Nigeria has no regulation for bio fertilizers.
The food security programme of the Federal Government may have to
consider putting an efficient and effective quality monitoring framework
on bio fertilizers and pesticide in place as findings revealed that
most of these imported products are sub- standard to farming yield. A
workshop on policy, quality standards and accreditation protocols for
bio-fertilizer and bio pesticides in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and
Uganda showed that much has not been achieved in the area of quality
control mechanism as only Kenya was recorded as having functional
regulatory frameworks on bio input products. Report has it that out of
100 bio fertilizers product brought into the country, only three were
said to be of standard while the rest are of shortage to the consumers
and farmers whose crops yield and production quality were reduced due to
low quality.
The Commercial Products (COMPRO) 11 project being
coordinated by IITA and partner Institutions is aimed at using Bio
fertilizers products to increase crop yields towards achieving food
security for smallholders’ farmers in the Sub Saharan Africa through
institutionalization of quality control mechanisms. According to COMPRO
11 leader, Dr. Cargelle Masso who said that the project will build on
the key finding from successive project notably the need for consumer
protection given the wide range of bio based products marketed in many
African countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria and
Ghana adding that “indeed out of the 100 products that were tested
during COMPRO 1, only three were found appropriate for use by consumers.
This pointed to the fact that, farmers and other consumers are exposed
to poor quality products, hence the low agricultural production” Dr.
Masso inferring from COMPRO 1 lesson pointed the need for research
findings dissemination to farmers, stressed that establishing a system
for quality control regulation in other to checkmate sub standard bio
fertilizers and bio pesticides in the region with products registration,
and quality control institutionalization through accreditation
establishment system will go a long way in helping food security matters
in the region.
The experience in Nigeria revealed that much has not
been done in the area of ensuring a monitoring mechanism structure for
bio fertilizer and bio pesticides while the fertilizer sub sector was
liberalized in 1987 with complete withdrawer of Government controls from
procurement and distribution of fertilizer. However, inadequate
planning resulted to supply problems thereby leading to re- introduction
of the fertilizer subsidy programme in 2003. The main constraint in
fertilizers is poor quality synonymous with fake, adulteration,
misbranding and underweight fertilizer prevalence in the market. But it
was revealed that work is already going on to institute an
implementation framework in line with Alliance for Green Revolution in
Africa (AGRA).
Status of fertilizer regulation in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda
Kenya- T.O Ongwenyi and P. Ngaruiya. It was noted there is a policy gap
in the use of bio- fertilizer and bio- pesticide in Kenya. Currently, a
fertilizer and soil conditioner bill has been drafted to ensure
standard enforcement but there were finding of over lapping and
uncoordinated implementation. In 2002, the agricultural production of
Kenya was threatened as the country could not export to Europe due to
residues in some of her products. The farmers then took an initiative by
asking the PCPB to authorize the use of bio pesticide.
The board then
started working on a guideline for bio pesticide and these were grouped
into three; bacterial, bio chemical and microbial groups. These were
gazette in 2006 and have been the regulations in use since then. In
addition, there is Kenya technical Standing Committee on Imports and
Export (KSTCIE) coordinated by KEPHIS which handles bio pesticides.
KSTCHI reviews and authorized the bio-pesticides for public use. Within
the KSTCIE is a technical group that assesses the risks and makes
appropriate recommendations.
These recommendations are made to the
bigger committee which makes final recommendation on release products
into the market. Before product commercialization, the PCBP which is
charged with the responsibility of licensing operators has to be
consulted for final approval and registration. For bio fertilizer, KARI
and the universities do verification in laboratories, greenhouses and
fields, and present reports to the committee for approval. The main
challenge is thus in the overlapping and misplacement of mandates
between various national institutions. There is also no Institution
charged with verification. There is need to do market survey and create a
database of bio fertilizer currently in use in Kenya. Also there is
need to do periodic checks for quality and manuals for inspections and
testing.
Tanzania; Susan Ikerra and Julius Mkenda Fertilizer in
Tanzania is regulated by the fertilizer Act and takes care of all
fertilizer issues including bio fertilizer and other soil supplements.
The fertilizer regulation Act was signed in January 2012 after three
years which is due to delay relating to regulatory authority. However
this Act only covers minerals fertilizers and has no guideline on bio
fertilizers. It provides very clear procedure on how to deal with the
registration of fertilizer and fertilizer supplements. The process for
registration is rather long and there is a need to shorten it.
However,
it is important that all these products go through all the stages to
ensure that what is allowed to get into the market is of highest
quality, and at the same time meet the needs of the farmers. Currently,
the cost of testing a product is set at USD 10,000 which is not
sustainable as it is rest on the Tanzania Fertilizer Regulatory
Authority (TFRA), which is a government agency to foot this cost. It was
interesting to note that before the formation of TFRA, some fertilizers
were already approved into the market. These are Twin N from Australia,
Penshabao from China and SKAF from USA. However, none of these passed
the COMPRO I screening test. For example Twin N was tested in maize and
it did not even give a yield increase of 25%. It was noted that the
producers of these products promote them in a way to imply that their
usage alone can give very high yields. However, from the experiments
done in the field, it was cleared that to even get a little yield
increase, you must combine them with other products. They are not
practicable for agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. Some of the key
challenges faced in Tanzania by the TFRA include;
- Difficulties in law enforcement. This arises from the fact that TFRA
cannot sue and have to rely on the police, who often have no capacity
to handle the cases. The law needs to be amended to give TFRA the power
to sue.
