Our citadel is unique in giving agric skill- Acting Vice Chancellor, Landmark University.

I am Prof. Joseph Olasehinde Afolayan, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Landmark University, Omuo-Aran, Kwara state.

In the face of food security cum increasing population and limited youths to replace older farmers with modern technologies, what role is your university playing in all these to mitigate challenges?

Well, the focus of the university is agriculture, and by this, the intension is that whatever the numbers of programme we run within the university, every stakeholder in the system is encouraged to be involved in agriculture. Currently we have three colleges in the university which are agricultural sciences, business and social sciences and collage of science and engineering. All the student and staff of these colleges are always engaged in farming or any other agricultural practices. 

We do not leave the students of college of agricultural science alone to farming practice, but all students have to be involved as an entrepreneurship skill acquisition. We have just expanded our scope of agricultural activities for this omega semester from once in week to every other day of the week for each level of the student from hundred to five hundred levels together with their staff from early morning of 7am to 10 am- Monday to Friday. 

This will give more involvement to every student and staff in the agricultural skill and practices. In the farm, they will be exposed to different aspect of farming like crops, animal husbandry, rabitary, piggery, snailery, sheep and goat, poultry, and fishery. Also we have planned to encourage all staff in the university to get involved especially those who are accommodated on campus, their backyard should be used for gardens to plant vegetables, bananas or any other citrus crops.

How would you describe the theme of the conference as regards food security?

The conference theme is very excellent and this is appropriate at this time due to challenges we have in agriculture as soil is very important even when there are availability of green houses. For effective agriculture, you need to know the nature of soil you are planting on thereby ensuring appropriate crops for the right type of soil and steps to be taken in order to improve the quality of the soil for maximum utilization. 

A conference like this will proffer solutions to challenges of soil and climate change as a lot of heads who are coming together from different background will rub minds and share their experiences which I believe at the end of the programme will be of benefit to the entire agricultural practice as regards food security in the country.

Wales council farm sell-off continues.

Local authorities in Wales have sold off almost £3.75m of farmland in the past 12 months to help meet budget targets.
New figures from the Welsh government show that nine authorities with smallholding estates sold off 185.28ha (457.82 acres) in the 12 months to the end of March 2014, raising £3,724,312.

Flintshire disposed of the largest amount at 60ha (148 acres), Monmouthshire sold 49ha (121 acres), Wrexham 28ha (69 acres), Merthyr Tydfil 24ha (59 acres) and Carmarthenshire 13ha (32 acres).
Since they were conceived after the First World War to provide returning servicemen with work, council smallholdings have given thousands of people their first foothold on the agricultural ladder.
But over the past 35 years, councils have been steadily dispensing with their farms and the number of tenants has dropped by about two-thirds.

Local authorities in Wales now own just over 18,000ha (44,478 acres), run as smallholdings.
In all there are 924 tenants of council smallholdings, with some being tenants of multiple farms.

Powys has the biggest smallholding landbase – 4,578ha (11,312 acres). Anglesey has 2,522ha (6,231 acres), Pembrokeshire 2,065ha (5,102 acres) and Carmarthenshire 1,329ha (3,283 acres).

In total, councils were providing 1,022 smallholdings of which 629 (62%) were below 20ha (50 acres) and 248 (24%) were between 20-40ha (50-100 acres). There were 145 (14%) bigger than 40ha (100 acres).
During 2013-14, 165 new tenancies were granted. Of these, 28 were handed to new entrants and 137 to existing tenants. Twenty-nine tenancies were terminated.

Economy cannot diversify without research says IAR&T boss, Prof. Adediran

I am Prof. James Alabi Adediran, the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research & Training, Moorplantation, Ibadan.

Your Institute is very strategic to soil management with the event going on here, what do you think it can attract to your Institute as regards your mandate to agriculture and food security?

