We will restore farmers’ dignity as private organization says AFAN President.

As the first elective president of AFAN in the face of repositioning of the association, how would you describe what you met on ground?
Well if you look at the history of AFAN, it has been very difficult for the farmers in this country and leadership of the association to emerge. There had been ad hoc arrangement for the leadership apart from the first person that led AFAN. When he sought for political post, he left the position to some people who also were not really elected.

They also had to leave as we came in as care takers. We were mandated to arrange an election, amend the constitution and arrange to have a General Assembly of Farmers (GAF) where all these would have to be ratified in six months. But because of inherent problem in the association, we are not able to do all these things until after 4-5years. But today, I am happy to say that the first election has  taken place, and we have organized three GAF and all election from the ward levels to national level have been conducted and the people now are duly elected people as they are now mandated by farmers themselves to rule them. Now we are straightening roughening feathers as a lot of things have happened as many people have been offended. We now want people to sheath their sword so as to allow us do meaningful things for farmers who are looking up to us for something reasonable.

It is barely three months we are inaugurated, and all we have been doing is to sensitize our people to come to the reality that Nigeria has got nothing better than Agriculture for the development of her economy and that where we are today. I don’t want to apportion blame to anybody as we are all responsible for whatever has happened in the past. I have always been saying in different functions that Agriculture or farming is beyond gender, religious and race, it has no border like looking at you as Christian, Muslim or pagan farmers. As long as you are adding value to Agriculture, we as association will respect you and recognized you.

What would be your action plan in your tenure?
In the five years we are going to lead the farmers, the cardinal point is to restore that dignity of farmers as an association in the development of agriculture in Nigeria. I have said in several fora that in the 60s and 70s when I was still going to school, there was no oil, and everything that i got like free education, meals in school and scholarship were all from Agriculture. Where are we today? We are left with virtually nothing. We want to wake people up to go back to Agriculture and we can only do this when everybody contributes their widow’s might towards it and it is not my agenda alone, it is Nigerians agenda to get Agriculture back to its dignity.

The conflict in the North East, how is it affecting farmers especially AFAN members?
In the same way that is affecting all facets of the society, if you do not have security, there will be no stability of economy, the farmers need money to farm the parcel of land and they also want their produce to be bought by people as all this can only be possible in peaceful environment and atmosphere which is not present in the North East for now as farmers are suffering like every other persons because we do not want to say farmers are more suffering with youths restiveness due to lack of job. They are afraid to go to farm for the fear of being attacked. So in the North East, we have a sorry state of affairs in every facet of the economy and Agriculture mostly.

How would you access the capacity of your association to a point of effectively performing its role as farmers’ association in the development of Agriculture in the country and for your members?
Fine, I look at farming as an enterprise and we have to do that as farmers in order to develop ourselves from small holders and this requires that we create an enabling environment for the farmers to know what they are doing is good enough for other people to be interested. AFAN has membership of about 60 million in Nigeria. If everybody of this number contributes one hundred naira to be a member of the association, this will mean 100 multiply by 60 million, and which is a lot of money. So if we get our farmers to have interest in this by sensitizing them to know what we are doing for their benefit.

 We will be able to stand on our own and this will make Government to have interest in us therefore if there is anything to be given to farmers, they will see us as a credible channel to farmers, and this why our credibility as an NGO is very crucial for now as we have to be completely dispassionate about everything by drawing a line being an NGO and Government in order to be able to get out of the cob web otherwise it may become impossible. First, we will sensitize the people to appreciate the fact that we choose to be farmers as our own business, and there is no law that says we must be members but rather a choice on our own personal accord. Why we are here is to give good leadership which is what we are already doing as we are here today for a meeting. We are already working to make people come forward as we will give everyone an identity card and a copy of the constitution in the language they understand better as we have constitution in four languages already. We have in English that is already translated to Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo which will be given to farmers at a price. Hitherto you know we used to charge every farmers about N2,000 to get registered and have an Identity card, this concept will be changed to five years and they will only pay for another in case of loses as farmers’   registration will be like about N800 inclusive of the identity card. We are already collating the names of all farmers in the states.

I believe a typical state like Katsina where I come from should have about 1 million farmers that will pay N800, can you tell me how much that amount will be when about N200 is made from the total amount by AFAN as profit on top of the identity card and the constitution, and the constitution is only given once for life except where there are amendment and it is the amendment copy that will be made and given out to members. So we have many things in place to put AFAN on a very strong footing as we do not need anybody for support if we work and put our act together. We do not need government to give us anything. Today, we are going to get approval from our joint committee to constitute six directorates and we are going to employ a Director –General that will work together with the National officers of the association. Today I will introduce my Personal Assistant (P.A), he is somebody I have worked with when I was the National President of the Poultry of Nigeria and he has ability of making minutes and resolutions of every meetings of AFAN available as fast as possible.
 
How do you intend to impact on government policy?
I will look at AFAN as an enterprise like doing comparative crop production. Let us look at where I do yellow corn which I have to look for the inputs without relying on anybody. So I want farmers to look at farming as business they have to do by themselves, but if government facilitates the acquisition of inputs, we will welcome it but basically AFAN should be able to initiate the source of good fertilizer and seeds. This is where our directorate will be the think tank of the association as they will determine what will happen to the NPK somebody brings from China which may not be good for our land due to soil test conduct. Do you think I will accept a seed that is not good by certification? Mind you most of these seeds government has got for farmers are coming from contractors, and some of them may not be as honest as they are expected. Somebody who has to supply about 7,000 tons of improved seeds may buy grains cheaper and package it as seed for farmers.

