Ekiti State Farmers Receives N5m Support

farmers

As part of effort to encourage farmers to return to agriculture, foremost educationist and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, has provided N5 million to some farmers in Ekiti State.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Aare Afe Babalola Food Security Expo, ABAFEX 2015, Babalola said the donation, being an annual event, would see the best farmer in the state carting away N1 million while the best farmer in each of the state’s 16 local government areas would take home N250, 000.

He said: “Today we are here in fulfillment of the promise we made. I can see an array of farmers with their farm produce. I can see jubilant farmers dancing all the way. I am not only happy, but thrilled that people are still happy being involved in agriculture. This Expo will be on for four days and at the end of it all, I will be physically and personally present to present the cheques to the winners and this will subsequently become an annual event”.

According to the founder, this approach will enable the country retrace its steps back to the pre-oil era.
On the place of ABUAD in the Food Security Expo, Babalola said “ABUAD is established to change things for the better. We make things happen. We are equally here to set standards and we are the first University in Nigeria to engage in this kind of venture.

“We will not stop here. We will not stop thinking. We will be devising ways of improving. That is one of the essential ele­ments of a modern university”, he added

In his remarks, Governor Fayose while commending Ba­balola for his immense contri­butions in all facets of human endeavours, also pledged to sup­port the programme with N1 million annually.

It would be recalled that Babalola had earlier made the promise of 5 million naira to farmers in Ekiti State during his investiture as Africa’s Man of the Year in Food Security by the Forum for International Green Sustainability, FIGS.

With Eggs, the Choices Are Many

When purchasing eggs

When purchasing eggs, many people read the carton to help understand how the hens were housed when producing those eggs. But is the label on the egg carton a good indicator of the hens' well-being?

The variety of options can make determining the eggs best for you and your family difficult. To help support consumer choice and provide information to sort through the confusion, the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply recently completed a three-year research study. Researchers assessed hens' well-being, egg safety and quality, affordability, worker health and safety, and environmental impact as elements of sustainability in cage-free, conventional and enriched colony hen housing.

What the researchers found might be surprising, with positive and negative aspects associated with each housing system. For instance, while conventional cage housing limits the ability of hens to exhibit natural behaviors, it also has the lowest mortality rate. Conversely, cage-free housing allows hens to nest, perch and even attempt flying, though hen mortality was more than double that of the other housing options researched. By understanding which findings are most important to them, shoppers can be confident in choosing eggs that are right for them.

"Hen well-being is an important aspect of producing eggs, but it should be considered along with many other elements of egg production," said Darrin Karcher, Extension Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University and CSES Project Director. "This research allows us to better understand how each housing system affects not only the well-being of the hens, but a variety of other factors. This is a valuable tool consumers, restaurants and retailers can use to make more informed decisions about which eggs are best for them."

When choosing what's best for you and your family, whether you prioritize egg cost, hens being able to exhibit natural behaviors, environmental impact or another element of sustainability, making an informed choice begins with understanding which eggs best meet your needs.

Sightlines Study Finds $8.4 Billion in Deferred Maintenance at Schools of Agriculture in U.S.

Sightlines and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) today released a comprehensive study that found there is a collective total of $8.4 billion in deferred maintenance at the buildings and supporting facilities at schools of agriculture authorized to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding. Perhaps even more alarming, the study found that 29 percent of the asset value of these campus buildings has deteriorated as a result of deferred maintenance.

The study was conducted for APLU by Sightlines, a leader in helping academic institutions better manage their facilities and capital investment strategies.

Deferred maintenance refers to the postponement of maintenance activities and capital investments - such as repairs on property, facilities and machinery -- in order to match limited budgets or realign available resources.

“These study results confirm the suspected magnitude of a problem that must be addressed if our institutions are going to continue to be able to conduct the high-quality research that is at the cutting edges of the science and education enterprises,” said Ian L. Maw, Vice President of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at APLU. “While specific strategies to address this issue are suggested in this report, it is also clear that the responsibility to ameliorate it resides with no single entity, but rather a coalition of federal and state governments, as well as campus leadership.”