- There are counterfeits in the market. TFRA is thus taking over the functions of Tanzania Bureau of Standards.
- There are no accredited labs to handle testing and monitoring of quality of products in the market.
- There is need for committed and trained inspectors. Currently there
are only 75 inspectors and 25 analysts serving the entire country.
- There is need for a handling manual, currently; capacity building is
done on the spot during inspections. Some of the common problems
include poor stacking of the fertilizers and placing the fertilizers
against walls.
- Other challenges include caking, underweight fertilizers and poor
labeling. These, it was noted that the above challenges would also
affect bio-fertilizers.
Pesticides on the other hand are regulated by the Tropical Pesticides
Research Institute which was established by an Act of Parliament No 18
of 1979. There are currently two legislations that are in use: Tropical
Pesticides Research Institute Act (TPRI Act, 1979) and Plant Protection
Act, 1997. Until 1997, there was only one Act in operation. Currently,
the Plant Protection Act deals with regulatory matters. Although a
Pesticide Management Act is currently being drafted to handle all
regulatory activities of pesticides including bio-pesticides, there is
need to lobby the government to pass the Act without the delays
experienced in other instances as well as seek to harmonize procedures
for bio-pesticide regulations with those of other countries under COMPRO
II. UGANDA – MUZIRA FRED Regulation of fertilizer and pesticides
falls under the mandate of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and
Fisheries (MAAIF). MAAIF implements the law through the Agricultural
Chemicals Board (ACB). Agriculture is the backbone of the Uganda economy
as is the case in other COMPRO II countries although it must be noted
that the growth in agricultural produce is not commensurate to the rate
of population growth. For example, in 2011, agriculture grew by 2.3% as
against the population that grew at 3%. The fertility levels have gone
down and Uganda is no longer the ‘Pearl of Africa’.
There is therefore
need to use fertilizers to improve soil productivity. The uptake on the
usage of fertilizer is still low compare to other developing countries.
To be allowed to supply, either one must be resident of Uganda; if not,
then one must have an agent who is a resident of Uganda. The test fees
are USD 2,000 for three seasons and registration fees of USD 200 for the
initial three years. The main challenges affecting fertilizers and
pesticides in Uganda are to do with integrity and safety issues, as well
as an inadequate regulatory framework. It is expected that once the
2012 Fertilizer Bill draft is passed will help facilitate the regulation
of quality control of fertilizers and pesticides. In terms of capacity,
there is only one laboratory in Uganda that deals with the testing of
products. Currently, the main focus is to empower the farmers so that
they can make informed choices. FEED BACK FROM PLENARY The following
issues were highlighted in the discussions on country experience;
- ADVANTAGE OF HARMONIZATION: There is need for harmonization of the
regulation process. For example in Tanzania bio-pesticides and
bio-fertilizers must be screened for three seasons (which could mean
three years). If the regulations are harmonized, and a product is tested
in a COMPRO II country, it could only be screened for one season in
another country. This could also mean that there would be need to lobby
for a funding body, for example ASARECA. In addition, some countries
have SOPs and guidelines for fertilizer and pesticides. COMPRO II needs
to develop the guidelines for bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. There
is a need to get the documents from different COMPRO II countries and
harmonize them.
- COORDINATING INSTITUTIONS: There are many institutions in the COMPRO
II countries that deal with the same thing. There needs to be a focal
point in each country which coordinates and address the farmer’s issues.
If the farmers are aware of such a body, then it will save them in
terms of cost and time. This non-stop-shop for the farmers could either
be neutral organization or any organization dealing with the
bio-products.
- TESTING THE CERTIFICATION: there is need to have testing facilities
to ascertain the quality of products. Twin N for instance, wanted to
establish a company in East Africa, Tanzania. However, after testing
when it was realized that this product cannot work well in Africa, the
plans were halted.
- POLITICAL WILL: There is need for will for political will to make
sure that bills relating to bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides are
approved. This includes the need for lobbying. There is need for a
linkage between decision makers and the scientists. There are certain
key words that need to be used in other to get the attention of decision
makers, for example poverty reduction, unemployment, Maputo protocol,
MDGs, etc.
Nigeria farmers partner a local Malaysia affiliated private company for organic fertilizer .