We must have an in-house group that will determine whether the quality of the seeds and fertilizers are good or not. By the time we are able to harness all these potentials I have mentioned to you, we will have a large chunk of money to even buy fertilizer from the open market for the farmers at a competitive price which the farmers will pay for. After all, is government giving us free? It is subsidized and with the subsidy, who is subsidizing who? Are we getting the impact? Is Nigerians getting the impact of the subsidy? We are not really anxious about government subsidy. If I make bread because I have bakery, do I really need somebody to give me flour or sugar. No, it is my business enterprise, and I should be able to seek flour and sugar in a market to add value to the flour and at the same time employ people at a pay. By doing this, I am already contributing my quota to the gross domestic growth of the nation. Or is it because is Agriculture that we will now rely on somebody to buy fertilizer for us as farmers.

To how many farmers can you really do this? I have just told you we have about 60 million farmers and how much fertilizer would one buy that will be able to go round everyone in Nigeria to become a commercial farmer. Or are you looking at what is happening in the GES where 2 bags of fertilizers are given to farmers with 12.5kg of improved seeds, to what extend can this take us from where we are? Certainly it cannot take us anywhere as no farmer will produce more than his requirement with only two bags of fertilizer and 12.5kg seeds. If you take this and rely on it, you will be a subsistence farmer forever.

Now where and where have you done this GESS? Somebody told me it has been done in Afghanistan, and my question is how does it work there?  Has it not failed? Probably they also did it in Somalia or Malaysia. Is Malayi’s own really functional? In America, do they do this? Is America not a food basket of the world? How many commercial farmers are there in the USA? What is the percentage? It is about 2%. In about 150 years ago, about 70% of the population in America is farmers, but today it is left in the hands of few people who can do it commercially and they are having enough.

Say something about 200 commercial agricultural loan of the CBN?
I benefitted from it. It is Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) commercial Agricultural loan. At inception in 2009, there were two banks participating which are UBA and First Bank. I was the only farmer, who represents farmers in the meeting with the CBN as Soludo could not attend but he was represented by his Deputy, Tunde Lemo and the present Emir of Kano together with Elumelu who was then the Managing Director of UBA and a director of development finance of the CBN. Also one Babadi, a director of Agric in the FMARD was there.

The concept is that farmer will get the loan if he has asset worth one billion naira and as a farmer in the meeting; I told them it will not be possible for any farmer to get an asset of 1 billion. I told them that even President Obasanjo at that time being looked upon as the biggest farmers may not be able to meet up after he might have sold all his chicken in Ota farms .On the strength of the argument with the support of the present Emir of Kano, we all agreed that the collateral should be brought to 200 million. It was accepted and based on that a quite numbers of people were able to benefit but the present insurgency in the North East has affected the performance of this scheme.

What is your position about Bio safety bill?
We need the bill for the purpose of food security and the bio safety bill is what is making people not to come out to say this is our products. We are working with NAFDAC and other stakeholders to ensure the passage of the bill. What is bio safety bill? It is genetic engineering that allows that one can take a gene from a crop and marry it to another like potato so as to give an enhanced viability of the potato for high yield and resistance tolerance.

What is your assessment of GES?
Before now the fertilizer distribution is politicized and farmers do not really get the product but today under the GES at least the two bags get to the intended targets and that is an achievement but what I am saying for our economy to grow with supported Agriculture is that government must do more. The seeds of 12.5kg is okay for small holders’ farmers but to be able to impact on the macro economy of the nation, it is a tall order to the extend I can say. The distributions of the seeds only go to the select few. The ATA of the current government is working, at least waking people up as you here now asking me about Agriculture. If you will remember, we met at the bio technology meeting, and you are here now talking to me about adding value to agriculture. The vehicle we are using is the current ATA but again the implementation is the problem as the idea is good. I cannot begin to tell you what percentage the farmers are benefitting in the ATA because it is so enormous and it is something you did not have all.

What is your take on the government claim of 20 million metric tons of food increase in the recent time?
What farmers are telling me is that their productivity has not increased. They are left with whatever they are able to produce because there no buyers as demand are low based on inability to purchase and that should not be mis construed as availability of the product. If you go out there and see bread loaves been displayed and you cannot buy it, then the bread will be there forever. The chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) from Jigawa state called me the other day and told me he has 1,076 farmers rice farmers but stated there was a great loss due to the price being offered per ton of rice paddy thereby making the paddy becoming unsold. So let us determine availability and ability to buy before we can accept whatever figure of increased production.

Is our economy working in such a way that everybody in Nigeria is able to buy to their satisfaction. Or instead of buying a full bag of rice, they ended up buying a modu because of lack of disposable income. So do we call this a success or failure, so if anybody comes out to say they have added 18 million or 20 million metric tons to food increase, I think it is not empirical as the question is,  what is the bases of the statistics is using and the bench mark?. Is he talking to us, and are we able to give him some ideas so as to be able to translate it or is he sitting down and sending forecast. You have to talk to all of us the farmers and by doing this you will know what the farmers are saying.

USAID SHARE targets 42,000 house holders in Nigeria says Agric team leader.

The Agric team leader, Mr. Samuel Ameh has said the USAID SHARE is meant to empower about 42,000 householders at the three states of the federation adding there are four components of it comprising Agriculture, income generation, nutrition and hygiene, and cash transfer which is meant to positively impacted in the creation of jobs and economic empowerment of the farmers and the poorest of the poor in about 187 villages in three states of the Federation. He spoke with Food Farm News at Sokoto, read his excerpts below

 Can you introduce yourself sir?
My name is Samuel Abu Ameh, am the Agric team leader, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) SHARE Project. By SHAARE we mean Strengthening Household for Accelerated Revenue Earning which is five years programme being supported by USAID for the purpose of increasing farmers’ production, productivity income and improve their nutrition. It is targeted at 42,000 households in about three states which include Sokoto, Kebbi and FCT. In FCT, we are working in Bwari area council of four communities of about fifty villages. In Sokoto, we are working in 20 communities of 4 local governments.

