Agric Expert Calls for Revolution in Sector

women farmers

For the Nation to experience self sustenance and food security, an agricultural expert has called for a revolution in the agricultural sector.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SENCE Agric, Mrs. Ogo Ibok, who made the call recently in Lagos, said with the renewed interest in agriculture, government, agencies and banks should help to make the sector strong as employment opportunities are available there in.

Ibok also called for a radical outlook in support of the sector and stakeholders in order to realise the country’s great potential.

Speaking in an Agric Business Clinic, the CEO stated that 0.3 per cent of farmers in Nigeria own most of the land and the rest of the farmers only do subsistence agriculture.

“With the large population of youths in Nigeria, our government should help make agriculture lucrative and not just a dirty work as viewed in times past.

“₦17.625trn which is 21.97 per cent of our national income can be generated from the agric sector if many loose ends are tackled. The farmers we have are ageing and there is no replacement for them because no one wants to go through the arduous process again but there are opportunities for mechanized farming being overlooked.

“Look at the major checkpoints (about 35 of them) faced by tomato farmers in bringing their produce from the North down to the south. More than 50 per cent got spoilt for lack of proper transportation facility and storage facility.” she said.

Ibok further explained that “Pineapples which grow in the South-South do not have the required storage system to make them durable until the buyer comes. Strawberries are grown in Jos but there is no proper frame work to harness these produce that the Westerners are looking for.

“The agro-chemical potential for crop protection products has the ability to grow at 9 per cent per annum at $250 million in Nigeria. There is no production presently in the agro-chemical sub-sector because we import all we need to protect our seeds and produce. We need a holistic change across the value chain- the production, processing and marketing of farm produce,” Ibok said.

Head of Agric, Heritage Bank, Mr Ken Osanebi, said there is a need for farmers to be financially educated as this has hampered them from accessing loans from banks.

Osanebi noted that most banks do not want to deal with farmers because they don’t keep records and if records are not kept, the banks cannot monitor their progress.

Unlocking Africa’s Potential to Create Wealth from Agriculture – AfDB President

Akinwumi Adesina.

There is an unbelievable contrast in Africa today. How can a continent with such an abundance of arable land, water and sunshine annually import food worth $35 billion? How can it be that the continent is not food secure? This must change.

These are the words of the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina.
Adesina said: “We must change the narrative around African agriculture, which employs two-thirds of the population and accounts for nearly a quarter of the GDP. Agriculture is not a way of life, or a social sector. Agriculture is a business. A business that will help countries to diversify their economies, reduce their dependency on food imports, create jobs, and revive rural areas”.

He noted that migration out of rural areas is rising rapidly, and thousands of young people now jump on boats to the Mediterranean looking for new opportunities in Europe.

According to the AfDB president, the agricultural sector has four times the power to create jobs and reduce poverty than any other sector. “That is why we make the claim that we can diminish the migrant crisis in Europe by supporting agricultural transformation in Africa.” he said
“It is time that Ministers of Finance across the continent see the sector for what it is: the sector with the best potential to bring about macro-economic and fiscal stabilization.

Adesina further explained: “The value of the food and agribusiness market is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2030. This is an enormous opportunity for Africa, especially as it unlocks its agricultural and agribusiness potential to capture this market, while expanding regional trade. Africa may not be yet in a position to manufacture airplanes, but it can feed its growing population, and become a global powerhouse in food and agriculture.

“Feeding the estimated 9 billion people in the world by 2050, will depend on how Africa capitalizes on having 65% of the world’s remaining arable land. By raising agricultural productivity, modernizing agriculture, developing agro-allied industries and investing in value-added processing for agricultural commodities, Africa can unlock its agricultural potential. As the private sector invests in large scale food processing and manufacturing factories across rural areas, and governments invest in integrated rural infrastructure especially roads, rails, energy, water and irrigation, the cost of doing rural business will drop drastically.

“New zones of economic prosperity will be created where young people will be willing to live in the countryside and engage in profitable agricultural activities and non-farm and off-farm activities. A new generation of commercial farmers will emerge: younger, dynamic, technology-savvy and competitive.

Smallholder farmers the bulk of the farming population, the majority of who are women will be able to access reliable markets. Commercial banks and microfinance institutions will expand lending, as farmers secure markets for their produce and agro-industries expand Africa’s ability to compete in global markets.”