Founded in 1887, APLU is a research, policy and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems and higher education organizations. Sightlines studied deferred maintenance in buildings on campuses that house agriculture, forestry, veterinary sciences, food sciences and human sciences academic programs, and agriculture extension sites. These buildings are used to conduct major research funded by the USDA, as well as other public and private entities.

The Sightlines/APLU study assessed more than 15,000 buildings that have a combined current replacement value of $29 billion. Sightlines used a methodology that included a survey of 101 colleges and universities, accompanied by a comprehensive building-by-building inventory of agriculture and agriculture-related space, and detailed reports on deferred maintenance in those buildings. The survey received a 90 percent participation rate (91 responding institutions).

“The scope and breadth of this study makes it the largest and most comprehensive study of U.S. schools of agriculture research, academic and support facilities ever completed,” said James Kadamus, vice president at Sightlines and the principal executive for the study. “There are a number of warning signs that we identified for the APLU member institutions, one of which is the discovery that they are facing an average of $95 per gross square feet in deferred maintenance. The Sightlines benchmark for critical level when system failures become more likely is $100 per gross square feet, so this is also a major operational concern.”

The Sightlines report warns that, without substantial additional investment, the schools of agriculture can be expected to experience buildings with: roofs that leak, foundations that crack and doors and windows that don’t keep the heat in or cold out; HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems that fail; laboratories that cannot function; animal care that is compromised; and health and safety problems for building occupants.

According to Kadamus, more than half (57 percent) of the space in the buildings surveyed is dedicated to teaching and research, the core academic missions of colleges and universities.

For more information about the report and to review Sightlines’ recommendations for how schools of agriculture can address the deferred maintenance problem, please go to www.sightlines.com.

Help Women Farmers; Feed the World

women in Agric

A call has gone to organizations investing in agricultural development to take into consideration the untapped role that female farmers can play as they create and implement their programs and policies.

This was made known by the U.S Government’s Hunger and Food Security Initiative, “Feed the Future”, whose main aim is to improve the lives of smallholder farmers by increasing food production, improving nutrition, expanding access to markets, and boosting incomes.

It is a known fact that many our farmers are women who play vital roles in agriculture and food security.

Around the world, female farmers play an important role in agricultural productivity.  However, women in agriculture face many more challenges than their male counterparts, including barriers related to land ownership, access to technology and machinery, training, decision-making powers, and participation in value chains.  As a result, female farmers are unable to reach their full potential.

AgroNigeria International Correspondent reports that this is taken into cognizance, the theme of this year’s International Women Day focused on Women Empowerment and Service to Humanity.

If women farmers who are less productive than men because they have a harder time getting land, tools, credit and training, were to have the same access to these resources as men, they could increase farm yields by 20 to 30 percent.

Bearing this in mind, if the barriers faced by women farmers can be removed, it would boost agricultural output, strengthen women’s abilities to feed themselves and their families, improve their economic situation, and further promote greater global food security.

By empowering rural women — with access to credit, the means to transport crops to market and, most fundamentally, the basic right to make decisions about the use of their land and resources — we will help feed the world and spark important social advances.

Through its Feed the Future initiative and other programs, the United States works to improve agriculture in 19 partner countries in Central America, Africa and South Asia – AgroNigeria Correspondent reports.

Specialty Crop Grant Awards Announced to Boost Michigan's Food and Agriculture Industry

Michigan's Food and Agriculture Industry

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has received $1.9 million in federal dollars to create, enhance, or expand specialty crop agriculture development ventures across the state. The grants will further expand the marketing, research and education of these vital crops to our state’s economy.

