Our improved technologies go beyond Nigerian border says Prof. Falaki IAR boss who spoke with food farm news on why there is separation of 2015 REFIL from Cropping Scheme programme. Read his excerpts below

Congratulation for your award as, the senior fellow by the Agricultural Association Nigeria and can you introduce yourself?

My name is Prof. Mustapha Falaki, currently the Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Ahmadu Bello, Zaria.

How do you intend to use this award dawn on you to drive best agricultural practices in Nigeria?

Well this is a high honor conferred on me by the Agricultural Society of  Nigeria, and those of us that are in research are bind to double our effort towards producing more research based technologies for the benefit of our resourced poor farmers. My Institute has mandate for several crops and I can say we have been releasing several varieties of groundnut and sorghum. Recently the ones we have released have even crossed the border to neighbouring countries like Niger, Mali where they are using the same varieties we have released. I think this is great for us as what we are releasing as improved varieties to our farmers are being used in other ecologies of the West Africa sub region countries. We are going to double our effort in this regards. We have gone a long way in our bio-technology programme, we intend very soon to be producing sugar cane seedlings so as to be able to feed the sugar factories like Dangote that is having over twenty thousand hectares in Jigawa, Sokoto and other states. But through bio-technology, we will be using our laboratory in collaboration with the National Sugar Development Council as we want to provide them enough seedlings to produce more sugar cane to be able to provide processed sugar for Nigerians.

I know IAR is very strategic in the effort it has been providing, but how has these technologies transferred to farmers. What are the paradigm shifts you have been able to achieve to ensure transfer of these technologies to farmers?

I can tell you my institute is very close to National Agricultural Research Liaison Extension Services. As a coordinating research institute, we are in charge of seven North Western states of the country. We are making every effort to extend all agricultural based technologies to all our states, and not only that, we are also sourcing technologies from our other sister research institutes that are collaborating to extend our technologies through our farming system.

Can you throw more light into the separation of cropping scheme and REFILS against next year?

Actually we are the only one that has been conducting them jointly but other research institutes have been doing them separately. We thought we should start having them separately because the cropping scheme is usually delaying the REFIL meeting. We have decided to have the Refil earlier next year. The reason why the cropping scheme is delaying the REFIL is because as of now, we have not harvested and processed our data. That is why we are going to have REFIL in January and cropping scheme later because of election maybe March for cropping scheme.www,.foodfarmnews.com

Fed Govt measures against animal extinction

The Federal Government through its ministry of agriculture will be embarking on an animal census for the purpose of local domestication according to her spokesperson, Prof. Funso Shoniya.

He said the project will soon commence nationwide so as to ascertain the actual population of local animals including snail and aquatic which are sources of revenue generation in the face of dwindling oil price in the world market.. He enjoined for the cooperation of farmers to all the enumerators that will be visiting them.

NACGRAB registers new eleven improved varieties, stakeholders advocate more breeding centres, funding, and commend WAAPP.

The National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) through the committee on Naming, Registration and Release of crop varieties, livestock/ fisheries has recently in December 5th approved and registered  about eleven newly released crop varieties from different Research Institutes and private companies just as stakeholders wanted more animal breeding centres extablished with more funding to NACGRAB, while  West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) was commended for it financial support to research development in the country.

Among the varieties  approval by the National Committee  on naming, registration and release of crop varieties under the leadership of Retired Oladosu Awoyemi are potato (MARABEL), Sorghum-PRADHAN, MLSH 296 Gold and MLSH 151, Maize- SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42, Soybean-NCFISOY-01 and NCRISOY-02, Rice-Faro 63, and wheat- LACRI-5 and LACRI WHIT-6.
The Registrar of the centre, Dr. Sunday. Aladele said by this approval, all these varieties can now be freely distributed among farmers as the genetic characters and history of each of them will now be officially registered and documented at NACBRAB towards ensuring conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources in Nigeria.

It is worthy of note that all these improved crop varieties presented by various Research Institutes and private companies have been well audited at the 25^th meeting of the Technical Sub-Committee ( TSC) level by various scientists and researchers from various institutions with thorough scientific questions following descriptors’ format for the purpose of merited approval by the National Committee just as some of the varieties could not pass beyond this level for lack of one information or the other.