He stated that there is a need for Africa to think big and act big on agriculture, in order to help feed Africa, adding that Africa may have the potential in agriculture, but cannot eat her potential.

“When all this is put in place backed by the political will of African leaders, we will change the narrative of African agriculture in ten years as Africa will feed itself, and fully unlock its potential to feed the world” Adesina noted.

Agriculturalist Urges Govt. to Encourage Irrigation Farming

farm land

An agriculturalist, Mr Stephen Atar has called on the three tiers of government to support extensive irrigation farming to save the country from imminent food shortage.
 
Atar, who is the Managing Director, DA-ALLGREEN SEEDS Ltd, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.

He said supporting irrigation farming would go a long way to mitigate the effect of flood and other factors that had affected the nation’s food production.

Atar said that flooding, insecurity and change of government had adversely affected agricultural output in 2015, thereby posing a threat to the nation’s food security.

According to him, only massive dry season farming could cushion the effect of low output in terms of food production being recorded in the country.

“Agriculturists are worried about climate change and how it has affected agricultural production, following flood that occurred in some parts of the country, destroying farm produce this year.

“Also, the current Boko Haram activities that bedeviled the North East region had made that part of the country, virtually agriculturally non- productive, as people could not go to their farms for fear of being killed.
“For the other side of the country that is productive, unfortunately there was flood and the few fields that farmers have been able to plant were flooded,” Atar explained.

The Managing Director of the Kaduna-Based Multifaceted Seeds Company told newsmen that the interface of change of power from the previous administration to the current government also affected agricultural output.

He said the change of government created a vacuum and affected the inputs supply to farmers through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) introduced by the last administration.
“Farmers could not access the subsidized fertiliser and seeds usually distributed to them around May and June by the government.

“So whatever output that was supposed to be recorded this year, was highly reduced in terms of volume.
“As such, food shortage is imminent in the country due to the aforementioned factors that affected our agricultural production this year,” Atar said.

He, therefore, urged government at all levels to support extensive dry season farming to boost food production in the country.

“Eating Is A Right”- AfDB President

African Development Bank

The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has emphasized that food, in quantity and quality, is the right of every human being, noting that what is most important is the safety of the belly.

Adesina who disclosed this at the just concluded conference on agriculture and agribusiness with the theme “Feeding Africa” held in Dakar, said Africa is ready to molt agriculture in a commercial enterprise – a transformation that requires the diversification of the agricultural sector.

The AfDB President is convinced that “Africa has to be the breadbasket of the world, however in order to achieve this, she must release her full potential and make a radical transformation of agriculture.

Adesina stated that according to estimates, the bill for food imports in Africa totaled US $ 35 billion annually. This he said should encourage Africans to develop her agricultural sector and dedicate the budget devoted to food imports to something else.

He called on the Central Banks and Development Banks to lend to the agriculture sector saying “Giving credit to agriculture is profitable” while also urging the Banks to investment in rural infrastructure.

“We must modernize agriculture in Africa”, the AfDB President said, adding that this will enable the youths to invest their energy in the sector.  To address this therefore, Adesina has called for investment and development of the processing sector which helps to reinforce food security, reduce poverty, boost exports and promote economic growth, while he appealed to all Africans, to eradicate extreme poverty, hunger and position Africa in the global value chain.

Adesina had earlier announced the intention of the Bank to launch a “New Deal” for energy in Africa, so as to fill the gap which suffers the continent and hinders its development.

It may interest you to know that AfDB and its development partners will commit US $ 300 million to finance a fund to support women working in agriculture in Africa.

Editorial Fighting aflatoxin for a better market

The recently organized workshop by the USAID- ICRISAT for media men at Kano towards up scaling the production of groundnut commercially in the country ended with great concern for a pragmatic policy that will ensure more better agricultural produce for National and International consumptions as challenges of a fungi disease called aflatoxin infection on both human and animals can be so colossal if preventive measured are not encouraged.
 

As the groundnut up scaling is about to commence in some states of the Federation, Nigeria may stand to regain back her position in the world market when she used to be the largest exporter over America untill the position was lost due to neglect and policy summersault as there is need for standard production against any fungi diseases occasioned by mould that can short- change the market potential.

The incorrigible attitude of our local farmers to new method techniques of production is also a great challenge to fighting this fungi mould disease that would have been better addressed through effective extension officers which funding has been made moribund in many states of the federation which is a great challenge to agricultural development.