The 20 communities in Sokoto is about 127 villages. In Kebbi we will start rolling out by October in 8 communities of nothing less than 40 villages. The programme is divided into four components. We have the agricultural component, the income generation component, the nutrition and hygiene component, and finally the cash transfer component. The agricultural component is meant to increase production and productivity of those the programme will be working with, as they would have got their farms already and their livelihood is on agriculture.

 The income generation component is meant for people within the rural communities who are farmers, but they also have period they will not be in the farm due to other menial assignment like buying and selling of agro inputs or other commodities. Our programme is intended to teach these people the modern ways of improving on their business. The unemployed within them will be linked up with small scale entrepreneur within the village for the purpose of properly being mentored in a particular trade very well as apprentice thereby following how is used to be in the past when a person will be an apprentice who will be given some money to start his or her business when graduating better improvement in the business. We are also linking them up with industrial companies to still also teach them the value chain involvement in their production like fertilizer companies, agro chemical companies in the villages. We will also teach the rural communities people basic hygiene of hand washing. You know farmers do not really count hygiene very important as part of living but when we teach them this, we believe it will become part of them and it will also be transfer to ways of post handing of the harvest for the purpose of getting higher premium. This will also enhance their health and capacity to produce more.

Somehow many farmers do not know how to mix these produce together for higher nutrition as food. This we will teach them how to combine all these together so as to enhance their nutrition and health. In case of cash transfer, there are people in the community who are very poor i.e poorest among the poor who   do not have anything as they depend on the communities to sustain themselves. What this programme is trying to do is that the communities will choose, pick and identify these categories of people by themselves which will be 50% of the 42,000. We will start with them for the first six months giving them about N5,000 as local government will match the grant with N1,500 and this will be like monthly salary. Meanwhile in the process, they will be taught how to do business and in the process after twelve months, the remaining six months salaries or allowance or stipend will be joined together for the apprentice to start a business and that is how is going to be done.

In agriculture, we are teaching them the best practice in the profession, we are introducing new high tolerant and productive seeds and we will establish demonstration farms where they will be shown how crops will be planted with best agronomy practice and we will compare it with their own traditional ways of practicing farming to know which one is the best. We have already trained 56 extension agents. The Government extension agents cannot reach everywhere as these supplementary ones will be made to go to where government agents cannot reach in the extreme rural areas. Now these agents are indigenous agents and resident in these communities. Part of what will happen is that people will be seen as paying for extension services to enhance farming and creating job for the youths in this value chain of modern technology transfer as they will be mentor by government extension agents at the end of the day, agro inputs dealers will also link up with them and become very useful to them and there will be lot of activities linking the communities with one another. In the process, when the project expires, the beneficiaries will become private extension agents that farmers will be consulting for farming technology transfer at a pay. Doing this is will mean creation of job and employment in several ways.

What is the modality for the selection of just three states?
This is a pilot project and we are starting with those states that are facing serious agro ecological problem like weather condition and agrological problem etc. now we are starting with Sokoto, Kebbi and FCT. FCT is actually in the Guinea Savannah, while Sokoto and Kebbi are in the Sahel where climatic condition is not too tolerable for agriculture. But if this project is successful, it will be scaled up to other states because every state has its own climatic challenges.

Who are the funders of this project?
This project is funded by USAID with Catholic Relief services (CRS) which is a consortium as there are other organizations called SSFL, Mercy Corps and Making sent. These four organizations are working together to manage the project but the major and lead organization is the Catholic Relief Service. Now this project is not working directly on its own, but it is working through the local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) while we also collaborate with major agencies like the Ministries of Agriculture, the ADPs and local government so that when we leave it will become sustainable. Now the most important things is that we are also working with the Federation of the Women Association of Nigeria. They are faith based Organization and other NGOs we are working with are CHAIN, REWARD, JDPC and Diamond Development Initiatives.

We are sensitizing on quality says ginger farmers.

The Acting Secretary General of the National Ginger Association of Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Biliyok has said effort is on going in the awareness creation of how best to post handle the crop in terms of value addition for more market price competitiveness thereby commending the effort of the Government by its inclusion in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). He spoke in Kano at a training organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for his members for processing and marketing. Read his excerpts below. 
 
Can you introduce yourself sir?
 My name is lucas Biliyok, the Acting General Secretary, National Ginger association of Nigeria.
How long has this association being in existence?
It started 2006 when it was inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Since then, it has been in existence.

Where are the state you have members?
It is a National Association just as the name connotes. We are present all over the states of the country but presently we are majorly in the fifteen states including Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abia etc and all with chairmen.

What are the challenges in ginger production?
First, in terms of production, the method of farming which has been primitive with manual labour is what many farmers are still using which is not helpful with the modern day reality of Agriculture in a commercial way. What the farmers need is the modern day equipment that will enhance more production. In the area of processing, drying of ginger is always a challenge as farmers always use the local method of spreading on the road which is associated with sand and dust thereby lowering the price standard in the market both locally and international.

 The quality always short changed farmers, but recently the Association has started sensitizing the members on how to dry their ginger so as to enhance its quality for better market through the help of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

USAID SHARE targets 42,000 house holders in Nigeria says Agric team leader.