“These grants help fuel the development and expansion of specialty crop production in our state, while strengthening Michigan’s economic reinvention," said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams. “Michigan’s diverse food and agriculture sector continues to play a critical role in the state.”

MDARD’s allocation from the United States Department of Agriculture is similar to that of last year due to previous changes in the Farm Bill where the funding originates. Projects have a maximum award of $100,000 based on criteria established by USDA.

The department received a variety of proposals from throughout the specialty crop industry. Grant applications were evaluated, scored, and ranked by a Joint Evaluation Committee composed of MDARD and industry representatives not directly involved in any grant proposals.

Projects selected to receive funding are: Cherry Marketing Institute, of DeWitt, Development and Implementation of IPM Decision Support Tools for Michigan Fruit Growers - $72,709
Cherry Marketing Institute, of DeWitt, Run on Red - $100,000

FarmLogix, LLC, of Evanston, IL, Technology Tools for Administration of the USDA Pilot Project for Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits/Vegetable in Michigan - $50,000

Institute for Sustainable Living, of Bellaire, Specialty Crop Producer Education in Honey, Mushrooms and Agroforestry at the NMSFC and Farm School - $38,903

Lakeshore Environmental Inc., of Grand Rapids, Water Repurpose and Use Reduction at Michigan Food Processors - $60,517

Lakeshore Environmental Inc., of Grand Haven, Treatment and Disposal of Food Processing Wastewater through Aspiration and Evaporation - $41,820

Marquette Food Co-op, of Marquette, Marquette Food Co-op Specialty Crop Cooking Classes - $21,806
Michigan Agritourism Association, of Three Rivers, Farm-based Education to Enhance the Competitiveness of Specialty Crops - $58,375

Michigan Apple Committee, of Lansing, Building on Progress:  Engaging Local Fresh Apple Consumers via Social Media and In-Store Activities - $100,000

Michigan Apple Committee, of Lansing, Advertising to Promote Michigan Apples - $55,535   Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, of DeWitt, Increasing Consumer Awareness of Michigan Asparagus through Print, Web, and Internet Based Promotion - $36,269

Michigan Bean Commission, of Frankenmuth, Constraints Associated with High Performance Production Systems - $99,995

Michigan Carrot Committee, of DeWitt, Aster Yellows Detection in Leafhoppers to Provide Management Solutions to Michigan Carrot and Celery - $29,495

Michigan Carrot Committee, of DeWitt, Optimizing Cover Crops for Weed, Nematode and Nitrogen Management - $81,677

Michigan Christmas Tree Association, of Howell, Promoting the Use of Fresh Michigan Christmas Trees through Care and Handling Informational Program - $59,050

Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council, of Lansing, Michigan Sustainable Wine Grape Industry:  Education and Engagement - $59,725

Michigan Integrated Food & Farming Systems, of East Lansing, Growing a Food Safety Culture with Beginning Farmers - $99,624

Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association, of Okemos, Development of Innovative Weed Control Programs for Michigan Nurseries - $75,000

Michigan Onion Committee, of DeWitt, Creating a Website to Promote Michigan Onion Consumption - $8,000

Michigan Potato Industry Commission, of East Lansing, Bettering the School Nutrition Platform for Students in Michigan through Increasing Accessibility to Potatoes - $92,130

Michigan State University Extension, of Clinton Township, Increasing Capacity in the Institutional Use of Michigan Specialty Crops - $66,498

Michigan Vegetable Council, of Erie, Cucurbit Downy Mildew Management Strategies:  Facing New Challenges - $99,042

Michigan Vegetable Council, of Erie, Developing Strategies to Protect Squash and Pumpkin from Phytophthora Blight - $62,510

National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc., of Berrien Springs, Development of Vineyards for Maximum Production of Juice Grapes-Economic Impact Analysis and Grower and Industry Outreach - $26,800
Pickle Packers International, Inc., of Washington, DC, Promotion of Industry-Wide GAP Food Safety Program and Audit Scheme for Processed Pickles and Peppers in Michigan - $100,000

AFFCON Reiterate Commitment to Sustain Food Security in the Country

AFFCON 2015 National Conference/Food Expo

The Association of Fast Food Confectioners of Nigeria, AFFCON has reiterated its commitment to continue to work at improving its knowledge and skills in order to better manage its businesses in the face of global competition as well as sustain food security in the long term in the country.

