Stakeholders lament stagnancy of agriculture in Benue State

Food Basket of the Nation

The dwindling agricultural fortunes of Benue State has been decried by a cross section of stakeholders.
The state held sway several years ago with its bountiful harvests, earning the slogan “Food Basket of the Nation”. However, the state, which is also endowed with lots of mineral resources, is now a shadow of its old self.

Reports reveal that several attempts by government and non-governmental agencies to initiate programmes to stimulate the agricultural, solid minerals and tourism sectors to improve the economy of the state have not yielded substantial fruit.

Despite the establishment of the Agricultural Training Centre, Mbatie in Burutu, and the College of Agriculture, Yandev in Gboko local government area, the state has not maximized its agricultural potentials.
Lamenting this situation was the former Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Felix Atume, who said the major cause of the rot is bad roads.

“Rural access promotes agriculture, health, education, security, social interaction and general economic development. Unfortunately, in many states of the federation, the rural areas are inaccessible, especially during the rainy season. Farmers in these areas cannot bring their farm produce to the markets. The rural areas thus become isolated, fuelling the cycle of poverty. They cannot get health facilities because they cannot be reached. Their children cannot go to good schools because they cannot be accessed”.

INSECURITY AS A THREAT TO AGRIC MARKETING IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Nigeria, a giant in agricultural business may not be in her best of state, in the agro produce distribution network at the moment. The sympathetic state of some crisis thorn regions of the country has skyrocketed prices of goods and commodities, and has even made an emergency scarcity of some basic produce, in areas where they are needed most.

Ever since the insurgency in the North East of Nigeria began several years ago, there has been a sharp decline in the agricultural revenue of states that where known for most crop produce. For example, the once bubbly green fields in Borno, which were synonymous with large scale production of tomatoes, onions, carrots and other fresh produce, are in a comatose state. Several of the villages that supplied these produce toother parts of the country have either become war zones or have been wiped away, with many of the once enterprising farmers hiding as refugees and struggling to feed themselves and their families. A trip to some regions to buy fresh produce in bulk would only amount to an attempt at suicide. This situation, according to Mallam Ibrahim Ahmad, a farmer and native of Bama in Borno State, is responsible for the high cost of fresh produce at markets around the country, especially in Lagos State.



“I used to be based in my village in Bama, until the insurgents attacked us one early morning and swept the whole village. Those that were lucky escaped. They carted away most of our properties, including money. My own farm, which is not too far from my house, was an escape route for them. “As I speak with you, I am currently riding okada(motor cycle) to make ends meet, as I still feel it’s unsafe to go back home”.

Despite the efforts by the government in calming the troubled North East, a mass exodus of big investors from there, especially Western expatriates has, been witnessed. So far, Nigeria’s economy appears to be shaky, especially as the year draws to an end. Stocks have dipped since the crisis got to its peak, though Western companies have not announced plans for a mass exodus.

According to Ernst & Young, more than $21 billion of foreign direct investment was attracted into Nigeria in 2013, up 28% from the year before. The country has attracted the most foreign direct investment in sub-Saharan Africa since 2007. The current security situation has dealt a heavy blow on the nation’s GDP, which is now $490 billion.A trader who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity decried the high handedness of security operatives on highways, especially the military.



“As long distance travelers, we always cover our heads and noses against the cold. This kind of dressing has been labeled as ‘Boko Haramic’, because of their similar appearance. When these soldiers sight us on trucks with our goods, they cork their guns and position and make us come down from our vehicles. Sometimes, we spend the whole day in detention, even when they know we are just long distance farm produce marketers. They ransack our trucks and scatter them, in the guise of searching for hidden arms inside our baskets.In the process, we lose bags of produce and spend hours or almost a day in detention, especially if we don’t meet their financial demands. Imagine keeping tomatoes in the sun for hours and taking them to the market when they have started to rot from the heat. It’s terrible.”

A cross border source also revealed a sharp decline in trans-border trade of agricultural produce, especially into countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Even when these countries need the produce from these terror-plagued areas, they prefer to buy from very expensive sources, to prevent infiltration by terrorists.