It is stated that “The 25^th meeting of technical sub-committee (CROPS) on the naming, registration, and release of crop varieties held at NACGRAB conference room, Moor plantation on 3^rd, 2014 to deliberate on submissions of crops varieties received from research Institutes, Universities and Private companies in the countries. A total of twenty two (22) crops varieties were submitted for consideration, registration and release which include “three (3) upland rice from National Cereal Research institute (NCRI), Badeggi, and Africa Rice Center, Nigeria station. Three (3) sorghum hybrid from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria, and Syngenta, Nigeria Limited. One (1) potato variety from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and Sygenta Nigeria Limited. Two (2) wheat varieties from Lake chad Research Instittue, Maiduguri. Eight Maize hybrids: three (3) from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), University of Ilorin, National Agricultural Extention Research and Liaison Service and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, while five (5) were from IITA and Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. Five (5) Soybean varieties from IITA and NCRI, Badeggi”
However for rice, faro 63 was recommended for release based on early maturing and high yield, while in sorghum, PRADHAN got approval based on its white and bold grains with high yields just as the MLSH 296 was approved for release based on high grains yield. MLSH 151 is also released for its bold round grains with cream colour and high yield.

The extral early maturity, high yield and high number of marketable tubers and high dry matter content warranted the release of Marabel as new variety of potato just as two varieties of wheat called “LACRI WHIT-5 and LACRI WHIT-6” were both release for high yield/ good baking quality, and early maturing, high yield and good baking quality respectively.

Also two varieties of maize, SAMMAZ 41 and SAMMAZ 42 were both approved for release based on early maturing, high grain yield, long ear and low soil nitrogen tolerance just as soybean variety NCRISOY 1 was released for its extral early maturity, promiscuous nodulation, as well as resistance to rust, cercospora leaf spot and bacterial pustule. The NCRISOY 2’s released was based on high yield, promiscuous nodulation, resistance to rust, cercospora leaf and suitability for mechanization.

It was obvious that the December 5^th 2014 approval by the National Committee did not include any livestock or fisheries varieties as effort is ongoing at the TSC level towards ensuring descriptors’ format the animals/fisheries species will be using for registration as stakeholders have agreed to replicate crops’ format with general description/ information and detailed description of breed/varieties/strains/lines.
Stakeholders believed that by the time a descriptor format is adopted, then all animals in the country will be asked to come for registration adding there is need to test standard of any strain being released as they observed the multi-national companies may be afraid to release both male and female strains to farmers, but pointed that putting in place an effective intellectual property right will assist the situation as it was pointed that the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is already pursuing the actualization for the purpose of checkmating sub standard influx of all kind of animal and crop species into the country. The parent right on improved seeds will build confident in the owners of parent stocks just as they pointed the need for more synergy between NACGRAB and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) so as to checkmate influx of all kind of animals into the country.

They also advocated  more attention for livestock/ fisheries policy that would enhance the development of these sub sectors of Agriculture  adding that there is need to create more animal breeding animal centres with proactive breeding policy for the sector as they advised that mandate of NACGRAB should be more incorporated to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development based on its strategic position in ensuring continued conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources in Nigeria.
Also the chairperson TSC (Fisheries) Prof. (Mrs) Ofelia G. Omitogun from OAU, Ile Ife posited that about nineteen items of breeds was to be recommended for release as soon as the descriptor format is approved thereby thanking WAAPP for assisting in separating fish from livestock for better functioning while the National Committee chairman, Mr. Awoyemi enjoined fisheries committee to move into fish locations for the purpose of better actualizing its mandate  saying the names of the local fish must be well spelt out for farmers’ understanding just as Mr. Yarama Ndirpaya of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)  commended WAAP for its financial support to research development added there are many quacks in the breeding of fish as he advised the origin of every species must be insisted to avoid fake in face of ensuring standard just as Dr. Ijantiku Ignatius Angarawai of ICRISAT suggested the use of bio technology to ascertain the source of very fish.