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) led by Chief Femi Coker
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dynapharm
International Limited, a local company with specialty in the production
of organic fertilizers. Signing the MOU, the AFAN President said the
time has come for farmers to join the Government’s initiative of private
sector driving the economy adding the partnership with Dynapharm, a
Malaysia affiliated company would ensure more availability of organic
fertilizers to farmers at a very cheaper rate thereby urging the
producer to embark on local production for more job creation at the
level of the value chain. Speaking further on the relevance of the MOU,
Chief Coker said that agriculture has no alternative like crude oil
thereby directing all the distributors to ensure the availability of the
organic fertilizer in the market for farmers’ improved yields, adding
“I know farmers will not let me down as President of AFAN” The product
tagged “ Farmers’ fertilizer” has the capability to give an increased
yield to farmers’ produce according to the President of the Dynapharm,
West Africa, Mr. Valentine Uneghu who promised that the local production
of the company will soon commence to bring down the price. Mr. Uneghu
said the MOU reflected the farmers taking up their destiny by themselves
stressing “it is consolidating the Federal Government’s initiative of
private driven economy with farmers taking an active role of seeing
farming as business venture.
Speaking on the price modality of the
products he said “the cost at which we are signing is highly discounted
as we are interested in Africa coming up to feed themselves because
everybody is interested in them. Right now the one litre of our
fertilizer is highly concentrated as compared to others. The one litre
can do an acre of a farm which other products cannot do relatively with
its cost to farmers. But the price will further go down when we start
the local production.
The product is highly concentrated because it will
still be diluted with waters in order to serve the purpose. We are in
many countries of the world, Malaysia, US, Europe and East Africa. The
product is very effective and very much accepted in these countries”
However, the AFAN president has assured the organization of the site
location whenever it is ready to set up a production plant in the
country saying “the site location is not a problem in Nigeria. Almost
every state has a plan for such project. Our problem may be how to
locate the plant in more suitable place for accessibility. We have
enough land in Nigeria and this cannot be much of any problem. Presently
most fertilizers use in Nigeria is imported. This MOU will bring
fertilizer closer to the farmers and this will increase their interest
and outputs”.
I am retired by Government for doing farming; Chief Femi Coker.
The President, All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Femi
Coker has said he was retired for doing farming while in government
service as the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information,
Lagos state Government adding the sacked information was announced on
the radio broadcast . Chief Coker said the regime of late Gen. Murtala
Mohammed did not allow any civil servant to practice farming, and that
was while he was retired before his time as career civil servant in the
Lagos state Ministry of Information adding it was a price he had to pay
for the love he has for doing farming in Nigeria then. He added that
farmers in Nigeria appreciated this quality in him and that was why he
was compensated as AFAN President saying “ I see it as a sacrifice, I
was in government doing farming. I was sacked. The news came on the
radio that I have been retired before my time during Late Gen. Murtala
time in 1975. It was Chief Obasanjo that allowed civil servant and
everybody including primary and secondary school pupils to do farming.
However the farmers association recognized this and that is why they
made me President of AFAN.
Although they did not say it openly but they
put it into action by making me their president” The National Agric Show
is ingenuity of the organizer, Dr. Tunde Arosanyin The former chairman,
Kogi State Chapter, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Dr. Tunde
Arosanyin has described the rumour going around about the legibility of
the organizer of National Agricultural Show, a yearly interactive event
being organized by a foundation, chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu
where farmers, researchers, scientist, financial institutions and
public officials are brought together in order to share experiences for
the purpose of better production and commercialization has been
described as ingenuity on part of the concept owner which must not be
criticized negatively. Dr. Awosanyin speaking with the
Food Farm News
at the close of the AFAN’s meeting held recently in Asokoro, Abuja said
the farmers’ apex body cannot lay claim on the show concept saying he
was privileged to be one of the five committee members drafted by the
association to join in the discussions when the first National Show is
to be held at Nazarawa, pointed that several meetings had been held with
other corporate bodies before AFAN came into the discussion. According
to him “there are many other representatives from the World bank, IFDC,
CBN and representative of bankers’ forum who have already been holding
meeting with National Agricultural Foundation before our Association was
involved as a committee member and which I see as part of recognition
given to us as farmers organization by then”.
He also stressed that
major agricultural shows in abroad are being organized by big commercial
farmers to showcase their produce and products pointing this ingenuity
concept on behalf of organizer should be acknowledged as a platform for
agricultural development stressed that the sky is so wide for birds to
fly as “there are many opportunities the AFAN can exploit to impress its
impact on the sector rather than being covetous of this show” Many
stakeholders including AFAN members have been criticizing the National
Agricultural Show saying all the support the show has been getting from
the Government always ended in the pocket of the organizer without any
benefits going to farmers’ apex body who they believed should be the
principal owner of the concept. It is noted that by 2008, the show was
successfully institutionalized with the incorporation of the Foundation
as an Non Governmental Organization (NGO) with the mandate to organize
the annual National Agricultural Shows, provide policy and technical
support as well as consultancy and capacity development services to the
sector in collaboration with relevant public and private sector
stakeholders and development partners. Already, six shows have been held
since 2007 to 2012 in collaboration with FMARD and AFAN. From 2008, the
practice has been to hold the show in the week of the World Food Day
(WFD) in such a way that the WFD is observed on the Show Ground on the
last day of the show. Speaking on the reorganization going on the
association, Dr. Awosanyin said about thirty states have conducted new
chairmanship election remaining six with FCT adding progress is on going
for the National President election. “We have successfully conducted
election in about thirty states of the federation which was witnessed by
the community’s civil societies.