Tomato Association Executives Set to Revitalize Sector

Tomato Association Executives

There are serious indications that succour has come for the once comatose tomato industry, which has been one of the most neglected value-chains in the agricultural sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.

Reason: Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria have just elected their new national executives, who will steer the ship of the association for the next four years.

The newly elected President of the association is now Alhaji Abdullahi Ringim, while the newly-elected National Publicity Secretary is the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of AgroNigeria, Mr. Richard-Mark Mbaram.

Speaking during his opening remarks, Ringim said: “For a long time, agriculture has been neglected and Nigeria has remained a net importer of tomato. As at last three years, statistics showed that Nigeria imported $16 billion worth of tomato.

“What people do not even realise is that there is no single tomato processing industry in Nigeria. Wherever you see tomato, either in can or sachet, they are all imported. Most people are of the view that Gino produces tomato in Nigeria, but the fact is that they can tomato, not produce it,” he said.  

 

He went further by saying “the only tomato processing company that has the capacity of processing 1200 metric tons per day, is the one being installed in Kano State by the Dangote Group. That also has no canning line, but only processing. The second is our own company in Dadinkowa which has the capacity of producing 600 metric tons, but with a canning line.

“I used the word canning because they hardly take out local tomato to process and sell. All they do is import tomato paste, and then can in Nigeria. Now, this is where our challenge lies, and it is a big challenge for the tomato farmers, either from the Gworonyo or Dadinkowa cultivation stretch, who strive to produce tomato, through thick and thin with little or no governmental support”.

Ringim condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to restrict importers from using the Nigeria Forex market to source funds for importation of some products; saying there are two dimensions to it. The good part, he said, is that it will help those with capacity to produce tomatoes in Nigeria do more, but hinted that with the lack of adequate production, the problem will be compounded because people who import tomatoes through the port or airports will start smuggling them in.

He nevertheless assured members of the association that he will discharge his responsibilities with an open mind, making sure that all members are carried along through consultations with other stakeholders; while reaching out to those outside the country also.

According to him, the government has not technically banned the importation of tomatoes “but it has said that as importers of tomatoes, they are not adding value to the farmers, so they are to access their Forex from the autonomous markets, it is good because it now puts less constraint on our foreign reserves,” he said.

Quickly stepping into his responsibility as the voice and image-maker of the association, Mbaram corroborated the stance of his president by stating that tomato is a very essential food ingredient that is highly consumed by nearly everybody- old and young – and as such, the government should give the sector the necessary support to become self-sufficient in its production and even go a step further to promote its export.

With a reassuring voice that indicates determination to work, he said: “It is all about advocacy, and telling the stories of the realities in the sector. The Executive Secretary of FACAN, Alhaji Akin Gbadamosi applauded the members for their display of maturity and urged that they should cooperate to ensure the revitalization of the sub-sector.

OBASANJO ADVOCATES FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stressed the need for food security in the country, stating that this could be achieved through unity of farmers, regardless of their category.

He made the call at a dinner organized for him, by Benue State governor,Chief Samuel Ortom, at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi.

According to him, Nigeria should focus more on agriculture, which he said would provide food security, jobs and wealth for the country. He went further by saying that the nation’s tertiary institutions are producing at least one million graduates every year, adding that government at all levels lacked the capacity to absorb them, hence, the need for the private sector to provide the needed jobs.

Speaking on his relationship with Benue State, Chief Obasanjo described his mission to the state as ‘a trip in search of knowledge and education’, saying that such a venture should span from the cradle to the grave.

In his remarks, Governor Ortom described Chief Obasanjo as a role model and inspiration who encouraged Nigerians to acquire knowledge at whatever age, position and attainment. The governor also said that the large turnout of people who received the former president was an attestation to people’s love for him.