The Agric team leader, Mr. Samuel Ameh has said the USAID SHARE is meant to empower about 42,000 householders at the three states of the federation adding there are four components of it comprising Agriculture, income generation, nutrition and hygiene, and cash transfer which is meant to positively impacted in the creation of jobs and economic empowerment of the farmers and the poorest of the poor in about 187 villages in three states of the Federation. He spoke with Food Farm News at Sokoto, read his excerpts below

 Can you introduce yourself sir?
My name is Samuel Abu Ameh, am the Agric team leader, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) SHARE Project. By SHAARE we mean Strengthening Household for Accelerated Revenue Earning which is five years programme being supported by USAID for the purpose of increasing farmers’ production, productivity income and improve their nutrition. It is targeted at 42,000 households in about three states which include Sokoto, Kebbi and FCT. In FCT, we are working in Bwari area council of four communities of about fifty villages. In Sokoto, we are working in 20 communities of 4 local governments. The 20 communities in Sokoto is about 127 villages.

In Kebbi we will start rolling out by October in 8 communities of nothing less than 40 villages. The programme is divided into four components. We have the agricultural component, the income generation component, the nutrition and hygiene component, and finally the cash transfer component. The agricultural component is meant to increase production and productivity of those the programme will be working with, as they would have got their farms already and their livelihood is on agriculture. The income generation component is meant for people within the rural communities who are farmers, but they also have period they will not be in the farm due to other menial assignment like buying and selling of agro inputs or other commodities. Our programme is intended to teach these people the modern ways of improving on their business. The unemployed within them will be linked up with small scale entrepreneur within the village for the purpose of properly being mentored in a particular trade very well as apprentice thereby following how is used to be in the past when a person will be an apprentice who will be given some money to start his or her business when graduating better improvement in the business.

We are also linking them up with industrial companies to still also teach them the value chain involvement in their production like fertilizer companies, agro chemical companies in the villages. We will also teach the rural communities people basic hygiene of hand washing. You know farmers do not really count hygiene very important as part of living but when we teach them this, we believe it will become part of them and it will also be transfer to ways of post handing of the harvest for the purpose of getting higher premium. This will also enhance their health and capacity to produce more. Somehow many farmers do not know how to mix these produce together for higher nutrition as food. This we will teach them how to combine all these together so as to enhance their nutrition and health.

 In case of cash transfer, there are people in the community who are very poor i.e poorest among the poor who   do not have anything as they depend on the communities to sustain themselves. What this programme is trying to do is that the communities will choose, pick and identify these categories of people by themselves which will be 50% of the 42,000. We will start with them for the first six months giving them about N5,000 as local government will match the grant with N1,500 and this will be like monthly salary. Meanwhile in the process, they will be taught how to do business and in the process after twelve months, the remaining six months salaries or allowance or stipend will be joined together for the apprentice to start a business and that is how is going to be done. In agriculture, we are teaching them the best practice in the profession, we are introducing new high tolerant and productive seeds and we will establish demonstration farms where they will be shown how crops will be planted with best agronomy practice and we will compare it with their own traditional ways of practicing farming to know which one is the best.

We have already trained 56 extension agents. The Government extension agents cannot reach everywhere as these supplementary ones will be made to go to where government agents cannot reach in the extreme rural areas. Now these agents are indigenous agents and resident in these communities. Part of what will happen is that people will be seen as paying for extension services to enhance farming and creating job for the youths in this value chain of modern technology transfer as they will be mentor by government extension agents at the end of the day, agro inputs dealers will also link up with them and become very useful to them and there will be lot of activities linking the communities with one another. In the process, when the project expires, the beneficiaries will become private extension agents that farmers will be consulting for farming technology transfer at a pay. Doing this is will mean creation of job and employment in several ways.

What is the modality for the selection of just three states?
This is a pilot project and we are starting with those states that are facing serious agro ecological problem like weather condition and agrological problem etc. now we are starting with Sokoto, Kebbi and FCT. FCT is actually in the Guinea Savannah, while Sokoto and Kebbi are in the Sahel where climatic condition is not too tolerable for agriculture. But if this project is successful, it will be scaled up to other states because every state has its own climatic challenges.

Who are the funders of this project?
This project is funded by USAID with Catholic Relief services (CRS) which is a consortium as there are other organizations called SSFL, Mercy Corps and Making sent. These four organizations are working together to manage the project but the major and lead organization is the Catholic Relief Service. Now this project is not working directly on its own, but it is working through the local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) while we also collaborate with major agencies like the Ministries of Agriculture, the ADPs and local government so that when we leave it will become sustainable. Now the most important things is that we are also working with the Federation of the Women Association of Nigeria. They are faith based Organization and other NGOs we are working with are CHAIN, REWARD, JDPC and Diamond Development Initiatives.

Reflection: School Agric business is not a new thing

Commend, commend, commend as if life is all about commendation even when you know things are not going the way they supposed to go. On 20^th October, 2014, the Federal Government through the office of Senior Special Adviser to the President, Hajia Baraka Sani dragged Mr. President out of his tight schedule to the launching of Agriculture business club in secondary schools, a programme that have being with us for years without any impact. The fact is that the launching does not deserve much glamourous ceremony it attracted as these clubs did not go beyond the school level as many of the members do not really take up farming profession as expected. 

For once let us be frown with ourselves, rather than concentrating on building institution and more workable infrastructure that will make Agriculture more attractive as a sustainable career, we prefer engaging in laughable thing in the name of encouraging Agriculture among the younger ones in Nigeria secondary schools where majority have not really understood what future portend in the face of government policy and unfriendly economic environment that is making life difficult for young entrepreneurs and private sector generally. 

As I sincerely commend the effort of this present administration for at least trying to reposition the face of agriculture towards making every value chains of the sector as business with proactive Minister who recently gave a directive to National Agricultural Seeds Council for the training and engagement of youth corps in the improved seeds monitoring and certification, I must also quickly point that  the tempo must be vigorously pursued without unnecessary mellow dramatic of farming school clubs as we are aware many of the university graduates of Agriculture are stranded at home doing nothing based on decayed system of public sector doing the business by themselves rather than encouraging friendly sustainable policies. 