Media men were educated about the causes of aflatoxin as result of fungi infection disease on crops occasioned by moulds infections right from harvesting and post harvesting to further processing of drying in a local way which may not be too effective for dryness of all the nuts according to Prof. Olufunmilola Alabi of the Institute for Agriculture (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria who argued that the adverse impact of consuming a non healthy nuts could result to many diseases in both humans and animals that can get contaminated through livestock feeds emphasizing the need to educate our feeds producers just as farmers should be watchful of what they give to their animals. Why this issue of aflatoxin bothers mind is the inability to be easily identify with naked eyes according to scientists who stated that the good news is that it could be prevented through many ways that need to be well backed with government political will at all levels for the benefit of market acceptability and food safety in the country.

Another thing that is worrisome and worthy of asking is what the government has been doing to put in place a very stable preventive measure towards checkmating this infectious disease based on her awareness of this aflatoxicosis disease outbreak since 1961 at United Kingdom leading to enormous economic loss in poultry. We are aware that the Federal Government by then set up a screening exercise in order to protect the groundnut market interest then which must be ascertained whether the measure is still there or not since the collapse of pyramid days. 

The increasing population of Nigeria demands for more food production of which ground nut produce is very strategic based on its derivates in terms of vegetable oil and cake for home consumptions cum animals’ feeds cannot be overemphasized for its needs for standard production, processing and marketing through aflatoxin free diseases. 

In the present spirited effort of this present administration of President Mohammadu Buhari to diversify the economy from the oil sector to the real economy, it will not be also out of place to ensure the standard production of agricultural produce in the face of international markets’ rejection of our crops produce in order to achieve the repositioning of the country’s economy with respect to giving prevention of  aflatoxin and any other fungi associated diseases is functional policy through a proactive preventive measure of science measurement being put in place right from land preparation to harvesting, post harvesting and marketing for a food safety and secured nation. And this measurement must be well politically supported at all level of governments as farmers must be enlightened in this regards for the benefit of their produce’ premium.

FAO backs AFRONET on food security - Osun state promises NOAN land

Group picture at the 3rd AfroNet

In her bit to ensure absolute food security for the Black continent in the next two decades, the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has supported the call made by African Organic Network (AFRONET) on member countries to embrace the use of naturally made manure to growing crops as a policy programme that would enhance premium of produce in the world markets just as the Osun state Governor, Ogbeni, Raul Aregbesola has promised the Nigeria Organic Agriculture of Nigeria (NOAN) a landed property for the purpose of healthy crops and animal production for the citizens. 

This FAO and Osun state government’s supports  for African naturally produces foods cannot be better than now as most countries of the world are now clamoring for food safety in terms of organically produced crops and animals thereby making higher demand for such commercial production coupled the ecological advantages of member countries having comparative advantages of growing crops without any inorganic fertilizers. 

The FAO is lending her weight behind the calling for national policy on organic agricultural practice made by AFRONET on the need for African countries to initiate a frame work that would mainstream a practice of applying organically produced manuals that will enhance quality and safety of food production thereby protecting the health of people and maintaining a clean environment. 

AFRONT has made this summation at a recently concluded world conference hosted at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos tilled “ Achieving social and economic development through ecological and organic agricultural alternatives by NOAN as the President,  Mr Jordan Gama, opened the five-day ``Third African Organic Conference’’ with his remark advocating that governments of African countries should show serious commitment towards popularizing the organic agricultural practice to enhance healthy and improved food production. 

 Mr. Morgan added that it was very imperative for policy makers at the conference to uphold the sensitizing of the continent on the need to embrace organic agricultural practice with farmers taking advantages of the premium produce crops to make more money based on high demand markets saying the presence of key African representative at the conference was a blessing to the continent. 

Speaking in affiliation to the use of organic agricultural practice to enhance food security in the continent, the FAO representative Ms. Allison Loconto who commended the effort of Nigeria towards revolutionizing agricultural sector to enhancing food security said that “The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday pledged continued supports to African countries in creating economically and efficient food system through ecological organic agriculture” Commenting further on Nigerian agricultural activities, Ms Loconto of FAO said that “one of the research projects the FAO has been working on in Nigeria is in collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

We have been looking at the community based farming system programme which is on organic agriculture. The project involves developing organic agriculture curriculum which is being integrated into the system for bachelor’s degree.Both students and lecturers under the project have been working with small farm communities around the university to do farm experimentation and to engage the communities in the organic practices. From the point of view of FAO, the investment in research and participatory training can help to build the agriculture sector”.