Other stakeholders advocated for other sources of funding to NACGRAB in case WAAPP should stop its funding support stressed that TSCs meeting must be sustained for the purpose of efficient practice in the sector, but the Registrar, Dr. Aladele was quick to advise that caution must be well taken to avoid being misinterpreted saying “any committee set up must do a thorough study of how fund should be sourced”
IITA, Dr. Ajala supporting the need for other alternative source of funding the TSC meetings said that there must be charges for every nomination of improved variety either from the research institutes or private organization just as the Executive Director of Lake Chad Research Institute supported saying “All research Institutes should be written to give support to this meeting. We are ready to give such support on behalf of all other directors”
Also NASC representive , Mr. F.J. Olonilua advised that the Seed Association of Nigeria (SEDAN) should be invited to support this meeting pointed that “when Dr. Olaseinde Omidiji was the president of the association, we are enjoying the their support but I am very sure they will be ready to support if invited”
The researchers and scientists however commended the support of WAAPP to agricultural research development but insisted that the hour has come for the private companies and research Institutes to start paying some charges on material releases just as all the value chain of Agricultural Transformation Agenda must support this meeting with conclusion that a fund sourcing committee that will be coordinated by the registrar be set up.

Gov Lamido enjoins nomadic tribes to children education.

The Governor of Jigawa state, Dr. Sule Lamido has advised the nomadic tribes of Fulani to embrace education for a better future life saying their strategic position in the animals’ production towards food security will be more enhanced through sending their children to school for the purpose of acquiring knowledge.

Speaking with thousands of herdsmen that brought their animals for yearly livestock vaccination at Zadau, Birnin kudu local government of Jigawa state, His Excellency, Dr. Lamido said that children education is very vital to human and societal development citing his own life as example saying how would he have assisted his people if he had not gone to school thereby enjoining the herdsmen to cultivate the habit of sending their wards to school.
This year livestock vaccination initiated by His Excellency in 2007 as way of increasing animals’ productivity through disease free would be the last one Dr. Sule Lamido will officially launch as his administration will end by May 2015.

Dr. Lamido who said the event is very memorial as it will be last of such he would attend in governorship capacity however enjoined both pastoralists and farmers to co exist peacefully for the purpose of ensuring food security  pointed that “ farmers and pastoralists should be tolerant to each other so that permanent peace can prevail. I also directed that pastoralists should Endeavour to send their children to school with the view of harnessing the endowed capabilities of each of us towards the development of this dear state”

The Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Rabi’u Isah lauded the effort of the His Excellency towards positively transforming agriculture into business venture pointed that “ these commitment is gradually moving the State from the position of being poorest in the country to the richest and enviable state not only in Nigeria but in sub-Sahara West African sub-continent. Already tangible result has been witnessed in the agricultural sector during the last seven and half years of this present administration”

The commissioner added there is progressive decline in animal diseases in the state due to this annual vaccination with high economic impact on the business of hides and skin saying that “ government has established six modern sheds for preserving hides and skin ( wet salting shed) at Maigatari, Sara, Shuwarin Gujungu, Kazaure and Mallam Madori. Furthermore, five new abbttoirs were constructed at Malam Madori, Gumel, Ringim, Gwaram and Kafin Hausa in order to provide wholesome meat to the public and protect the populace from diseases associated with meat and its products”

Dr. Abdullahi Huruna, the director of veterinary services in the state told Food Farm News that the exercise is meant for all kinds of animals in the state as a total of 53,450 dogs are prevented from rabbies since 2007 till date, pointed also that a total of 1,611,197 sheep and goats, and 3, 438,590 cattle were vaccinated against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) for more milk production in cow, reproduction and healthiness of animals against zoonosis.

Also, Dr. Salisu Abdullahi, pleaded for provision of more motto cycles for veterinary extension officers as 364 machines given to their counterparts in crops saying this will make work more easier and effective to getting to farmers thereby commended His Excellency for proactive policy to support the sub sector of animal production.

However, the chairman, Miyyeti Allah Herdsmen, Jigawa State chapter, Alhaji Adamu Idris Babura commended the effort of the government during the last seven years especially in the light of animal vaccination cum peaceful co existence with crop farmers based on the special policy intervention that really proffers solution through demarcation and provision of wind powered watering facilities at about 80 grazing reserves.

Federal Government Revamping wheat production through research support.