My Institute has a national mandate on soil research and as a result we are very close to the activities of soil scientists of Nigeria as every year we endeavour to attend this conference, moreso that I am the National Secretary of the society, and this has also necessitated our active participation in the society. Well you will see that the “theme” of this year is “managing soil for nutritional and food security and climate change and Adaptation and mitigation” this is part of our work in the Institute for the purpose bringing development necessary in all area of soil in the country. We all know that soil is very important in the food production and not only that, very important in the life of human beings looking at the conference logo on healthy soil for healthy living.

How is the synergy between Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) and your Institute in the face of research with integration of climate change challenges to food security?

All our activities are centred on the environment in which we are working. By environment we mean climate, weather, soil and waters that surround us. We cannot carry out research without collaborating with NIMET as we always make use of their weather stations to collate weather data that we put in the computer for the analysis of the our own data for research work. So we work in collaboration. The data from NIMET helps us to improve on our research work in building well weather resistance improved technologies for food security and soil improvement.

How you describe the commitment of government and increasing population in the face of making food available through improved?

I will say the support is not adequate. Although one cannot say government is not giving support because we are working in the research and we are normally paid our salaries. That is one support we are getting in the course of carrying our research, the other one is year in year out, they normally appropriate certain amount to us to carry out research, but however, the release of such funding is not always forth coming. About 33% of such money are what we get out the hundred percent which makes it very inadequate. In research your approach will determine the kind of result you will always get. In developed world where formidable researches are being carried out is a function of 100% support in term of money and grants.

 In Nigeria, it is not so as government is not giving enough support in terms of money for research and this is why many of our research work are there in the shelves and some are not completed as they remained half baked thereby making it impossible to be replicated elsewhere. The support given is not adequate to promote technologies we are trying to generate. These technologies are either half baked or in shelves as they are not sufficient enough to develop the economy of these country. It is expected of any nation to know that no amount of money is too much for research as is being done in the advanced countries of the world. 

The use of hoes and cutlass cannot meet required food production of the present growing population and borrowing technologies without investing on our own is not the best for our economy. Let me tell you, all these borrowed technologies are not adequately validated as we do not have the technologies for their validation before they are introduced to our farmers. We researchers are just struggling to engage government to help by paying attention to us. Research generation is always a continuous exercise because of the stages, as you have car using gas is not enough to make you relax without researching into the ones using solar for the purpose of alternative and economic growth through diversification. So government has to be more committed to research.

AFDB promises more jobs in Nigeria agric sector

    

The chief sponsor of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme-Phase 1 (ATASP-1), African Development Bank (AFDB) which Nigeria agric Minister, Dr. akinwunmi Adesina has been penciled down alongside four other contestants as the likely new incoming President has said the injection of one hundred and seventy thousand dollar ($170,000.00) into agricultural development in the country is meant to create more jobs at the value chains of food production, processing and marketing in the country.

Speaking at the lunch of the programme at the newly opened regional office of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Rural Development Agriculture (IITA) at Lugbe, Abuja, the Country representative, AFDB Mr. Andoh Mensah said the motivation behind this financial support is hinged on the training programme of the young entrepreneurship in agriculture by IITA

The ATASP-1 which is financed by the African Development Bank (AFDB) to the tune of $170million according to Mr. Andoh  Mensah is aimed at creating additional income to more producers and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector in Nigeria saying about 120,000 jobs along the value chain of the different commodities will be created for the youths in the project with reliance on IITA’s participatory training.

 Mr. Andoh Mensur expressed further that the ATASP-1 was part of the African Development Bank’s efforts towards positively contributing to the ATA of the Federal government of Nigeria aimed at creating 3.5 million jobs along key value chains. 

 The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina said that “Africa’s millionaires and billionaires  will make their money from Agriculture” adding that government will do everything possible to see that wealth is unlocked from this sector as more youths would be gainfully employed thereby bringing business opportunities to rural communities in the continent. 