I was just coming out from a meeting organized by the National Council of Local Government Department of Agriculture (NACOLGDA) where high level of disconnect between the three tiers of government have really hinder the development and empowerment of our youths that reside in rural communities who may have likely taken more interest in agriculture if it had been well supported at that level. Let no one be deceived, Agriculture is meant for focused and serious minded people who are not passionate about luxury of life as you must be patient, persevere, resilient and pragmatic and be ready to endure especially in an environment like ours that is battling with unfriendly business policy occasioned by government inconsistency with many unfulfilled promises that have paralyzed many farmers. 

Majority people that are children of farmers in the past have left the villages where agriculture is being practiced for greener pasture of white collar jobs. As much as i agree with farmers’ school club as a way of encouraging youth into farming, also I want to sound that Nigeria do not need the whole lot population in the sector as we always clamour based on the small fractional people doing Agriculture in advance country where the system works effectively for development with mechanization farming. 

Majority of my school mates whose fathers were seasoned farmers today have left farming for other things as it is easier said than done  just as people who always say there is money in Agriculture. Even people that commonly say it in public functions would not allow their children to become one because of what it takes. Sirs our problem is not farmers’ club in the secondary schools because it has been part of us for years and till date, as many research Institutes have some of these schools as centres for rural farmers’ training and transferring of improved technologies to their parents, but yet many of them did not take to farming as a result of the long neglect to the sector’ development. We do not need to persuade anybody to do farming if there are right workings institutions that motivate and encourage one, like government buying back from farmers so as to allow them to immediately go back to cultivation.  After all nobody encourages anybody to play professional football but the gain is the driving force and our youths are day by day going for it and any other show business stuff like music and drama acting. My advice is that government should concentrate on building efficient structures that will lift the face of present level of agricultural development than making old practice new in the name of promoting farmers’ club in the secondary schools when many university graduates are there roaming about the streets .

 It is much unheard that the funding going into research has even gone below figure between 2010 and now. If you are not investing in research for the future, what would these children fall back to even when they finally choose to do farming? I want to believe there are other several better things to do in the development of Agriculture especially in the area of rural road infrastructure to open up farm lands for easy evacuation of produce to avoid wastages after production than show of drama in the name of farming club in the city centre schools, and not even the villages where there could be much catchment due to availability of land and what have you.

RMRDC appoints an agriculturist as pioneer director for information and Communication department

In its repositioning strategy, the management of Raw Material Research Development (RMRDC) under the leadership of the Director General (DG) Dr. H. D Ibrahim has appointed Alhaji Usman Argungu Hassan as the first director of information and communication department which includes “Computer services division, publishing and documentation division, library division, and statistics and data management division”

The new director, Alhaji Usman Argungu is an agriculturalist with specialty on crop production, soil fertility and management, irrigation agronomy, extension services, plant breeding and seed science technology as his experience in agricultural business consultancy and professional advices to organizations and government are what will be brought to bare in this new assignment of image laundering of the council with making accurate data available just as well organized library service delivery. 

At the national level, Alhaji Usman Argungu had held various leadership positions like secretary to the implementation committee of the presidential task force on alternative formulations of livestock feeds in Nigeria, chairman, science sub-committee of the Inter-ministerial committee for the development of sheanut in Nigeria, and Secretary General of oil seed Association of Nigeria, Presidential committee on the development of vegetable oils sector of the country.

Others are scientific committee of the Nigeria-Niger border joint commission for cooperation and trans-border resources development committee, professional member of the Institute of professional Industrialist and Management development (IPIMD)

Lesser farmers register for dry season maize as stakeholders demand GES review

The registration of maize farmers for the dry season cultivation for 2014 has been described very low against the expected numbers the Federal government has prepared to support with three bags of fertilizer with micro nutrient and 20kg bag of improved seed just as stakeholders have demanded for the immediate review of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) saying some of the challenges confronting the programme must be tackled for the purpose of beneficiaries against year 2015. 

These two observations were among the issues raised during the last meeting of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) just as they commend the ingenuity of the Minister to farmers’ development especially with introduction of Ges pointing that the purpose might be defeated if some of the shortcomings in the implementation are not addressed with immediate effect.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through its maize desk officer, Mr. Unamma Chyka Victor lamented on the turnout of farmers for the Mr. President dry season maize cultivation support provision saying the ministry was only able to register about 39,066 farmers as against the expected figure of 400,000 adding only twenty five states with less than 2000 farmers were able to register while Oyo state could not submit any name despite all his efforts to get across to all the states’ chairmen.

While Mr. Unamma Victor advised MAAN to reject any bad seeds whenever they are brought to them however pointed that dry season maize planting is scheduled to commence by December as government would give three bags of fertilizer with micro nutrient and 20Kg improved seeds to farmers for the purpose of increased yield for market purposes.

He added maize is now a profitable crop as the demand for it is increasing day by day stating the country is expected to supply the ECOWAS about two silos full capacity of maize’ produce which he believed the full participation of farmers would have ensured favourably.

The challenges identified by MAAN and other stakeholders from Seed Companies Association of Nigeria included payment delay to agro inputs companies as commercial banks’ interest is said to be taking larger part of the payment with poor certified seeds occasioned by mishandling after certification which may have occurred as result of long and far distance given to agro dealers for delivery as against the initial agreement of supplying to the closer ecological zones.