Introductions

At the inception of the Present Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina into the office, the eyes of many Nigerians were opened to negative impact of food importation with focus on wheat where about 360 dollar is spent annually for its import thereby negatively affecting local production to the tune of 80,000 metric tons against the expected 3.7 million required yearly.

Dr. Akinwunmi therefore promised succor to farmers through a new policy direction that will enhance production, processing and marketing through proactive research and other necessary mechanized support that will reduce import.

Towards this, the Federal Government in an effort to revert about US 4.0 BILLION spent on wheat consumption alone annually hereby established in 2012 Wheat Agricultural Transformation Agenda (WATA) as part of the key crops at the value chain with its coordination under Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI )

By this wheat repositioning mandate on LCRI, effort towards increasing productivity from 2.0 tonnes per hetare in 2013 to 6.0 ton per hectare in 2017 was embarked upon according to the Executive Director, Dr. Olabanji who said the national production from the current 80,000 tons now becomes a focal target towards making the crop a high income generation for farmers in the producing areas of Taraba, Plateau, and Cross River.

In the face of edible bread consumption and other bakery confectionaries, the increase production of local wheat to checkmate import from other countries, majorly America would impact positively on our economy as research effort of LCRI in collaboration with Federal Institute for Research Organization (FIRO) at Oshodi, Lagos have scientifically confirmed our wheat as more of high quality with comparative advantages over imported one. 

What this implies according to Dr. Olabanji was that about 635 billion naira equivalent of (USD4 Billion) annually expended on import wheat may have to be diverted to enhance local production especially with the dwindling of the fuel price to creating jobs for the farmers and youth through mechanized farming of production, processing and packaging for global market standard.

At the presentation of a newly registered improved wheat seeds called LCRIWHIT 5 and 6 to the Registrar/ Secretary, varietal release committee of National Centre For Genetic Resources Biotechnology (NACBRAB), the ED of LCRI said these new varieties is high yielding with good baking quality of global standard especially in the face of huge exorbitant bill on wheat import inspite of enormous potential of annual consumption of 6.2 billion loaves of bread being supplied locally by over 20,000 bakeries thereby  commended the effort of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who he said had supported his Institute towards making available technology that would enhance farmers’ productivity during the rain fed season and under irrigation condition saying ‘’ the minister has just released compact milling machines for the Institute to enhance commercial production of wheat flour for bakeries’’

He added that effort is on going to release nine new wheat improved  varieties in the next three years saying ‘’ the current national average yield of farmers of 1.2t/ha is less than half the average low income food deficit  of 3.0t/ha, and far below the highest yield in the developing world of 6.7 t/ha in Egypt. Research focus of the project in Nigeria is to release nine new wheat varieties in the next three years with potential yield under irrigation averaging 6-8 t/ha. The aim is to identify these high potential lines through the evaluation of large numbers of available and introduced germplasm, followed by confirmation of their high performance in Preliminary Yield Trials, advanced yield trials and multi-location on-farm testing”

The increase in the seed procurement between 2012 till date is a reflection of positive impact of the wheat value chain on farmers as production has been enhanced through the distribution of 3082.7 metric tons of improved seeds to about 62,000 farmers in ten growing states in 2013-2014 as against the total of 233 metric tons to 9,143 in 2012-2013.

‘’ The wheat value chain of the FMARD through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) procured a total of 233 metric tones of wheat seeds that are distributed free among 9,143 farmer in Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Bornu, Sokoto, Gombe and Yobe. However, this quantity has increased in 2013/2014 to 3,082.7 mt of wheat seeds distributed also free to 62,000 farmers in the ten growing state” said Dr. Olabanji.

Dr. Olabanji however opined that accelerated wheat production in the country will enhance national food and nutritional security cum job creation for the youth thereby suggested the need to address some challenges listed as follows

1.      Inadequate farm equipments

2.      Lack of micro credit facilities to the farmers

3.      Policy impediment that undermine adoption of new technologies

4.      Poor market arrangement and remuneration to farmers.

5.      Inadequate supply of good quality seeds

6.      Inadequate high yielding heat tolerant varieties

7.      Inadequate skill on the use of biotechnological tools.

8.      Inadequate water and inputs management.

9.      Weak research- extension- farmer linkage system

Editorial- It’s time for agric sector to shine.