This can be confirmed by the caliber
of people from various places you have seen here today as many have left
before your arrival. A lot have been done to reposition the association
to the reality of the present day agricultural needs for the benefit of
Nigeria‘s farmers who are majorly small scale farmers who are always at
the receiving end when the chips are down. We have consulted all
necessary stakeholders before embarking on the election we have
conducted in all the states remaining about six including FCT, and maybe
we will invite you for the one of FCT” Although no specific date is
given for the post of National President of the Association by Dr.
Arosanyi other than the completion of the election into the Chairmanship
position of the other six states will determine the day for the plum
position adding the association has got the support of the Chief Femi
Coker and other board of trustees members to go ahead.
National Agric Show comes up Oct 21-24.
The Annual National Agricultural Show with the theme “Opportunities and
Challenges for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation (ATA) in
Nigeria” has been slated for October 21th -24
th just
immediately after the World Food Celebration at the same venue Km 28,
Abuja-Keffi Road, Tundun Wada, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa state.
Preparation for the show is in top gear as posters and every necessary
invitation to stakeholders at the states and federal level are already
being dispatched to ensure adequate participation. The National
Coordinator, Dr. Samuel Negedu was seen signing out letters of
invitation as at the time of our visit to the office at Abuja. Already
Federal Ministry of Agriculture is involved in the preparation as the
theme of the show is centred on ATA which is the main thrust of Mr.
President’s policy on agricultural repositioning towards employment and
wealth creation for the nation. Already, six shows have been held since
2007 to 2012 in collaboration with FMARD and AFAN. From 2008, the
practice has been to hold the show in the week of the World Food Day
(WFD) in such a way that the WFD is observed on the Show Ground on the
last day of the show, but this year’s own may be vise -visa as the WFD
will be held before the show.
Naic sensitization on agric insurance receives applaud.
Commendations for Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC)
are on the increase just as farmers from Osun state joined their
collegue from Gombe , Delta and Enugu to appreciate the awareness
sensitization exercise the corporation has since been embarked upon to
keep farming communities abreast of the need for insurance policy on
agricultural production in the face of climate change challenges. In a
press release made available to us, the farmers who attended the work
shop organized by NAIC at Osogbo, Osun state capital expressed their
desire to imbibe the culture of insurance practice but emphasized on the
need for more education on the available benefits they can derive from
the corporation’s services.
The Managing Director of the Corporation,
Dr. Tijjani Garba in the press statement had admonished farmers on the
need to take agricultural insurance policy very serious so as to
minimize farm losses and risk normally associated with agro allied
businesses adding that his organization has been repositioned to prompt
payment of claims which was exhibited during flood disaster of the last
year.
The press release also indicated that the sensitization exercise
was intended to achieve making farmers to know the measures to deplore
in mitigating flood effect and other natural disaster that can hamper
greater yields and harvest stating further “the management is reaching
out to farmers across the nation with the view to improving on capacity
through modern farming management methods, storage and marketing of
their produce, using insurance cover to safe guard their investment”
However the Farmers in general under the apex umberalla of All Farmers’
Association of Nigeria ( AFAN) Enugu Chapter had commended the prompt
payment of claims by NAIC with the view that the spirit will be
continued in time of distress.
Community Seeds production may eradicate fake seed.
The fake seeds circulation in the year 2012 Growth Enhancement Scheme
(GES) programme of the Federal Government has been generating mix
reactions especially in some of the foreign affiliated projects in
Nigeria, and this may have resulted to many of them getting more
disposed to the encouragement of community seeds production through the
National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) certification.
Food Farm News
checks revealed that major farming projects stakeholders at the states
level are not happy about the quality of seeds that were distributed to
farmers during the last GES exercise as many of them are grains bought
in the market that add no value to increase yield of crops produce. They
said the time has come for stringent measures against this dubious act
so as to curtail shortages of farmers’ production and at the same time
called for the encouragement of promotion of the community seeds that
will be certified by NASC.
Community seeds production, they argued will
help to reduce the craze for buying grains in order to meet up job order
of the Federal government to rural farmers. Many of the stakeholders
cautioned that the increasing numbers of the seeds companies must be
checked because Nigeria has not got enough Institutional Infrastructure
to ensure standard quality production especially in the face of
electricity challenges. They posited that communities seed production
will put a check to proliferation of seeds as only those companies with
competent hands will be left in the business by the time government are
no more buying and thereby allow farmers to sort themselves by this
means.
One of them who want to be called Mallam said that “the increase
in numbers of seed companies is as a result of the GES programme that
government is giving seeds to farmers free of charge. And this has made
many people to go to market and buy grains to distribute as improved
seeds to farmers. We know one or two of the private seeds companies who
are competent, and they know what production of quality seeds means. But
with what has happened in the last GES programme, many of us may not
want to take any government seeds because it results to waste of effort
when your expectations are not met in terms of yield”.