The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga said “youths all over Africa are migrating in search of business opportunities, leaving behind a life time opportunity and an increasingly ageing population. The challenge is to create business opportunities for productive activity in agriculture and non-farm enterprises.

 Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is among the five select candidates for the pump presidential position of AFDB as many indices have been speculated to have been working in his favour importantly as the present policy on agriculture in the country is seriously flying his credentials.

Dr. Adesina will be contesting with the Ethiopia’s finance minister, Sufian Ahmed, Cape Verdean Finance Minister, Cristana kamara, currently Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank, Birama Sidibe and Chad’s finance minister,  Kordje Bedoumra.

Adesina has been quoted to saying “I am excited to be shortlisted for the position of the President, African Development bank. I will develop every part of Africa. Africa is my home”

Stakeholders advocate for Avian Influenza eradication

Stakeholders at the recently held one day sensitization workshop titled “Bird Flu: how prepared are you” organized by the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Mando Kaduna State have called for eradication of the disease which they described as a killer virus to chickens saying the same measure applied to expunge Ebola must be used to totally eradicate it in Nigeria.

It was observed that Avian Influenza can also negatively affect human’s health based on contact with affected chickens through “touching infected birds, de feathering infected birds, touching secretion from infected birds ( saliva or fluids from infected birds), been in contact with the feces of infected birds, inhaling dry feces, dust from infected birds, preparing poultry for cooking, if birds was infected, which also includes the household setting, slaughtering or butchering infected poultry, market where live birds are sold, if bird has infection, those who handle them also have the risk of becoming ill”

Food Farm News speaking at the workshop with the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Mando Kaduna State, Dr. Balarabe Morgaji Jahum said the purpose of the workshop was to sensitize farmers, veterinary and other health workers about taking proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of bird flu in the country as the state has recently experienced an outbreak of the virus adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure its prevention and eradication “

 He advised that all stakeholders in the sector must work as a team to ensure the termination of the zoonic disease but also pointed there are records of deaths occasioned through the disease thereby cautioned against consumption of any affected birds.

Professor Audu of the department of veterinary medicine at the ABU, Zaria stated that government intervention is very important in the curbing of the disease thereby commended effort being made so far saying “government at all levels have given much training to professionals and quarantine officers. The government is doing its best, having assisted in upgrading some life bird market, towards ensuring that birds are sold in a very wholesome manner for food safety” 

 Food Farm News checks from the avian influenza desk officer, Dr. Francis Kambai confirmed that an approximation of 7,000 to 8,000 birds have been stamped out in Kaduna state while markets have been disinfected adding that “measures are put in place to contend the spread of this disease in the state and thereby urged every Nigerian to buy their birds from the life bird market where processed birds are sold for take home and cook”

Global Grain Insight: Stocks weigh on nervous grain market

 

High stocks of unsold UK grain combined with early reports of strong cropping worldwide will make for a nervous market in the next few weeks, says Nidera’s David Eudall.
International grain traders have one eye on the weather and the other on reports of the area and condition of crops in the ground.

Every rain shower and heatwave is monitored so closely there is a market reaction nearly every time a new weather map is produced.
Long-term fundamentals are difficult to gauge, with crops in many important areas just entering spring development, but several key market drivers for 2015 are becoming clear.

Dry weather in the US has been exerting particular influence on markets recently. For the past two months the main growing area of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas has seen less than average rainfall.
Then, last weekend (11-12 April), much needed rain replenished soil moisture and forecasts suggest a further 8cm is expected to follow shortly.

Despite the largely dry conditions of the first quarter, the first US Department of Agriculture  crop condition report estimates 44% of the US winter wheat crop is in good or excellent condition – a significant improvement on the 35% rated the same this time a year ago.
Investment funds have been holding a significant short (sold) position in wheat markets, with the earlier dry weather resulting in short, sharp rallies as traders bought back positions to reduce the risk of prices rising further.

