Season Farming Opportunities
In a forward-looking commitment to bolster the agricultural sector, Mrs. Folashade Joseph, the Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), has expressed the agency's readiness to tackle more intricate challenges related to the insurance of agricultural produce in the upcoming year.
The Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) has urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) to embrace using digital technology to ensure food system monitoring towards achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of food security in Nigeria.
The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, (IITA ) has described the outgoing Permanent Secretary (PS) Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) Dr. Ernest Umakhihe as very proactive to finding solutions to critical agricultural challenges just as he was bade farewell in his future endeavors.
The Action Aid Nigeria with few other civil Societies have expressed parallel view over the Federal Government ( FG) N1.2 billion budget expenditure on office furniture for Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund Agency ( NADFA) in view of many more pressing issues concerning food security in the country. This was among the issues said at the last Friday press conference held for the purpose of 2024 budget on Agriculture, organized by Action Aid, Nigeria.
The Minister of Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning, Sen. Abubakar Badugu has reinforced the need for more women involvement in the food system economy planning and implementation through policies initiative strategies.
The Executive Director (ED) Lake Chad Research Institute ( LCRI) Prof. Baba Gana Kabir has argued contrary to some views that opposed the Federal Government's ( FG) projection of 1,250.000 million metric tons of wheat production per year towards food security.
All indications have pointed that the misabuse and neglect of soil's health could portend a threat to Sustainable Development Goal ( SDGs) of food security.
Stakeholders in the value chain of cocoa productivity have suggested the need to encourage local consumptions in order to make the price of the agricultural produce more competitive in the global market being an essential ingredient in the confectionary, food &beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic.
Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) of the United Nations ( UN) is very particular about food security around the globe.
The Federal Government ( FG) has said that a total of 312,555.96 metric tons of certified seeds in five major grain crops will be needed to produce sufficient food grains of 31 million Metric Tons (MT) just as the National Assembly has raised the need for seed sector development.
Some stakeholders in the wheat value chain have raised concern over the Federal Government ( FG) wheat seeds imported for dry season farming in view of the recently released varieties by Lake Chad Research Institute ( LCRI).
Farmers in Nigeria have commended the impressive turn out of stakeholders at the recently concluded Agric Show held in Tundun Wada, Keffi, Nazarawa state, despite the economic and political situations in the country, just as they demanded direct subsidy inputs for members.
The Federal Government ( FG) has embarked on commercial wheat farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Program ( NAGS-AP), just as the food security summit and National Council Meeting on Agriculture have been postponed.
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) Sen. Abubakar Kyari has advised on more organized clusters' farming and cooperatives towards creating more accessibility of tractors to farming and food security.
The chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria ( NAFN) Architect Kabir Ibrahim has said the convergence of farmers and other stakeholders at the up coming Nigerian Agric Show will bring about increase in food production.
The President, Sasakawa Africa Association ( SAA) , Dr. Makoto Kitanaka |
The President, Sasakawa Africa Association ( SAA) , Dr. Makoto Kitanaka has called on the Nigerian Government to enhance extension services towards achieving agricultural transformation agenda on food security in the African continent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has condemned many promotional driven research on the shelves without positive impact to food security in Nigeria. Tinubu said this during the recently concluded 6th Africa- Wife Agricultural Extension Week held in Abuja, Nigeria last week.
* Agric Don raises food hope
* Advises FG
As the World Meteorological Organization ( WMO) alerted the entire globe about unstable weather situations till next year April, a professor of Agriculture and plant breeder, Prof. Samuel Olakojo has alleyed inherent fear of food insecurity just as he advised farmers and Federal Government ( FG) on what to do for best agronomics practices.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be the first nation's leader to personally attend Agric Show being organized by farmers in partnership with the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN).
The West/ Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development ( CORAF) has promised to improve on strategies to get improved technologies to the use of farmers through effective communication strategies.
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) Sen. Abubakar Kyari has joined his view with other prominent extension stakeholders across the globe to commend the positive impact of Sasakawa Africa Association ( SAA) to food security in Nigeria.
All indications have pointed that the mismanagement of soil and neglect of soil health might be a stumbling block to the achievement of MDG 2030 food security of Nigeria.
The farmers in Oyo state have solicited for government support that will enhance Agricultural productivity towards achieving food security in the country.
The Managing Director ( MD), Premier Seed Nigeria Limited, Dr. Ibitoye Oyewale has advised on the need for proactive climate smart agriculture practices to checkmate $16.9 billion losses being experienced in the last one decade in Nigeria.
The declaration of State of emergency on food security made Nigerian farmers albeit all Nigerians to breath a sigh of relief and it portended the end of the insecurity bedeviling the North East, North West, North Central and all other parts of Nigeria.
* FAO, others speak
In the fullfilment of the Federal Government ( FG) renewed hope promises for accelerated commercial food production, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS) Sen. Abubakar Kyari has promised the application of an irritated farming system for 2023/24 seasons, just as the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO) Director General ( DG) and farmers have called for science based policies and technologies support respectively for the sector.