AFFCON National President, Mrs. Bose Ayeni who disclosed this during her welcome address at the 2015 National Conference/Food Expo held at the Blue Roof of the Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, said the event is aimed at bringing together the critical legs in the food value chain in an interactive session.

Ayeni while shedding more light about the association, said AFFCON was set up to promote and protect the interest of fast food operators and all significant stakeholders, adding that its core mandate is to promote cooperation, leading to healthy competition amongst fast food operators.

“AFFCON is a platform through which we foster harmonious relationship with the various tiers of government, working with them to establish acceptable standard in the industry.

“The association is committed to ensure that member organisations strive towards achieving and maintaining international standards in all our areas of operations to guarantee maximum customer satisfaction.” she said.
Speaking on the theme of the event “Synergy in the Food Chain: A Catalyst for Economic and Agricultural Development”, Ayeni said food is critical to Nigeria’s national growth and economic development, noting that the country can no longer relegate agriculture to the background.

She stated that it is no longer news that the Nigerian Fast Food Industry is a key contributor to the Nigerian economy with estimated annual revenue of #230 billion and taxes in excess of a billion naira.

The AFFCON President also noted that the Fast Food Industry collectively provides employment for over 500,000 people at the processing and retailing levels.

“We are certainly contributing to the reduction of unemployment in this country, which is a focal point of the Federal Government.” she said.

Ayeni however said that this figure can increase tremendously if Fast Food business is given the right environment to strive.

She further stated that with the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, there has been improvement in electricity supply, noting that regular supply of power will reduce cost drastically and invariable impact on the prices of commodities.

Amongst the myriad of challenges facing the new government, the AFFCON president stated that security, exchange, inflation and interest rates, and urgent diversification of the economy, has a direct impact on the fast food industry.

Ayeni also noted that one of the challenges stunting the potential growth of the Fast Food Industry is access to and cost of capital.

She therefore call on government to continue to support the association as well as assured all who strive for growth and development to take full advantage of the event by interacting, socializing and sharing of business ideas.

Meanwhile, in his goodwill message, the General Manager/CEO, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Engr. Adebola Sbabi said the theme of the event in itself is exciting to an environmentalist because in the environmental family, it is believed that environmental management system requires a joint effort to make it sustainable.

Shabi disclosed that the partnership LASEPA has enjoyed with AFFCON in Lagos State has been a positive synergy, adding that the agency till date still enjoys the support given by AFFCON especially in understanding the policy drive in environmental protection.

Farmers Seek Better Handling of Agric Funds by Govt

Farmers in Niger Delta region

Farmers in Niger Delta region have charged government to demonstrate sincerity in the disbursement of agricultural funds meant for local farmers.

The farmers, who spoke yesterday ahead of today’s World Food Day celebration, decried a situation where such facilities end up in private pockets.

A farmer from Etche Local Council of Rivers State, Onyemachi Daniel said it was disheartening that funds meant to encourage farmers with the aim of boosting food production were diverted by politicians.

“As local farmers, we are not seeing anything called money to encourage us improve our farming. It is being politicised. The people that collect the money are not farmers, they are politicians and they use it to build mansions and travel abroad,” he submitted.

Daniel, however, called on government to ensure effective monitoring of agric loans and equitable distribution.

Another farmer, Mrs. Evelyn Emiri who also is the Chief Executive of Ego Farms Resources, urged the government to continue encouraging farmers.

She called for more sensitisation to enable youths go into farming as a source of livelihood, stressing that agriculture would advance the economy and eradicate unemployment in the country.