 She stated further that “FAO member states have been requesting the UN organization (FAO) to provide them with technical assistance and to invest in organic agriculture. There are some member states, which have been making commitments to this efforts and FAO has been supporting them in this. In Latin America and Africa, there have been requests for supports and this is why FAO is holding this International symposium, in order to play up organic agriculture on agenda. This type of awareness among UN member countries are necessary to sensitize the governments particularly in Africa, so that they can become aware of the potentials of organic agriculture in tackling problem of food shortage’’.

 FAO is looking at agricology and ecological agriculture as one of the ways to reduce the negative environmental impact and the pressure on the environment. We are working towards creating socially sound and economically sound efficient food systems by supporting the ecological organic agriculture. Agricology and ecologically organic agriculture practice is currently being focused” said she. 

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state who was represented by Dr Adeleke Ipaye, the  Commissioner for Local Government expressed willingness of the governor’s administration to partner with the NOAN pointed that his boss has realized the potential of organic agriculture in the  improvement of  living standard through production of healthy and nutritional food for the population as “the governor also pledged to give landed property to NOAN in the state, free of charge for the organic agriculture practice” 

Others who spoke on the occasion includes ,Dr Henrique Pacini, an official of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), during an interview with food farm news said that dealing in organic agricultural products could increase income of rural communities saying that his organization has been working in developing organic market since 2004 for healthy nutrition and lifestyle. 

Mr Musa Muwanga, Chief Executive Officer, National Organic Agriculture Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), said that agriculture was the backbone of most African countries saying "Agriculture is the primary activity of more than 60 per cent of the population in Africa accounting for more than 30 per cent of the GDP in many sub-Sahara countries. Agriculture's ability to generate income for the poor, particularly women, is more important for food security than the ability to increase local food supplies," 

Miss Kate Kibara, the Chief Executive Officer of Kates Organic Limited, Kenya, however urged the Nigerian government to harness the potential in the ecological organic agriculture to encourage youths into skill acquisitions saying that over 40% of the Africa’s population is made up of youth who are mostly unemployed thereby resulting to escalating social challenges and problems. 

Kibara, however, observed that challenges such as lack of capital, access to land, lack of business opportunities and limited capacity and experience had hindered youths desiring to engage in agriculture as a means of livelihood. 

The meeting which attracted over 220 participants, including farmers from various countries of the African continent ran for 5^- 9 October with the following recommendations to all members and donor partners

*Endorse and support the implementation of the African EOA Strategic Plan *Mainstream EOA in their policies, investment plans and programmes, based on the local needs in consultation with the ecological organic agriculture stakeholders and other like-minded organizations in their countries

*Allocate at least 1.0% of the 10% total public expenditure to agriculture for the implementation of the African EOA Strategic Plan.

*Develop seed systems and training programs for women the youth and other stakeholders to generate planting material resources and breeds of livestock to promote ecological organic agriculture.

*Document and recognize the role of women and youth and to include the contribution household food security towards GDP.

*Domesticate the African model Law for the protection of the rights of local communities, farmers and breeders, and for the regulation of access to biological resources

*Take steps to remove trade barriers within and across borders in order to deepen access to national, regional and global markets and expand their market share

*Africa’s development partners and donors to increase support to the AU led Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, including the expansion of the Initiative to other African countries beyond the eight countries being supported.

*All African stakeholders and development partners to engage in and support NOARA’s research agenda which is to support the scientific, innovative and traditional knowledge dimensions of ecological organic agriculture.

*FARA to partner with NOARA in identifying and addressing major research priorities that will help make ecological organic agriculture more productive, profitable and sustainable.

*National, regional and international organizations committed to supporting healthy and productive food and agriculture systems to continue and step up their efforts to sensitize the society about the multiple benefits of ecological organic agriculture.

*Ecological organic agriculture actors at the country level to liaise and work with the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Country teams to mainstream EOA in the CAADP investment plans.