IFAD ready to spend 85million dollar for CBARDP 11 ; Atsuko Toda
The visit of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
inspection mission team to the seven states of the North including
Sokoto, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Bornu,Zamfara and Yobe where the
Community Based Agricultural Development Programme (CBARDP) phase 1 is
winding up has revealed a satisfactory performance with readiness of
IFAD to spend additional Eighty five million dollar in the phase 11
with commercial focus along the value chain crops of the Federal
Government (FG) Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) with more
involvement of private sector .
The Country Programme Manager, Mrs
Atsuko Toda speaking to
Food farm News during a short break of
the mission wrap up meeting held at National office in Kastina said the
main purpose of the visit is to be able to access the impact of the
programme on the participating states so as to know areas of
improvement, adding the second phase will soon commence with more focus
on agricultural productivity as business and entrepreneur involvement on
contract bases. Mrs. Atsuko Toda stressed that the second phase will
build on the strength of the first that has made positive impact on
5,000 households through enhanced productivity in sorghum, millet,
cowpea, maize and rice through the use of Community Development
Association (CDA), and its implementation committee saying about 42.5
million dollar has been released from IFAD with 99% disbursement added
that the performance effect in Nigeria was impressive. Speaking, the
IFAD mission leader, Iqbal Sobhan emphasis the need to expand the
programme around ATA of the Federal Government with more youths and
women involvement, emphasizing support for community based seed
production through National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC)
certification and private driven agricultural extension service through
engagement on contract basis. Other areas the phase 11 of the programme
will focus are “strengthening value chain support for market with access
to agricultural information, taking the issue of climate change very
serious in farming community areas by provision of climate change
resilience and adoption through demonstration that will address erosion
in the landscaping level.
Enterprises Development for women and youths
through a business plan action that can attract financial support
especially from those commercial banks who are already doing agric
business” said Mr. Sobhan. Mr. Sobhan’s demand to know whether the
CBARDP 11 has to be increased from present 204 association groups to 750
was unanimously agreed upon as all the program officers from the seven
participating states said the reality of extending the positive impact
of the programme to others is very strategic to achieving rural
empowerment. The National Programme Cordinator, Alhaji Abu Yusuf Kankia
in his summation wanted direct link with the Research Institutes
especially in the area of getting quality seeds for the sake of farmers
since the programme is a community driven that touches the lives of
rural people who may not have the technical skill to identify fake seeds
until harvest period when yield may go below expectation adding that “
We will work with the extension service of Federal Government using the
private sector driven extension on contract bases” Issue on the need to
use state ADPs did not get much positive support as the second IFAD-
CBARDP is focused to key into using the private driven extension model
of the Federal Government towards agricultural commercialization and
enterprises according to IFAD Country Officer, Mr. Ben Odoemena who said
the 2
nd phase project would give high priority to
agriculture as group will be organized along Federal Government value
chain on rice, sorghum, maize, onion, vegetables, sheep and goat.
Talking about restructuring of the CDA, as it was suggested either to be
modified along agricultural line of social committee, food security
committee and D&M committee or to be retained in the old structure.
The general view supported the old model for more participation as it
includes “Agric committee, Works committee, water committee,
Health/sanitation committee, Education Committee, Social/ self
committee, Procurement committee and Monitoring &Evaluation
Committee” .
IFAD-CBARDP achievement in Sokoto State.
Sokoto is one of the seven participating states in the Community Based
Agricultural Rural Development Programme (CBARDP) in partnership with
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and its
participation in the programme has impacted meaningfully on the lives of
the rural people in terms of increased agricultural productivity,
making portable waters availability, rural feeder roads for produce
evacuation to the market places and many other institutional provisions
that is worthy of adding value to better living of her people. Being an
agrarian state, His Excellency, Sarkin Yamma of Sokoto, Alhaji (Dr.)
Aliyu Magatakarda Wammkko is very disposed to any agricultural
initiative that will enhance economic living standard of his people who
are mostly at the rural areas, and this he has displayed by ensuring
the prompt payment of its counterpart fund together with all local
government chairmen and benefitting communities which according to State
Programme Officer (SPO), Alhaji Aminu Aliyu D/ Daji is a big plus for
the programme’s continuity and achievement since its inception. As the
programme is winding up by December, 2013 to begin the phase 2, the
stock- taking of its impact on the rural people of Sokoto has become
very imperative based on fund expended by IFAD, State and participating
local government which was confirmed in our chat with the Country
Programme Manager of the Program, Mrs. Atsuko Toda that a total of 42.5
million dollar has been committed towards poverty alleviation in general
aside the each participating state’s contributions. According to
Nigeria IFAD manager who mentioned Sokoto state has one of the very
proactive states said “from IFAD, the commitment is 42. 5 million dollar
and of which 99% has been disbursed which is also very good in the
country.
Now coming to states, we have states like Jigawa, Sokoto,
Kebbi, Bornu etc that have given large amount of counterpart commitment
because of the impact of the programme in the states.” In sokoto state,
the programme with its objective to empower rural communities towards
identifying their needs in a broad range of agricultural and rural
development initiatives with internalized community driven development
(CCD) following government policies and producedures , is being
implemented in twelve (12) local government comprising of thirty six
(36).
