Farmers Urge to access CBN intervention fund

farmers

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has advised farmers to develop agri-business proposals to access the ₦200 billion Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) intervention fund.

The Lagos State Chairman of the association, Mr Femi Oke who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen recently in Lagos said the fund has been available, however, farmers and agribusiness owners were not utilising it.

Oke disclosed that the fund was an avenue for farmers to develop their productivity through the use of modern technologies.

“We are happy with the intervention fund by the CBN being disbursed through commercial banks. Although the fund has been in existence, but farmers are not taking full advantage of it. All they need to do is forward a credible business proposal through any commercial bank.

“The fund repayment plan is at a single digit interest rate which is very good because farmers cannot deal with double digit interest rate,” he said.

The chairman, however, called on the Federal Government to advise commercial banks to desist from collecting or making other charges, which discourage farmers from accessing the fund.

He alleged that the banks were making the process too difficult for farmers thereby scaring them away.
It will be recalled that the CBN, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, introduced the Commercial Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (CACS) in 2009 to finance agriculture value chain. The value chain begins from input supply to cultivation and finally to marketing.

The CACS was originally introduced to fast-track the development of the economy through credit facilities at a single digit interest rate.

Report has it that a farmer is entitled to ₦5 million and above from the CBN intervention fund.

Agricultural revolution will check corruption – Farida Waziri

Dr. Farida Waziri

A call has been made for the diversification of Nigeria’s economy through policies that will boost agricultural productivity and industrial output for the nation’s socio-economic development.

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Farida Waziri, who made the call while commissioning the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence Project, “Centre for Food Technology and Research” (CEFTER), located at the Benue State University (BENSU), Makurdi said the time had come to diversify the nation’s economy from being oil revenue driven to other sectors, especially Agriculture.

Waziri, who was the chairperson at the official launch of the Centre, noted that the World Bank project is coming to Nigeria at the right time.

According to statement by her media aide, Ade Williams, the former EFCC boss said long years of over-dependence on oil revenue is one of the driving forces of public and private sector corruption in the country.

She said “No doubt, our over-dependence on oil revenue has brought us to the point where we are as a nation today. As an anti-corruption czar, I have seen how some of those the nation entrusted with its oil resources in the past helped themselves more than the country.

“With our focus on agriculture, the struggle by political office holders to steal oil fund would diminish while the national wealth will be in the hands of the people instead of a privileged greedy few. We cannot all dig oil wells in our backyard but we can all farm in our backyards. It is time to end oil-money induced corruption in our land by buying into President Buhari’s vision and take ownership.

“I have made my contributions in the fight to discourage that and even recovered some of the looted funds in billions of dollars. For daring to do that, I came under fierce attacks, slander, blackmail and threats but by God’s grace and long years of experience, I survived all. I am glad today that indeed, there is a new sheriff in town.”

She further said: “I am aware the mandate of CEFTER is to promote teaching, research and extension in Post Harvest services, enhance agricultural productivity and industrial output for the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria and Africa. I must admit that this can’t be coming at a better time than now when the new leadership of our country is already looking towards agriculture as a more reliable alternative to oil revenue.

“With the strategic location of CEFTER in the food basket of the nation, Benue state and the caliber of hands that have been put in charge to manage the project, I will wholeheartedly seek the support of the federal government, multi-nationals and well-meaning Nigerians and our friends across the country that this is one project all of us should support in the interest of our national economy and economic development of all.”
Waziri added that the support will in no small way reduce the over $4 billion estimated as the yearly post harvest losses incurred by African countries.

While counseling the managers of the Centre to make dedication and transparency their watchwords, the former EFCC boss commended the Vice Chancellor of BENSU, Prof. Charity Angya, and the Project Manager of CEFTER, Dr. Barnabas Achakpa Ikya, for their efforts to see the project take-off.
Benue State University was chosen by the World Bank as one of its 10 Africa Centres of Excellence Project.

10,000 Akwa Ibom Youths will get Agric Jobs – Gov. Emmanuel

Udom Emmanuel

The Akwa Ibom State Government has said it will create jobs for 10,000 youths in the agricultural sector in order to sustain its administration’s plan for an agricultural revolution.

Governor Udom Emmanuel who disclosed this during the weekend in Uyo, the state capital, in an interaction with leaders of major socio-cultural organisations, said his administration was committed to laying a solid economic foundation for the future through industrialisation.

Emmanuel said for the agricultural revolution’s take-off, 10 modernised cassava processing plants would be established across the state.

The governor noted that the state was blessed with arable land that makes cultivation easy for all seasons.
He therefore reiterated the commitment of his administration to exploiting the agricultural potential in the state by ensuring that the vast arable land across the state was cultivated.

Emmanuel said the job creation plan would make it easier for youths – who were sent to Israel for training on mechanised farming – to maximize their skills in agriculture.

He noted that the move was meant to ensure that indigenes could earn a living rather than beg for it, adding that “If we do not plant today, there may not be harvest tomorrow to sustain the people, as over-dependence on oil cannot do the economy any good.”

Nigeria can reduce wheat importation by 25% – Peju

wheat

The representative of the International Potato Centre, (IPC) in Nigeria, Dr. Phorbee Peju has said the Country can reduce importation of wheat by 25 per cent, if its farmers embraced proper growth of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes, (OFSP).