Meanwhile, the Market Development Programme in Niger Delta (MADE), an intervention organisation poised to boost agriculture production in the South South region, has said it is empowering 50,000 farmers in the geopolitical through loans to aid production of better non-oil products that would made them competitive.

Its Team Leader, Dr. Terry Lacey, said the organisation had signed an agreement with over seven banks to facilitate the grants, adding that the programme offers a number of opportunities and incentives for promising and potential farmers.

Lacey emphasized the need for all hands to be on desk to ensure that agriculture thrives in Nigeria.
“Currently, the main source of food supply is agriculture. Agriculture is more important than oil. The price of oil has fallen drastically and will never rise or be as important as it was, and what that entails is that everyone should ensure that agriculture thrives.

“The key thing now in Nigeria is that most people are making a living from farming and to see more food and better income, it will not come from another source but through agriculture, so farmers need to be encouraged,” he charged.

He pointed out that for the country to achieve her dream of being in the league of biggest economies in the world by year 2025, the agric sector must be revived and farmers supported to get all requisite equipment.

“For that target to be achieved the whole chain of agriculture needs to work, people need to move from small farm to bigger farm, from middle size processing to factories. More people need to be encouraged to go into farming,” he said.

World Food Day: Lagos Govt Restate its Promise to Support Farmers

lagos state farmers

The Lagos State Government has restated its promise to support farmers in order to boost food production and create opportunities for small scale farmers while disclosing that it has join forces with the Kebbi State Government to develop rice value chain.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode who stated this today while delivering his keynote address at the Grand finale of the 2015 World Food Day held at the Johnson Agiri Agricultural Complex, Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos state said the collaboration is hinged on the fact that while Lagos is the highest consumer of milled rice, Kebbi State is considered the largest producer of paddy rice.

Ambode who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Yakub Basorun noted that the state consumed more than 50 per cent of national rice demand.

“Lagos State consumes more 50 per cent of national rice demand which is estimated at over two million metric tons, valued at N365 billion.

“Ninety per cent metric tons of the national rice demand is imported from foreign countries, which drain our foreign exchange reserve. It is against this backdrop that the Kebbi State Governor and I decided to collaborate on the development of the rice value chain,’’ Ambode said
.
According to him, large quantities of paddy rice are expected to arrive in Lagos soonest.
He called on private sector and stakeholders in the agro-enterprise value chain to invest in the additional milling facilities in the state.

“In the next few months, hundreds of thousands of bags of paddy rice will be brought to Lagos markets. I therefore enjoin private sector and stakeholders in agro-enterprise value chain to invest in the additional milling facilities.’’ the governor said.

Ambode also enjoined rice distributors in various markets to register with the ministry of agriculture to guarantee high quality milled rice for the state.

“It is our desire to ensure food security and an enabling environment for our people to have physical and economic access to adequate, safe and nutritious food,’’ he stated.

While presenting award of certificates to 66 women and youths who were trained by the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) in the three value chains – rice, poultry and aquaculture, Ambode stated that the state is ready to work with small scale farmers to assist them in solving food problems as the trainees were exposed to modern techniques and commercialization of agricultural products.

Speaking with AgroNigeria at the event, the Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN and Chairman Lagos Center of Commerce, Crops Sub-Groups, Otunba Femi Oke, said finance, access to loans, the issue of collateral, lack of conducive farming environment, amongst others were the major challenges faced by rural farmers.

“The government should come to our aid in the areas of finance. We have just been informed recently that about N200 billion has just been given to the Bank of Agriculture but that it was only for the small scale farmers that single digit is being introduced.

“We also want the government to give us grants, like this rice importation being ban, we have a lot of farmers who are into rice business, but they are not being encouraged, we need to encourage these farmers to produce more rice.