The benefiting local government are Bijni, Gada, Gwadabawa, Gudu,
Dange Shuni, Shagari, Saban Birni, Sokoto South, Tangaza, Tureta and
Yabo. In each local Government area, three (3) villages area were
selected for participation and is 100% funded by the Sokoto state
government since commencement in 2012. The repayment of the loan
attitude exhibited by participating communities speak more volume of the
acceptability of the programme in the local government councils and
this has resulted to increase of the villages in Tambuwal, Illela and
Goronyo with 100% funding by the local authorities according to SPO of
Sokoto state. The SPO , Alhaji Aliyu D/Daji said IFAD-CBARDP has been
able to reduce poverty level in all the participating communities by
twenty percent (20%) ,and economic trade is being strengthened and
supported with the evidence of Hajia Naan Yar’ Tuttudawa of Kwargaba
village and Musa Dankifi from Kebbi village According to him “ Hajia
Nana Yar’ tawa Tuttudawa is a peasant widow farmer who before
IFAD-CBARDP intervention was cultivating less than one hectare of land
without nothing or no income. But with IFAD intervention, she was given a
support of two goats for rearing and fattening, which she has already
repaid.
This support subsequently yielded goat, rams, and sheep which
she has been selling to make more money with capital base of N120,
000.00. She is now actively engaged in mixed farming with an increase of
her farm lands to 2 hectares, thereby becoming a major female producer
of both domestic animals and cash crops namely rice, onion, garlic with
100 bags of paddy rice and 70 of onions and garlic respectively” “ Also
at Kebbi village before the advent of IFAD-CBARDP programme, Musa
Dankifi, a 35year motor conductor left for farming through IFAD
intervention and persuasion from his elder brother, Alhaji Adamu Kebbe
to join irrigation farming group in the village. In 2009, he was trained
and supported with irrigation farm inputs such as tube well, water
pump, seeds and fertilizer worth N65, 000.00 for rice production and in
subsequent year, he was able to pay back the loan support provided him
by the programme and bought a land (1.1HA) worth N120,000 with which he
continues with rice irrigation that resulted to increase capital and
income up to the end of 2011 season when he bought a salon car worth
N650,000 for commercial operation in his village. Musa has been able to
employ eleven youths who are working with him, and receiving training in
irrigation rice farming. Musa has expanded his rice production with
pair of animal traction and a house worth N1,195,000 and today he is one
of the leading rice producer in kebbe village of Sokoto state”
The programme impact. Sustainable Agriculture:
- The yield of crops such as millet, sorghum, Cowpea, rice and
groundnut has increased in this order from 1.25 tones per/ha to 2.5, 1.0
tones per/ha to 1.8, 0.28tones to 1.8 tones per/ha, 0.9tones per/ha to
1.8 per/ha and 1.2 tones per/ha to 1.9 tones per/ha. This increase was a
result of better management practices and provision of improved seeds,
Agro chemicals and fertilizer to farmers by the programme.
- The land use for up-land and low lands increased from 3,200ha to
5,200ha and 2,210 ha to 2,820 ha respectively. This was as a result of
the reclamation of degraded and marginal lands, coupled with the
provision of tube wells and water pumps to farmers across the
intervention areas.
- Introduction of Rural Farm Inputs Shops (RUFIS) in the village areas
has reduced the problem of adulterated fertilizers and agro chemicals.
Farmers having access to fertilizer increased from 1,000 to 2,200, and
agro chemical from 520 to 1100 dealers. Reputable companies such as
NOTORI and African Agro Chemical Limited were linked with the 36 RUFIS
across the villages which allowed the farmers to get genuine and un-
adulterated inputs at the shops located within the areas.
Community Infrastructure
- Community transportation is enhanced through the provision of 875km
rural access road for easy movement of agricultural produce against the
482km before the intervention of IFAD-CBARDP.
- Access to portable water through the provision of 3,000 water points
for both human and animal consumption as against 1,487 before
intervention, and this has translated to people having portable drinking
water increase from 10,020 to 18,920 thereby representing 89% reduction
in the prevalence water born diseases such as cholera and guinea worm.
Gender and vulnerable groups
- The programme supported the provision and up grading of 200 health
posts with twenty constructed/rehabilitated clinics as against the 106
health post before intervention thereby bringing to 6,280 people having
access to health facilities as against 2,120 before intervention.
- With the provision/up -grading of 720 functional Adult literacy
centres across the participating village areas, people attending
functional literacy classes increased from 1820 to 2,820 with gender
aggregate of 1,820 males and 1000 females.
- Girl Child is being promoted in collaboration with UNICEF and GCE
Foundation in Tarke, D/ Tsolawo, Tozai VA’s in lllela Local government,
and Awakkala via Goronyo LG, where girls’ enrollment for primary
education was not encouraging before the intervention. The collaboration
has succeeded in girls having a prospect of pursuing education beyond
primary level. (e.g in lllela local government about 57 males and 21
females are now in JSS1)
Institutional support
- 1. The programme has succeeded in the registration of
Apex Associations as Community Development Associations ( CDA) to
operate as independent and democratic body with legal backing. The CDA
now explore areas for community development activities from state, local
government, and other agencies concerned with developmental activities.