NCRI, AfricaRice Empower 200 Nasarawa, Benue Women on Rice Production

female rice farmers

The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) and AfricaRice Task Force on Gender have empowered Nasarawa women on value addition strategies in rice production, with particular emphasis on processing.
The Executive Director, NCRI, represented by Head of Farming Systems, Rice Sector Development Hub, Dr Samuel O. Bakare, stated at the flagging off of a four-day training on improving the organisational level of women rice parboilers in Nasarawa/Benue hub that, the move became necessary given the fact that women shoulder the primary responsibility for food security in Nigeria.

He stressed that the move is also aimed at reversing the ugly trend where women have little access to improved technologies and productive resources, worsened by policies which have refused to address the specific requirements of women in the agricultural sector.

In her submission, the Gender Focal Person of NCRI, Dr Vivian Ojehomon, stressed that, given the pivotal role of women in agriculture, “a gender-balanced agricultural growth is critical to successful agricultural innovation initiatives” aimed at achieving food security in the country.

Dr Rita Agboh-Noameshie, Gender Task Force Coordinator and Head of AfricaRice, who spoke in similar vein, noted that “despite the essential role they play, women are discriminated against when it comes to access to and control of productive resources, inputs, essential services and information”.

She said the initiative embarked upon by NCRI and AfricaRice was aimed at ensuring sustained empowerment of women rice parboilers, by exposing them to gender-sensitive parboiling equipment that can improve their income, while reducing drudgery.

The leader, AfricaRice Innovation Platform for Nasarawa state, Mr. Jonathan Joshua, called on government to empower women through the issuance of soft loans and grants, so that they can own parboiling and rice processing businesses, rather than toil for individuals of means to earn less than N500 a day.

In his submission, the Programme Manager of Benue Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, BNARDA, Mr. James Ker, represented by Mr. Abah Joseph, explained that investing in women’s economic empowerment is a high-yielding investment with multiplier effects on productivity, efficiency and inclusive growth, making it a sine qua non for collective growth of the nation’s agricultural sector.

He appealed to government at all levels and dedicated government agencies like the Bank of Agriculture to make concerted efforts towards improving the overall enabling environment for women to achieve their immeasurable agricultural potential

TOMATOES: THE TOAST OF FESTIVITIES

tomatoes

These are tomatoes; crucial farm produce and core constituent of daily meals and vegetarian diets.
Tomatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content and rich concentration of lycopene. Researchers have recently found an important connection between lycopene, its antioxidant properties, and bone health. A study was designed in which tomato and other dietary sources of lycopene were removed from the diets of postmenopausal women for a period of 4 weeks, to see what effect lycopene restriction would have on bone health. At the end of 4 weeks, women in the study started to show increased signs of oxidative stress in their bones and unwanted changes in their bone tissue. The study investigators concluded that removal of lycopene-containing foods (including tomatoes) from the diet was likely to put women at increased risk of osteoporosis. They also argued for the importance of tomatoes and other lycopene-containing foods in diet. We don’t always think about antioxidant protection as being important for bone health, but it is, and tomato lycopene (and other tomato antioxidants) may have a special role to play in this area.



Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health. Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol. In addition, tomato extracts have been shown to help prevent unwanted clotting (aggregation) of platelet cells in the blood – a factor that is especially important in lowering the risk of heart problems like atherosclerosis. In a recent South American study of 26 vegetables, tomatoes and green beans came out best in their anti-aggregation properties.



But only recently are researchers beginning to identify some of the more unusual phytonutrients in tomatoes that help provide us with these heart-protective benefits. One of these phytonutrients is a glycoside called esculeoside A; another is a flavonoid called chalconaringenin; and yet another is a fatty-acid type molecule called 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid. As our knowledge of unique tomato phytonutrients expands, we are likely to learn more about the unique role played by tomatoes in supporting heart health. Tomatoes are also likely to rise further and further towards the top of the list of heart-healthy foods.



There are loads of health values of tomato, too numerous to mention.In this festive season, the product could have been cheaper and more affordable if we had more attention paid to agriculture .Anyways, it’s not late.



While you savour the sweet taste of your stew, don’t forget ,it’s a product of agriculture. Help bring agriculture back to public consciousness.