Although the stakeholders commended the sincerity of Dr. Adesina but observed that the implementation process of the Ges must be immediately reviewed for the benefit of farmers who are given adulterated seed and delay in payment of the seed companies.

Report from  Ogun and Delta revealed the issue of bad seed supplied to the two states as the minister has ordered for the immediate deletion of the affected companies from the GES programme with effort on going to take them for prosecution just as alteration of original GES  list  was reported by Delta state MAAN representative. Deleted companies according to findings are Spring Field Agro, Vitae and Okon global.

The President of the Seed Companies Association of Nigeria Mr. Richard Olufare faulted the seed policy of the country saying the best the agricultural transformation agenda would have done is to ensure awareness adoption of improved seeds thereby allowing choice of certified seeds’ patronage to farmers stressing that no seed companies have been able to break even since the inception of GES. 

Mr Richard Olufare added that the increasing number of certified seed producers cannot be an antidote for adulteration but rather suggested having an efficient and very functional national seed policy for effective implementation of GES stressed delay in payment has hindered the business progress of many of its members as no seed company has been able to break even in term of business since the inception of the programme.

He added that “ATA was to increase the low adoption rate of improved seeds by farmers which supposes to end by 2015 and left farmers to make choice of their seeds through company of their choice. The seeds policy is not right, the increase to 800 companies is rubbish, and the process must be regulated and reviewed for national food security”

In his comment, the National President of MAAN, Pastor Tunji Adenola the convener of the meeting advised his members to be more proactive to productivity while he also corroborated Mr. Olufare’s opinion on the need for prompt payment after service delivery of inputs providers so as to avoid commercial banks embarrassment thereby calling for the immediate review of the GES for more effectiveness to the beneficiaries as the implementation is becoming very much faulty which the minster might not know.

Pastor Adenola pointed that the long distance journey embark upon by the agro dealers when a seed must have been given in a certified condition may have contributed to the challenges of bad seeds in the GES programme adding the long distance delivery of certified seeds to different ecologies has deviated from the initial agreement just as he pointed that directive to delivery destinations from Abuja is not always timely as seeds may have stayed longer in an unconducive environment. 

It will be recalled last year at the National Assembly hearing that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina said that “GES will improve marketing of subsidized inputs to farmers, empower smallholders’ farmers by giving them a choice in the purchase of input through agro dealers of their choice without relying on government. It improves transparency and accountability in the use of government subsidy. It is easier to track and support the development of the private sector market for seeds and fertilizer in the country”

NCRI using its mandate to checkmate rice and other foods import

The role of National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) cannot be under estimated in the current winning battle over food importation by the Federal Government through commercial production with improved research technologies for agricultural produce for local consumption and export market especially in rice where an estimation of one billion naira is spent daily before now.

 

The present administration of Mr. President is not in any way pretentious of checkmating excessive naira expended on food importation thereby using value chain approach to enhance commercial agricultural produce through mass transfer  of unused research innovations to enhance production, processing and value addition towards ensuring food security with global standard in terms of practice for better market.

 At the public hearing organized by the Senior Special Adviser to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina in his score card had rated the performance of the sector very high with attraction of over 500billion naira through Agricultural Transformation Agenda with rice generating 270 billion naira, soy bean attracting 13 billion, sorghum 5 billion, cassava 94 billion etc.

 The NCRI Acting Executive Director, Dr. Lawrence Talabi Ogunremi told Food Farm News at the recently concluded National Agric Show held in Nasarawa that his Institute has positively contributed to the 21 million metric tons food  increased production achievement of the FG through its mandate crops on rice particularly, soybean, Achia, sugarcane and castor through supply of improved varieties of seeds into Growth Enhancement Support (GES) thereby making both dry and raining seasons farming possible in the last two years especially in the rice production where about 62 improved varieties suitable to all ecological zones of the country are released to achieve the past shortfall of 2.5 million metric tons of rice.

Dr. Ogunremi added that many extension research services transfer have been conducted in many parts of the country with example of the recently carried out exercise at Kogi state where farmers are made to know that rice can be grown in every area saying “We are passionate about competitive research and the Institute has done a lot in the area of improved seeds production as most of the seed varieties going into GES are from the Institute. We have released about 62 varieties of rice seeds that are very adaptable to all ecologies in the country. A month ago, we are at Okene, Kogi state, where our extension training exercise was able to convinced farmers in the area that rice can grow in upland areas as they did not know before now. What we have done is our normal transfer of research technologies to farmers”

Looking at the vision and mission of the Institute, one will not be left in doubt that NCRI’s contribution to the sector’s development through generation and dissemination of improved technologies to achieving national self sufficiency in food and industrial material surplus for export with focal mission to ensure cost effect agricultural research with minimal negative effect on the environment is very apparent and evident with present Federal government’s claim of reduction on rice importation due to more local production and processing. 

At the Agric show Exhibition ground, NCRI was also able to convince many stakeholders of its competency towards ensuring availability of improved research technologies that will enhance mass production of rice and all other mandate crops and products of the Institute as many of them were well displayed for enquiry from prospective off takers for commercial multiplication towards creation of job and income earnings for the youths in the country. Already achievement in the area of drought tolerant varieties for sugar estate and rice farmers have been recorded as effort is on going towards checkmating rust problem in soya-bean

Some of the spotted research items conspicuously displayed by NCRI includes rice plus, Rice cheese ball, Rice noodle, Acha Dokawa, SoyGold and Soy Dawadawa, Castor varieties and Castor seed cake, and Brown sugar technology.

The Head, Extension Research Programme, Dr. Isa Kolo and Mr. Danba Nahemial, head, food technology and value addition research programme were able to shed more light on some of the products one after the other.