There is no doubt that the year has been so eventful through government policy and programme as many have commended especial stakeholders who have consistently believed that more still need to be done to put the agricultural sector back to its feet when activities in this sector accounts for about 90% of our foreign earning and food supply between 1960-1971 with employment guaranteed cum economy boost and balance trade sheet.

Now that the down turn of oil has come, it is only an opportunity for the nation to get things right by more stimulation of proactive measures of micro economic policy that will give attention to non oil sector with special attention to agriculture because of it comparative advantage and multiplier effects on production, processing, packaging and marketing.

It is obvious that the discovery of oil in the early 70s coupled the inconsistency of government policy on agriculture  have negatively affected our food productions to a lowest level thereby leading us to importation where billion of dollars are being spent yearly until the recent policy re-direction of this present administration of Mr. President through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) which is already giving a little relief of sight as inputs are directly given to farmers to increase production for commercialization with all the year cultivation of major food crops.

As economic speculations against next year is fearing and hopeless, we may not want to share with this school of thought but rather to emphasis on why the government need to intensify her effort towards re building collapsed agricultural structures that have proactively affected the sector in the years past.

The epileptic funding of agriculture and insincerity of the officials who are at the custody of the policy execution are vital challenges that require a stringent measure against erring office who may want to truncate government effort  but with commensurable rewards to those that are doing well as a way of making the sector return back its lost glory.

Our farming mechanization is still nothing to write home about when compared to other nations of the world that have given agriculture a right place of pride, in our pursuit of repositioning the economic policy direction from oil, government must be disposed to evolving a policy that will be mechanization friendly to farmers, processors and value addition with more accessibility of commercial banks’ loan at a very attractive interest rate.

It is very appalling to know that the country has not catch on the opportunity of new trend of technology towards massive production and processing of agricultural produce as doing this will be an avenue to restoring the lost glory of the sector to replace petroleum whose level of creating wealth and job cannot in any compared with agriculture.

This comment will be in completed if attention towards research is not mentioned because improved technologies in agricultural development cannot be underestimated as both government and private sector’s attitude to funding research are not too encouraging, more importantly the private sector who the most beneficiaries of these technologies must be ready to put fund in research towards more yields and mechanization while the effort of building more roads, and power electricity challenges must be seriously taken for clinical solution by the government for the purpose of preservation and processing thereby making prices of produce globally competitive.

 In our view year 2015 portends more hope especially in the sector if the government at all levels can graciously give the political will the sector deserves in terms of accurate funding tied to specific project with involvement of private stakeholders who are genuinely committed to the sector especially the practicing farmers but not political who are only good in speaking good English to deceive government for the purpose of their selfish interest.

Fund challenges hinder dry season farming

There is great indication that the unavailability of fund may have hindered the dry season farming of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as our sources revealed the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, ARC. Sonny Echono who was a onetime procurement director in the ministry met nothing in the account purse.

The 2014 dry season farming of maize and rice to step up food production for more availability for both the local consumption and export against the year ahead have not been able to commence as our sources said the planting may be postponed till 2015 February which many stakeholders believed may not really meet the purpose of all the year round planting as rain would have started. 

Flood disaster of 2012 has necessitated the introduction of dry season farming by Mr. President as Intervention with improved inputs freely given to farmers in the affected states to checkmate shortage of food in the following year as against the wishes of some selfish Nigerians who believed the country cannot survive the period without embarking on food importation. 

Already names of farmers from the participating states in the 2014 dry season cultivations have been submitted for provision of improved seeds and fertilizer, but there are indications that lack of fund availability may have hindered this dream as the planting will not commence until February next year 2015 when planting for raining would have also started.

Oyo ATA office refutes non registration of dry season maize farmers.

The South West Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) office, Oyo state led by Mr. M.A Lasisi has disagreed with a report in our last edition saying that the state did not register maize farmers for Mr. President dry season farming meant to ensure all the year round food production.

The office in a paper given to us said over a thousand maize farmers’ names were submitted to Abuja stressing the information given at the maize farmers meeting was not correct but rather mis giving about the true position of things thereby insisted on being refuted.  

Food farm news reported that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through its maize desk officer, Mr. Unamma Chyka Victor had lamented on the low 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.