UAM develops high yielding and early maturing cowpea, farmers count blessings

Dr. Lucky O. Omoigui

The University of Agriculture, Makurdi has successfully researched an early maturing and high yielding cowpea cultivars as farmers in the state have given positive testimony to the new improved technology through increased productivity.

Food farm news authoritatively gathered that the University of Agriculture, Makurdi scientists have developed high yielding cowpea cultivars that are early maturing (about 65 days) and medium maturing (about 75 days) and have consumer preferred traits such as seeds size, seed coat texture and colour.

Speaking to food-farm news, Dr. Lucky O. Omoigui, Plant Breeder/Molecular Geneticist University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria, explained that the development was fast-tracked using molecular tools.

Dr. Omoigui described the UAM developed cowpea as absolute resistant to two parasitic weeds (Striga and Alectra Spp.) and other major diseases and pests.

He added that the developed cowpeas are well adapted to sole or intercropping especially in the dry savannas of Nigeria where Striga and Alectra are the major production constraints.

Following this development of the cowpea cultivars which hitherto was only cultivated and grown in the Northern parts of Nigeria, Dr. Omoigui expressed delight at the high yields of these cultivars now which ranged from 1.9 tons to 2.4 per ha, pointing out the successes recorded extensively in Benue and Jigawa States where farmers adopted the newly developed varieties for cultivation.

Cowpea Farmer on the farm

The University DON disclosed that the seed delivery component of the TL3 project is being piloted in five Local Government Areas of Benue State namely: Buruku, Makurdi, Guma and Gboko.

According to Dr. Omoigui, the project is a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundations and it is aimed at bringing about significant increases in yield of cowpea of different classes among farmers, promote and strengthen seed/input marketer through linkages to private seed companies, create awareness to popularize the improved stress-resistant cowpea cultivars and capacity building of the various actor in the cowpea value chain. Consequently, there is a fast growing populating among Benue Farmers in the cultivation and growth of cowpea in the state.

When Food-Farm News visited a number of Farming communities in Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas, it was an expression of Joy and satisfaction by the farmers.

At Ucha Community in Makurdi Local Government Area, Mrs. Veronica Iorshav, TerunduTerfa and Mr. Kor Aga James who were met working on their Farms respectively, professed that the introduction of cowpea and improved soybeans have reduced poverty among the farmers. The Farmers eulogized the enormous benefits of cowpea farming to include finance and consumption of the beans by cake-baking, moi-moi, porridge and ordinary cooking with just a little salt and oil makes a meal.

The farmers also commended the high yields of the newly developed variety which can be planted three times in a season.

Food-Farm News also visited Ortese Community in Guma Local Government Area where community based organization farmers was working on a model farm. The farmers are taught on how to plant, apply fertilizers and pesticides.

Dr. Lucky Omoigui who took Food-farm news on the tour explained that the import was to contract growers to seed companies for distribution to member farmers.

Dr. Omoigui however lamented the lack of farm equipment such as tractors and other farm implements for hiring as a real obstacle faced by farmers towards expanding their production. He was collaborated by a cross section of farmers spoken to who posited that manual labour farming using hoes and cutlasses do not allow the crops to grow at once since land cannot be cleared and ploughed simultaneously. They also stressed that manual farming limit them to what their strength can carryout.

Mrs. Joyce Nyiev and her husband Mr. Patrick Nyiev who were caught on their Farms in Guma Local Government called on the Government of the day to provide farmers with modern farming imputs like Tractors, Sprayers and employ Agricultural extension workers to assist the farmers who are ready to boost food production and increase their economic status.

The UAM have in addition established a pilot learning farm at NYSC farm along Makurdi – Lafia Road in Guma Local Government. Over 30 farmers are contracted to work on the farm where 5 varieties of cowpea are planted. The farm provides a basket of options where farmers are expected to learn and adopt the best out of the five varieties. On this farm, techniques of fertilizer application, spraying, property weeding and good crop management, spraying regime when to spray and how to spray are being demonstrated for farmers to acquire.

The farm is established as a foundation of seeds for distribution to farmers. Over 30 laborers work on the farm where not first employment is offered but farming techniques imparted as well.

The farm is a UAM – IITA partnership collaborative project Tropical Legume 3 (TL3) and is funded by Bill and Melinda Gate foundation.

About 115 – 120 cowpea farmers have benefited this year across Makurdi, Guma, Buruku, Gboko and parts of Ukum LGAs of Benue State.