1.      R ice porridge: is coming from the processed rice breakages that is fortified with cowpea and  bambara groundnut for improved consumers’ nutrition, and it comes in about three packages namely Rice plus for instance and smooth porridge , Rice cheese ball for fast food of snack and Rice Noodles.

2.       Soy-Gold: is a protein concentrate from Soy bean used as beverages like chocolate and all needed technology for commercial production is available at NCRI.

3.       Soy Dawadawa is made from soy- beans fermented condiment to replace maagi cubes and other seasoning items that are mainly use to prepare vegetable and other soups. This item is high in protein and minerals to the benefit of the body.  The needed technology for the fermentation is available as it has been developed by the Institute.

4.       Brown Sugar Technology is also a plus achievement on the part of NCRI, it is a cottage level technology for communities which both the local and states government can harness to empower cooperative farmers into mass production and processing to checkmate imported sugar that have been refined from other countries.

5.      Molasses is a bye product of brown sugar, and it is in high demand by factories and companies producing animal feeds and pharmaceutical drug syrups.

With Federal Government through the Nigeria Custom Service seriously checkmating the influx of foreign processed rice into the country, there is high hope that the demand for improved technologies for standard production, processing and marketing will be on the increase which will require more funding and responsiveness of the Institute for more efficiency as pointed by Dr. Ogunremi who added that the international scientists are not in any way better than the National ones if they are both given the same facilities to work. 

The funding challenges facing Research Institutes in Nigeria does not spare NCRI despite its strategic crops mandate in the ATA  value chains of rice  as the Acting Executive Director pointed that NCRI can do more better in term of competitive research like any other international ones adding the funding and facility must be made available.

He argued that the international scientists are not better than the local ones which he preferred calling national scientists saying” in different fora , I have said there is no difference between our national scientists and international ones. I have worked in an International organization before as an international scientist, I have been telling people that those international scientists are not better that our national scientists which I do not call local scientists.

 The truth about it is that both scientists are not privileged to the same facilities to work as they all went to the same university. If they have all the experiences without materials to work, there is nothing they could do. The experience will be a waste. Another thing is that many scientists are retiring and there is challenge of replacement. It is a problem because we have written for permission for placement which in most cases is delayed thereby creating shortage of staff to replace the retired ones. There are key areas we need scientists because we cannot employ without the normal approval. Presently we are still looking for scientists in the bio technology. If the political will is there Nigeria can produce rice for local and international markets”

Local Govt Agric officials warn against animals’ extinction, demands more synergy, awards Jigawa Governor

The recently concluded National Council of Local Government Department of Agriculture (NACOLGDA) where the Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji sule Lamido was awarded the best performed Excellency in agricultural development using indices of Agricultural Transformation Agenda ( ATA) has decried the rate at which  local animals are gradually disappearing due to lack of proper management provision on the part of government just as disconnect between the three tiers of governments was attributed to high poverty level at the rural communities in the federation. 

This observation was coming on the heels of a lecture delivered by Dr. Monday Ojeamiren titled “improving standard of living of rural communities through sustainable livestock system” where  local animals and birds are said to be going into extinction due to neglect on the part of government as the present agricultural transformation agenda would have better strived through allowing rural communities to determine the crops and livestock of their choice  by the law of comparative advantage rather than generalizing inputs distribution at the select crops of the value chains just as Jigawa state governor and two others,Ogun and Sokoto have been adjudged as the best leaders that have positively affected the lives of rural farmers.

A director from Gombe pointed that the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) did not really consider the comparative crop advantage of the state which are millet, guinea corn and groundnut based on soil ecological reason before giving seeds and fertilizer inputs in rice, maize, sorghum and the rest to the farmers adding the Federal government relegation of the local government in her activities that targets rural farmers are part of the reason for rural urban migration and poverty.

Although stakeholders acknowledged the influence of the present Senior Operations Specialist of the World Bank Dr. Adetunji Oredipe in ensuring that the local government officials were carried along in the ATA registration of farmers when they realized the first exercise had failed due to officials of the local council authority non involvement adding that “the departure of Dr. Oredipo from the position of the Senior Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina had caused the disconnect between Federal government’s ATA and local government”  

However Dr. Ojeamiren decried in his lecture the shabby attitude of government to the development of enhanced management policy for the breeding of our local birds and animals like guinea fowls, dock , turkey, chicken, goat, sheep and ram for the purpose of empowerment of rural people adding in short while all these animals may become history in Nigeria if appropriate action is not taken by the three tiers of governments especially for the purpose of using them to create meaningful earning at the community levels.

The Veterinary doctor added that local chicken management has to be developed as they are not product of Genetically Modified Engineering (GMO) that required no specific climate as they are adaptable to all ecologies  based on their biological characters that is already built in them stressed the  rearing of glasscutter in the local communities will give economic empowerment especially in the face of the ban on bush meat based on dreaded Ebola disease thereby advising that government should harness all these potential for the purpose of economic development of the rural communities to checkmating youth restiveness and drift of people to urban centres where they end up living in squalors. 

He stated further that the neglect of livestock is already making the country to loss out in the billions of dollar economy in the production of animal meat as he stressed that livestock sub sector of agriculture cross border in Nigeria as animals like sheep, goat, chicken, local dogs, pigs, rabbitry can be reared in all the geo political zones with high economic gains adding that derivatives from other crops’ produce can be converted to animal feeds to reduce wastages.

Already, a meeting of the D-8 which was slated for discussion of standard animal production has been finally postponed for another indefinite time by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development after much elaborate preparation that would have attracted a position paper towards finding solutions to some of the animal and livestock production challenges.