The recent rain will calm fears, but investment funds still hold large short (sold) positions that could lead to further short-term rallies in the next eight to 12 weeks. The many growers with old-crop still to sell need to be watching out for these.

Ironically, US corn planting due to commence any time could be delayed by the heavy rainfall predicted, but this will really help with subsequent crop establishment.
USDA reports estimate 36m hectares of corn will be sown this spring – down 2% from a year ago, but still expected to provide ample supply, barring any major weather issues. An increase in US soya bean plantings is also forecast.

Rainfall has not been a problem across Russia and Ukraine, although very cold conditions in certain areas put a check on crop development through winter.
A recent crop tour of the Ukraine reported wheat sowings were in a good or very good condition, but the state of the Russian crop is more difficult to establish as it has only just broken dormancy.
European crops are all classed in a good condition, with the French crop looking exceptional – a recent survey showed 91% in a good or excellent state.

All in all, the short-term direction of the market will be largely influenced by the development of crops through April and whether we see any periods of prolonged hot, dry weather – particularly in southern Russia – that could disturb spring development.
Without a major weather event and with crops generally in a healthy state – in many cases better than last year – 2015 could well be another large worldwide harvest.
Add in large old-crop stocks to the global picture and it is difficult to see anything other than a steady erosion in prices longer-term.

Effect on the UK
While the world is focused on the development of crops through the spring, the UK has its own particular supply-and-demand position to wrestle with.
Many grain stores across the country are still full, with estimates suggesting more than 2.5m tonnes of wheat could be carried over this season. This is one of the largest carryovers on record.
This volume carried into harvest is likely to put extra pressure on new-crop supplies, which are already looking uncompetitive relative to the rest of the European export market.
Growers expecting any sustained lift in domestic prices over the next few months are likely to be disappointed.

Fake seeds enter the country under research guise.

One of the reasons for the influx of fake seeds into the country has been identified to importers’ hiding under the guise of research work which thereby give them undue opportunity to bring all sort of animals and crops seeds varieties.

This findings was coming on the heels of unregulated rules or non enforcement of the law or better still non availability of policy especially on livestock and animal production which is mostly affected.

Findings revealed that most private organizations unlike the agricultural research institutes are not responding to the directive of ensuring the registration of the circulated seeds especially in the animals production where there is no breeding policy yet.

Food Farm News’ finding also revealed that this problem might pose a very serious challenge to our agricultural development more importantly in the face of genetically modified materials that is yet to be operational by law as its bill for effective operation has passed the third reading at upper chambers of the National Assembly; but yet to be signed by the President.

 The opinion of the NACGRAB CEO, Dr. Sunday Aladele pointed that importers might have a legal right under whatever reason but argued that an efficient operational system to ensure certification will checkmate their influx adding monitoring and policing of these seeds are not under the mandate of his centre saying there is need for more partnership with the quarantine officials towards ensuring registration.

Dr. Aladele said that “most of the importers of these seeds always claim they want to use them for research but before you know what is happening, the seeds are already all over the places. Maybe, the same way they have come as research materials in crops is what is happening with the animals. But as the country is now, things have to be properly done as there are lot of rules and regulations that nobody is enforcing, and this is where the problem is. I think there is need to move closer to Nigeria Agricultural Quarintine Service (NAQS)”

On measure of control in the area of animal production, the Executive Director, National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Prof. Gefu advocated for Animal improvement act that will enforce registration of species of animals breed in the country together with imported ones just as it is done in South Africa where there is an act supporting the activities of National Technical Livestock Committee on registration, import and export.

According to Prof. Gefu “There is an act from South Africa where the act of parliament is backing the documentation and detail of everything to do with genotype of germplasm of all the animals that are breed or raised within the republic of South Africa to be under the regulation of Technical Livestock Committee but the difference here is that we have no Act of Parliament for animal policy like the South Africa”

How choosing a native breed has improved beef herd performance

Continental cattle soared in popularity during the late 20 Century – but a growing number of farmers are going back to native breeds.
Attracted by their docile nature, easy calving and possible premium markets, it’s not hard to see why.
Throw in some cutting-edge genetics and a modern approach to management, and native breeds could be the choice of the future.