“Government can still set up a body, like a community board for all these produce in order to encourage the youths that are coming in as getting the land to farm sometimes is very difficult. If the government should set up a board, then it will be very ease for us to acquire land probably on lease and this will encourage the youth to go into agriculture.

“Also the environment to farm is not very conducive, as the roads are not motor-able and most farm areas lack electricity supplies. If these are put in place, it will stop the migration of farmers from the rural areas to the urban centers and there will be food on the table of every Nigerian, because we are very food sufficient in Nigeria.” Oke noted.

On the part of the farmers, the Chairman AFAN, called on all farmers in the country to take advantage of this era of agriculture, noting that gone are the days when agric was just planting, while urging them to regard agriculture as a business.

“This is the era of agric, let us focus on it, the time that we think that agric is just for us to plant has gone, we are now taking agric as a business, if you plant now you need to make money from which ever area you are involve in.” he said.

Oke therefore urged the Federal government to strengthen the local governments, provide farmers with a single digit rate, allow farmers access to loans and grants, setup a community board for all its produce so as to encourage the youths to venture into agriculture, and create an enabling environment for farmers to strive.

“The government should also encourage, strengthen and listen to our associations because this is the platform through which we encourage other peasant farmers; assist in the area of finance by strengthening our micro finance banks; opening of some of the rural roads, assist in putting more extension farmers into the local government, to make sure our local government is strengthened in the area of agric; as well as help us liaise with community leaders who are willing to lease their lands for farming.” He advised.

Also speaking with AgroNigeria, the Principal of Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School – winners of a quiz competition to mark the 2015 World Food Day, Mrs. O. O. Adewale urged the government to make agriculture attractive to every Nigerian youth by creating a conducive and technological office setting, where young Nigerian farmers will have the opportunity to get information on agriculture.

Adewale also advised the government to be ready to buy the product of these young farmers so as to ease the stress of looking for buyers, which could be discouraging.

The 2015 World Food Day with theme “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty”, is an annual programme to celebrate the achievements of farmers across the world.

AgroNigeria reports that the programme was attended by Body of Permanent Secretaries, Management Staff in the Ministry Of Agriculture, Executive Secretaries of LGA and LGDAs, Royal Fathers, All Farmers Associations, Settlements and Estates, Stakeholders in the agriculture sector, Cooperatives, Schools and Farmers.

A three day media interactive workshop

 A three day media interactive workshop organised by USAID-International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Nigeria on increasing Groundnut production in Ghana, Mali and Nigeria begins today 12th Oct at Kano as the publisher, foodfarmnews, Mr. Ayeni Oladehinde will join other resource persons to deliver a paper titled " Challenges and Opportunities in reporting Agricultural Value Chain Crops" while the lead paper on Evolution of Media Audience and Implications for Technology will be taken by by Dr. Boboh Micheal ICRISAT.

 Others are officials from FMARD, and Country Representive of ICRISAT. The project being funded by USAID is meant to vigorously pursue upscaling of GN production in the West African region through all the value chains with training capacity building for the media practitioners who are agents of information in the sector. In the face of food standard production with mycotoxin disease challenges to grain crops, this session cannot be better than now for more business opportunities for National food production.

Rivers Among The 21 States Hit By Bird Flu

Bird Flu

The Rivers State government has confirmed that the state is among the twenty one states recently listed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as states hit by avian influenza, popularly called bird flu.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Otonyetarie Okoye, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday, said bird flu has been discovered in some farms in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City local government areas of the state.



Okoye stated that the ministry was making efforts to contain the spread of the bird flu from the affected farms, adding that the state government was already closing down illegal poultry farms in the state.



She also appealed to the public to be careful with the nature of poultry products they purchaed for consumption.

The permanent secretary also advised the public to properly cook their poultry products before consumption.

Recall that last August, there were reports of a new outbreak of the bird flu virus in Choba area of the state, the state government took samples of stool of the birds to the National Veterinary Institute, Jos, for bird flu test.