Peju, who spoke at the 18th annual lecture of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin on the topic; ‘Food Security, Employment Generation and Wealth Creation in a Developing Economy: the Role of (OFSP),’ said OFSP, which could be grown in all the 36 states of the Federation could meet some bakery needs in Nigeria.

According to her, the bakery industry – which is the largest industry in Nigeria – can boost farmers’ productivity; improve nutrition and livelihoods if OFSP- in form of puree – can be used in bread baking and other pastry products like cookies, cakes, pies and so on.

She said a composite flour of about 40 per cent OFSP puree has been made into well acceptable bread for commercial purpose in Nairobi while most bakery in Osun State are presently using it.

Peju noted that this inclusion even at 25 per cent, will go a long way in reducing dependence on wheat importation, conserve foreign exchange, put more money in farmers’ pockets and productively engage our women and youths, adding that this is just one aspect of use, not to mention other products that can be adopted from countries especially China.

She disclosed that there are other commercial high value products that can be made from the OFSP like juice, complementary foods, and jam/spread.

According to the country’s representative, Rainbow project, in collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Federal Polytechnic Offa are working tirelessly on OFSP diversified product development and promotions for uptake by the medium-large scale industries.

OFSP is a breed of sweet potato that is fortified with Vitamin A; which is an essential micronutrient for all especially children under the age of five, pregnant and lactating mothers, just as it improves vision.

Beyond ‘boil and eat’, the OFSP had been processed into various commercial products and also used to enrich indigenous foods. Rural women processors in the six OFSP projects’ states have successfully come up with OFSP Kunu, (local beverage), OFSP gaari, Fufu, elubo, pap and other meals.

Launch of the National Strategy on Women in Agriculture Development

farmer

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have today launched a “National Strategy on Women in Agriculture Development”.

The Strategy document was signed by H. E. Assadullah Zamir, Minister for MAIL and Tomio Shichiri, FAO Representative in Afghanistan. It was developed as part of the project, “Strengthening the Role of Women in Agriculture Development,” funded by the Government of Germany, and jointly implemented by MAIL’s Home Economy Department and FAO, which place women as central to all of their agricultural interventions.

The Strategy was developed at the request of the Minister who acknowledged that “women are key, not only to ensuring increased agricultural production, but also for improving food and nutrition security.” The Strategy forms an integral part of the Minister’s ‘first 100 days’ work plan and is driven by the Home Economy Directorate of MAIL and FAO, based on their experiences in promoting women’s contributions in the agricultural sector, and complemented by primary data collected from different stakeholders.

Women’s participation in agriculture critical to better nutrition
Women account for nearly 43 percent of the Afghan agricultural labour force and so the Strategy will review the existing situation of women in the sector while planning to identify the key inequalities and constraints they face in the country’s system of food production. In particular, it will focus on accessing productive resources for increasing women’s productivity and for the achievement of food and nutrition security, both at the household and national levels. The Strategy is therefore designed to bridge the productivity differentials between male and female farmers and help the latter overcome the production constraints they face, leading to significantly increased agricultural growth and output.

The Strategy also focuses on the crucial contribution of women in natural resource management as about 70 percent of women are directly or indirectly involved in a wide range of agricultural activities that are dependent on natural resources. Yet here too they are underrepresented in natural resource management committees and user groups.

“It’s important to recognize and be aware of the vulnerability of women in agriculture and natural resource management, while understanding the importance of their increased contributions to these sectors,” said FAO Representative to Afghanistan, Tomio Shichiri. “By supporting women with skills and knowledge to access resources and markets they will be able to address food insecurity at household level, and therefore help strengthen food security nationwide.”

The Strategy will recommend priority interventions that would provide an enabling environment for the empowerment of women in the sectors, while strengthening the institutional and individual capacity of MAIL to deliver efficient and effective services.

BOA Partners Rivers State on Agric Development

The Bank of Agriculture

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has pledged its commitment in partnering with the Rivers State Government towards the actualization of its mandate in developing the agric sector of the state.
The Managing Director of the Bank, Prof. Dambala Danju who was represented by the Zonal Manager, South-South   Zone, Port Harcourt, Dr. Sunday Audu made the pledge while addressing participants during the celebration of the 2015 World Food Day celebration in Port Harcourt.

Audu also explained that BOA – being the apex bank that finances agriculture in Nigeria as a federal government owned bank – is all over the country.
He said the Bank was passionate in partnering with the Rivers State Government and assured that it would pursue the drive with zeal.

The managing Director also stated that the Bank was already in the process of delivering credit to every sector of agriculture in the state.

Audu said all sectors of agriculture are financed by the Bank, noting that the institution remains the only one that gives out loan on concessional interests.

He noted that agriculture was the only way the country could surmount the dwindling economy as a result of the fall in the prices of oil globally.

The BOA boss said Nigeria is an agrarian country where agriculture should be practiced all around.
According to him, the Bank has delivered a lot of credit facilities towards agriculture in the state, however he promised that the Bank will work with relevant agencies, individuals, limited liability companies, private and international donors who are ready to partner with her in the area of collaboration, partnership and value chain financing.

Audu said this was the only way agriculture can impact positively on the economy of the nation. He further listed some of the Bank’s products to include regular savings, fixed deposit savings, Grow and Earn More (GEM), among others.

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.