Having previously kept dairy cross Limousin and Charolais suckler cows he decided to try out a couple of South Devon heifers in 2000.
“The Limousins were a nightmare to handle, and I was looking for something a bit more docile,” he says.
“If the South Devons are calving you can walk right up to them – with the continentals you daren’t step inside the shed.”
A 10-day breakout by the cattle into the neighbour’s maize field – with the notable exception of the two South Devons – persuaded Mr Hawkins to expand the pedigree herd, eventually getting rid of the last crossbreds in 2013.
“We were selling the crossbreds at market at 24-26 months old and they averaged R4L grades, but now I’m either finishing the South Devons with a neighbour or selling them as stores – there’s plenty of demand for them.”

Feed conversion

In a bid to make the most of the South Devon’s efficient feed conversion, Mr Hawkins also changed his farm management, adopting much of the dairy sector’s technical best practice.
As well as performance recording, weighing stock and using estimated breeding values (EBVs), he rotationally grazes his pasture to maximise grass yields and forage quality.

“The beef sector is a long way behind the dairy sector in terms of how we feed and manage the animals: Science is an amazing tool.”
Edward Hawkins, beef farmer

“Our system is all about producing more meat a hectare as quickly and cheaply as possible,” he says.
“The beef sector is a long way behind the dairy sector in terms of how we feed and manage the animals: Science is an amazing tool.”

When choosing his stock, Mr Hawkins looks first and foremost at the EBVs, with fertility, calving ease and growth rates of particular importance.
“When the calf hits the ground I want it up and sucking straight away, and for the cow to get back into calf quickly,” he says.

Pasture management 

He calves the heifers in the spring at three-years-old to an easy-calving South Devon bull, with all females kept inside to bond with their calf before going out to grass.
“All our pasture is on a five-year rotation, and we split it into 1.2-1.6ha paddocks with electric fencing,” he says.
“Grass is just as important as an arable crop: We measure it with a sward stick and move the cows every day or two. Any pasture that gets ahead of us can then be cut for silage.”
Last year the second-cut round bale silage tested at 52% dry matter, 18.7% crude protein and with a D Value of 73 and ME of 11.6MJ/kg.
“I prefer to go for quality not quantity, as you can always buffer down with straw or hay – it’s cheaper than improving quality with cake,” says Mr Hawkins.
“We used to feed the continentals rolled barley and protein cake, but the South Devons just don’t need to be pushed.”

Feed

The cattle are housed again in November, on a silage, hay and straw ration with minerals and a trace element bolus.
Calves are weaned gradually a month later to minimise stress.
“We were feeding the calves 1kg/day of concentrates earlier this winter, but with the good-quality silage it was going straight through them,” says Mr Hawkins.
“We changed to soya hulls with sugar beet pulp and barley in a blend at a cost of 37p a head a day and in two weeks we saw a difference in growth rates.”

Last year the herd’s calving interval was 378 days including one cow with a prolapsed uterus.
“Male calves averaged 45kg at birth, with heifers at 42kg – and by 200 days, with no creep feed, heifers averaged 293kg and males (including twins) 287kg,” he adds.
To maximise efficiencies, Mr Hawkins is now working with a neighbour who finishes any non-breeding youngstock on a profit-share agreement.

“He continues with the performance recording – and we’re now in the top 25% of the suckler replacement and quality beef indices,” he says.
“Everything is myostatin tested for double muscling and we’re very interested in genomics too; my ambition is just to keep on improving and to aim higher all the time.”

When choosing his stock, Mr Hawkins looks first and foremost at the EBVs, with fertility, calving ease and growth rates of particular importance.
“When the calf hits the ground I want it up and sucking straight away, and for the cow to get back into calf quickly,” he says.