- 2. Technical support was provided for tailoring,
knitting, carpentry, blacksmithing, vulcanizing, soap and pomade making,
Hand Craft, Petty trading and welding work in all the participating
communities.
- 3. The programme has established 21 Financila service
Associations with a capital base of N4m which provided soft loan to 257
individual disaggregated by 154 males and 103 female. Moreover the
collaboration with BOA has enabled a credit facility of N15m which was
also disbursed to small and medium scale entrepreneurs. This effort has
boosted the economic activities of the beneficiaries.
Achievement in line with ATA About 908 farmers benefited in
the e-wallet inputs supply with 1,816 bags (90metric tones) of NPK, 908
bags (45.4metric tones), Crystallizer 908 (45.4metric tones), Agrolyser
1,816 bottle and rice seeds (45.4metric tones) and already compilation
of wheat farmers’ name in the state is ongoing as directed by the
Federal Government towards commercial production. Also a significant
work has been done by the programme to promote adoption and large
productions of rice improved varieties such as Faro 44 and Nerica. At
present, some local government areas including Goronyo, Wurno, Kware,
Wammakko, Isa, Rabah, Silame and some part of Tambuwal has been
identified as commercial areas for rice production which investors can
directly contact through the state IFAD office.
Conclusion.
IFAD-CBARDP has been able to employ twenty youths each in the 12 local
government of the state along the value chain of rice plantation,
millet, sorghum, water melon and many other women just as soil test is
always conducted before cultivation and fertilizer application.
Groundnut production at the mercy of scarce certified seeds
The Presidential dream of increasing production of groundnut to
reflect the days of pyramid of the sixties may have been hampered by the
scarcity of improved seeds for the produce cum official delay from the
ministry toward take off.
Food Farm News reliably gathered that
the anticipated pace to ensure increased production through the value
chain of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) has been facing
challenges of certified seeds which are not ready available for
farmers. A source told us that scarcity of certified groundnut seeds has
put a lot of pressure on farmers who he said might end up buying grains
as seeds if checkmating measures are not put in place immediately.
Presently, the Groundnut, Processors and marketers Association of
Nigeria (GPMAN) has said it has already started giving their registered
members certified seeds from Kano Agricultural Rural Development
Programme (KNARDP) for planting but complained that government needs to
wade in so as to ameliorate this problem.
The association National
Secretary, Mr. Niyi Adebayo Ajayi who was representing the National
President, Hon. Foni said the certified seeds given to members are
bought from KNARDP saying “the varieties are Sam nut 22 and 23 as these
seeds have more oil content, high yield of 2 to 2.5 tons per hectare
with maturing date between 90-100 days” Mr. Niyi added “we shall be test
running these varieties through our farmers to see how effective it
will be in yield per hectare. This is the reflection of our promise to
government towards ensuring the realization of increased production, but
it is import that government must be disposed to our plight to achieve
the dream of Mr. President in the shortest time”. President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan had said he would like to see the old groundnut pyramid
of the North come back with increased production that will meet the
reality of the present day demands with global competiveness. The
Presidential pronouncement has necessitated the inclusion of the produce
in the value chain of ATA by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (FMARD) so as to improve positively on its production,
processing and marketing internally and externally.
Towards this end,
the ministry being led by Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has signed an MOU with
ICRISAT so as to assist in the capacity building process for farmers
towards the increased production in five pilot states of Kano, Jigawa,
Katina, Kaduna and Bauchi all in the Northern Nigeria. Athough
, Food Farm News
has learnt that the signed MOU is yet to commence in these states due
to lack of fund with emphasis that the programmes will soon start as
ICRISAT is ready for the take off. Report has shown that the global
market demand for groundnut oil is on the increase with Nigeria’s
improved production having a better chance of positively affecting
farmers’ poverty through more economic earnings and job creation.
Federal Government engages German International Cooperation to train farmers
The Federal Government through her main agriculture ministry and
Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) has engaged the services of German
International Cooperation (Giz) in the skill enhancement of farmers in
five crops of the value chain of Agricultural Transformation Agenda of
the Mr. President. This engagement of Giz by government must have been
hinged on the positive impact of its Farmer Business School (FBS) on
cocoa producers across five states of the country where more than 22,000
benefitted in the effective management and technical practices of the
produce towards more economic empowerment. Mr. Ayo Akinola, the Giz
country technical advisor said this business relationship is imbedded on
the repositioning of the sector into right business perspective thereby
moving away from the perceived developmental project to global business
practice where technical skill and management training will boost
farmers’ production with mind set of processing and marketing. The
minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has
always believed in the development of the sector with the private
sector at the driver’s seat while government officials should
concentrate on policy formulation. Many sample opinions at the national
stock-taking workshop organized in Akure, Ondo state believed the
Federal Government’s engagement of the Giz FBS in farming skill and
management impartation to farmers across five crops will have great
positive multiplier effects on the poverty alleviation in the rural
areas. They argued the experience of the FBS in Abia, Cross River, Edo,
Ondo and Osun states showed that “more than 22,000 cocoa producers with
35% women have received FSB training since July 2010 till date and it
has significantly reflected on the management of cocoa farms and
technical practices of farmers with low wastages, and less expenses on
agro chemicals. The five crops being targeted for skill transfer by both
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and NIRSAL
of the CBN are cotton, rice, soya bean, cocoa and tomato.