To get a maximum yield in hybrid seeds with other best agronomics practices, the former Executive Director (ED) Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Prof. Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku has advised that farmers to purchase hybrid seeds for yearly planting.
Experts have advised that Nigeria needs to work towards getting Plant Protection Right ( PPR) for premium earnings, job opportunities, and food security.
Nigeria has been given a hosting right to African cassava conference targeted to reposition the crop for premium economy, just as the issue of trade mark is being promised for global competiveness.
As part of measures to ensure successful dry season farming for this year, the Federal Government ( FG) has said strategies are already prepared to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on fuel, climate change and insecurity related matters.
Prof. Ado A. Yusuf is now the new Executive Director ( ED) of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, Zaria.
* Target 43 new varieties
As the Institute of Agricultural Research ( IAR), Samaru, Zaria celebrates its 100 years of existence in the Nigerian food system economy, the former Minister of Agriculture, state , and presently the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG) , Bornu state, Alhaji Bukar Tijani has raised concern on why researchers must double their efforts into more improved inputs that will ensure timely harvest in view of growing population and climate change challenges.
The Federal Government (FG) has announced that it will cultivate 70,000 hectares across the wheat production zones of the country with an expected yield of 875,000 metric tonnes for National Food Reserve.
For African countries, especially Nigeria to meet up her food security productivity in view of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) global call for agricultural mechanization sustainability is one task that must be vigorously pursued by government and relevant stakeholders.
The first ever agriculture and food security summit under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tunibu is slated to hold in November, 2023 at a yet undisclosed venue and date by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS). This was stated in a statement made available to Food Farm News today.
IAR@100yrs: Pictures speak at the Commissioning of the Monument that symbolises the event by the VC, ABU, Zaira, Prof. Kabiru Bala as IAR ED, Prof. M.F. Ishiyaku and others join in the unveiling, just as visit to IAR demonstration farm of the institute mandate crops also speak.
Day by day, the attention food security situation of the country is receiving has called for the need why farmer Associations must put their house in order.
The Commodity Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria ( COMAFAS) a grassroot non governmental organization has on Tuesday officially commenced the training of 150 youths in fishery and poultry farming with the grant of $77, 942 given by the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS).
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS), Sen Abubakar Kyari with other dignitaries from Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) will tomorrow attend the official flag off training of 150 youths in fishery and poultry farming.
In view of African food shortage with Nigeria being greatly affected as foods import from Ukraine/ Russia and India have dwindled , the African Development Bank ( AfDB) is in partnership talks with Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria ( SEEDAN) towards how to bring back Growth Enhancement Scheme ( GES) of Agricultural Transformation Agenda ( ATAP) to drive the food security system with efficient accounting of inputs distribution to farmers in the up coming dry season farming.
The lead spokesman of SEEDAN at the meeting with AfDB officials last week at Abuja, Engr. Yakubu Atar Stephen told Food Farm News in an interview that the African bank is ready to raise 135 million dollars to finance seeds and fertilizers availability through the association using GES template to distribute inputs to farmers in major three crops.
crops.
Engr. Stephen said the issue of how to mop up quality seeds in circulation so as to avert scarcity was topmost in the discussion, adding that the AfDB is determined to rescue food shortage in Nigeria through secured seed inputs for the next planting season.
According to him " AfDB has called SEEDAN into a partnership talk about its intention to rescue food shortage in Africa to the tune of $15 billion as about $134 million has been set aside for Nigeria to finance inputs of seeds and fertilizers through the Growth Enhancement Scheme of Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the bank in rice, wheat and maize for this up coming dry season as we have also pointed that GES must be extended to other crops in the other states of the federation for more wealth and job creations"
Stephen said they have advised that the process of mopping up certified seeds in these three crops must be immediate to avert people eating up the seeds as food thereby creating scarcity at the time of need.
He stated " we have advised that the first thing to be done is to raise enough finance to mop up available improved seeds against being eaten as foods in order to avert scarcity "
The three crops the program is looking at using the GES process are wheat, rice and maize according to Engr. Stephen of SEEDAN.
As part of effort to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders towards food security, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to make use of the new report on Livestock being submitted to him yesterday at his office.
The nation' s major stakeholders on certified seeds production have condemned the selling of fake seeds using a recognized identity to defraud farmers, just as they enjoined both Seeds Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) and National Agricultural Seeds Council of Nigeria (NASC) to become more active in bringing to book defaulters against efficient seeds system.
The National Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN) has distanced itself from the acclaimed five-year strategic plan for Irish potato by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ( FMAFS).
The Department of State Security ( DSS) Agency has increased the tempo of interrogations on commodity Associations and financial institutions that participated in the Federal Government ( FG) Anchor Borrower Program ( ABP).
The Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) new executives have promised a better reportage of the sector towards economic and wealth development in Nigeria.