Dr. Ojeaminren however advised the NACOLGDA to be bold to ensure good policy and law for the development of the rural areas especially in agriculture adding they should be involved in all the public hearings where issue relating to rural agricultural development is being heard so as to inject their contributions before such bills are passed saying “doing this will hasten grassroots development and agricultural transformation of rural farmers”

Meanwhile, the association has awarded Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido an award of best performed Excellency who had used the organ of ATA to develop the living standard of rural farmers according to the national President of NACOLGDA, Comrade D.G Komolafe at the 10^th annual conference and general meeting held at Abuja.

In the citation read before the presentation of the award to his Execellecy who was represented by both the permanent secretaries of the Local government and agriculture ministries, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Dr. Mohammed Idrith Danzomo who actually collected the award on behalf of the Governor said it was well deserved honour based on his achievement in the sector.

Agricultural Achievement of Governor Sule Lamido

1.      Establishment of farmers and Herdsmen Board to take care of conflict due to pressure exerted on natural reserve which is first of its kind in Nigeria.

2.      He has rehabilitated Jigawa State Agricultural Supply Company (JASCO) an input company with three retail outlets across the 27 local council of the state.

3.      Provided 375 tractors on loan to farmers association in the state.

4.      Revitalization of extension services through provision of 364 motorcycles and four wheel drive pickup vehicles for extension agents.

5.      Establishment of Agricultural research Institute in the state.

6.      Demarcation of 531 grazing reserve and development of 10 grazing reserve with improved pasture.

7.      He provide wind powered watering facilities to 80 grazing reserves

8.      He established various pastoralist committees at the state and local government levels

9.      There is sustained annual vaccination exercise for livestock in the 27 local councils.

10.  Alhaji Sule Lamido provided 1000 tube wells and pumps annually to small scale farmers throughout his 7 years in office

11.  He constructed 10 modern abattoirs and wet salting shades.

12.  Fishery facilities were provided for 500 women by his administration

13.  Training of agricultural staff is one major achievement as this will propel the development of the sector

14.  He has put distribution of fertilizer to local government at subsidized prices, a cardinal programme of his administration

15.  Re-demarcation of forest reverse, cattle routes and grazing reserves is top most in the Excellency priority.

IITA to tackle cassava weed challenge soonest says communication expert

Can you introduce yourself and give us insight into weed science project of IITA?

My name is Godwin Ansar, the communication and knowledge exchange expert with the cassava weeds management project. Cassava weeds management project is a five year project that is looking at solving the problem of weeds in cassava. As you know cassava is a major crop in Africa, and it is a source of livelihood to more than three million people in sub-Saharan Africa but unfortunately, cassava productivity in Africa is particularly being constraint by weeds, and while productivity of cassava in Asia is about 25-35 tons per hectare, in Africa we still have yield in farms as low as ten tons per hectare and one of the reason responsible for this challenge is weed, and if farmers fail to control the weeds in the first  eight weeks, he may end up not getting anything from the farm. We felt that we should develop solution that will address the issue of weeds in Africa. If you look at a crop like rice, we have specific herbicide that is always use to control weeds like in the case of rice production but there is none in cassava and that is why we are already working at having a solution with a herbicide to apply for the control of cassava weeds which is one aspect of the project. 

Another aspect of the project is how can we use best agronomy practices like space planting to actually control weeds as we are working at the possibility, and the third option is looking at possibility of integrating herbicide and agronomy planting density so that the cassava field can be weed free. The impact of weeds on cassava fields are huge as women contributes 90% of their time and labour in weeding to ensure weed free cassava farms  as they spent close to 500- 700 hours to actually ensuring free weed farms. Of course you know that using hoes and cutlass could have a lot of health impact on the back of these women as they always bend down to weed their farms. In view of all these, we are looking at being able to control weeds in order to save women from laborious exercise in the cassava field thereby making them to live healthier and happier. Also you will agree that our children were not spared in this exercise as they are always force to leave schools in order to take care of cassava fields. 

Again if we are able to control cassava weeds, children will have more time to spend in schools and the entire family will be healthier. This is just a brief about cassava weeds project. And we have three partners we are working with as regard the project; they are National Root crop Research Institute, Umudike, the University of Agriculture, Markurdi as partner and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. These are the three collaborating Institutions that we are working together with for the actualization of the project in the next five years. Our target is actually to see how we can improve the productivity of cassava on 125,000 households. These are the people we want to reach with the knowledge this project will generate.

How is the outcome going to be commercialized as getting to the end user who are farmers?

Currently, we are accessing all options, and the third and the fourth years of the project as we actually started the project this year January, and we are looking at it that most of the generated knowledge will be passed at the year 3-4 to farmers through extension agents who are part of the project component as we will be working closely with the ADPs. We believed the structure is on ground and all we need to do is to have a better collaboration and also see how we can activate the existing structures as we are not going to build anything new, but we will be working with farmers’ group at the local government levels. We intent to work with the Non Governmental Organization (NGOs) so that we can get to the real farmers at the grassroot. 

We are very specific at this year having an extension component and knowledge transfer component of the project. We are looking at how to identify the farms and also to mainstream gender because it is an important component of the project. One of our greatest successes will be how effectively it will be to bring in women because many projects have already integrated women. For cassava weed management we will bring in women as they contribute more than 70 % to rural Agriculture and getting them involved will ensure sustainability. 

The Institutions we are working with have excellent relationship with farmers in the agro ecological zones. So we believe we will be working with them and farmers. We want to capitalize on the media especially the television, radio, print media to see that some of the knowledge we have generated is passed unto farmers. Again in our plan, we are developing a matrix, and this matrix will tell us whether we are achieving our target or not. So we have all this. Also part of it is what we are doing with you as your paper is a specialized one in the agriculture sector, so that you can help us pass message across to farmers and other stakeholders.