Speaking on
the occasion, the NIRSAL representative, Mr. Musa Buba emphasized the
commitment of its management to helping farmers pay back 40-50% of the
loan interest adding the intervention is to ensure repayment and to
build confidence on the commercial banks towards lending into
agricultural businesses as the skill of farmers are also enhance to
reduce cost occasioned by lack of technical practices. Groundnut
production at the mercy of scarce certified seeds The Presidential dream
of increasing production of groundnut to reflect the days of pyramid of
the sixties may have been hampered by the scarcity of improved seeds
for the produce cum official delay from the ministry toward take off.
Food Farm News
reliably gathered that the anticipated pace to ensure increased
production through the value chain of Agricultural Transformation Agenda
(ATA) has been facing challenges of certified seeds which are not
ready available for farmers. A source told us that scarcity of certified
groundnut seeds has put a lot of pressure on farmers who he said might
end up buying grains as seeds if checkmating measures are not put in
place immediately. Presently, the Groundnut, Processors and marketers
Association of Nigeria (GPMAN) has said it has already started giving
their registered members certified seeds from Kano Agricultural Rural
Development Programme (KNARDP) for planting but complained that
government needs to wade in so as to ameliorate this problem. The
association National Secretary, Mr. Niyi Adebayo Ajayi who was
representing the National President, Hon. Foni said the certified seeds
given to members are bought from KNARDP saying “the varieties are Sam
nut 22 and 23 as these seeds have more oil content, high yield of 2 to
2.5 tons per hectare with maturing date between 90-100 days” Mr. Niyi
added “we shall be test running these varieties through our farmers to
see how effective it will be in yield per hectare. This is the
reflection of our promise to government towards ensuring the realization
of increased production, but it is import that government must be
disposed to our plight to achieve the dream of Mr. President in the
shortest time”. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had said he would like
to see the old groundnut pyramid of the North come back with increased
production that will meet the reality of the present day demands with
global competiveness. The Presidential pronouncement has necessitated
the inclusion of the produce in the value chain of ATA by the Federal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) so as to improve
positively on its production, processing and marketing internally and
externally.
Towards this end, the ministry being led by Dr. Akinwunmi
Adesina has signed an MOU with ICRISAT so as to assist in the capacity
building process for farmers towards the increased production in five
pilot states of Kano, Jigawa, Katina, Kaduna and Bauchi all in the
Northern Nigeria. Athough
, Food Farm News has learnt that the
signed MOU is yet to commence in these states due to lack of fund with
emphasis that the programmes will soon start as ICRISAT is ready for the
take off. Report has shown that the global market demand for groundnut
oil is on the increase with Nigeria’s improved production having a
better chance of positively affecting farmers’ poverty through more
economic earnings and job creation. Federal Government engages German
International Cooperation to train farmers The Federal Government
through her main agriculture ministry and Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN)
has engaged the services of German International Cooperation (Giz) in
the skill enhancement of farmers in five crops of the value chain of
Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Mr. President. This engagement
of Giz by government must have been hinged on the positive impact of
its Farmer Business School (FBS) on cocoa producers across five states
of the country where more than 22,000 benefitted in the effective
management and technical practices of the produce towards more economic
empowerment. Mr. Ayo Akinola, the Giz country technical advisor said
this business relationship is imbedded on the repositioning of the
sector into right business perspective thereby moving away from the
perceived developmental project to global business practice where
technical skill and management training will boost farmers’ production
with mind set of processing and marketing. The minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has always believed in the
development of the sector with the private sector at the driver’s seat
while government officials should concentrate on policy formulation.
Many sample opinions at the national stock-taking workshop organized in
Akure, Ondo state believed the Federal Government’s engagement of the
Giz FBS in farming skill and management impartation to farmers across
five crops will have great positive multiplier effects on the poverty
alleviation in the rural areas.
They argued the experience of the FBS in
Abia, Cross River, Edo, Ondo and Osun states showed that “more than
22,000 cocoa producers with 35% women have received FSB training since
July 2010 till date and it has significantly reflected on the
management of cocoa farms and technical practices of farmers with low
wastages, and less expenses on agro chemicals. The five crops being
targeted for skill transfer by both the Federal Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development, and NIRSAL of the CBN are cotton, rice, soya
bean, cocoa and tomato. Speaking on the occasion, the NIRSAL
representative, Mr. Musa Buba emphasized the commitment of its
management to helping farmers pay back 40-50% of the loan interest
adding the intervention is to ensure repayment and to build confidence
on the commercial banks towards lending into agricultural businesses as
the skill of farmers are also enhance to reduce cost occasioned by lack
of technical practices.
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