Africa Renewable Energy Initiative gets $10bn Support from G7 Nations

Africa Renewable Energy Initiative

To enable Africa produce 300 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative has received 10 billion US dollars support from G7-countries.

This was disclosed by the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during an interview session with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, Dec. 14th, 2015.

“In the last two weeks, we have worked hard, and have launched what is called the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative. This was launched just last week in Paris and it has already garnered 10 billion US dollars as support, from G7-countries. Our goal is to provide Africa with 300 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, from renewable sources – either wind, solar or geothermal.

“Africa contributes only four percent of global green house emission, but we suffer disproportionately in terms of the negative impact of climate change. The continent today loses over 50 billion dollars a year due to drought and flood, as a result of climate change. The Multi-Lateral Development Bank; AfDB, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development and European Investment Bank have put together, over 48 billion dollars to support our countries in terms of climate finance” he said.

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina also said that the initiative was to ensure universal access to sufficient amount of clean, appropriate, and affordable energy, and aims to help Africa achieve sound and sustainable development.

According to him, Africa has no fewer than 640 million people living without electricity, while 700 million Africans, most of whom are women, lack access to clean cooking energy.

Stating explicitly that adaptation to global warming is a response to global warming, which seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social and biological systems to current climate change, Adesina, called on national governments in Africa to provide funding for climate adaptation.

He said it was unfortunate that Africa could only produce about 90 gigawatts of electricity in spite of its available potential. “Africa is tired of being in the dark, and the bank has taken the leadership in working with others to help light up and power Africa,” he said.

On agriculture, Adesina, stated that Africa has the potential to feed the whole world, and that all it needs to do is release its potential energy and convert it to dynamic energy. He also said that the AfDB would encourage African countries to take advantage of the business opportunities inherent in agriculture.“It makes no sense to be exporting raw materials, when we can add value to our produce, because when you export raw materials, you are exporting jobs and importing poverty. When you get agriculture right, you get macro-economic and fiscal stabilization right,” he stated.

On this note, he said that the AfDB is going to support countries all across to do what he called commercial financing and investment to go into agriculture.

OAU confers Doctor of science Honoris causa on AfDB President,Dr Akinwumi Adesina

Dr. Adesina

The crème of the Nigerian agricultural sector converged on Saturday, 12th December 2015 at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Reason: the conferment of a honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree on the President of the African Development Bank(AfDB) and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,Dr Akinwumi Adesina.



The conferment was done by the Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar ,the Etsu Nupe and the Vice Chancellor,Professor Idowu Bamitale Omole, who showered Dr. Adesina with ample encomiums, and chronicled his immense contributions to Nigerian agriculture, which culminated in his AfDB appointment.
Other honorees include elder statesman and renowned entrepreneur, Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi, and iconic Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
Special guests who graced the occasion include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,Chief Audu Ogbe, wife offormer Governor of Ekiti State and Minister of Solid Minerals,Mrs Bisi Fayemi, and Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Julius Okogie.





Dr. Adesina was Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development between 2011 and 2015. On May 28, 2015, he was elected to become the President of the African Development Bank. He is the eight president in the organization’s history, and the first Nigerian to hold the post.

He aggressively implemented bold policy reforms and pursued innovative agricultural investment programs to expand opportunities for the private sector, moving Nigerian agriculture away from subsistence to the business model.



Dr. Adesina is a consummate scholar of African agriculture and economics, with more than 20 years of experience managing successful agricultural programs across Africa.

FAFIN invests in Diamond Pearls Agro Allied Ltd.

palm kernel

Fund managers of Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN); Sahel Capital, has announced its investment in Diamond Pearls Agro Allied Limited, a fast growing edible oil processing company in Nigeria.

In a release by its management, the company has a vegetable oil refinery, which refines crude palm kernel and palm oil to produce vegetable oil for industrial and domestic use. It is also backed by a quality management team, and is well positioned to take advantage of the high growth edible oil market in Nigeria.
Located in Kwara State, the company is strategically situated to satisfy the current vegetable oil supply gap in northern Nigeria, while still close enough to the south‐west to provide products to its growing market. It has also expanded to become one of the largest vegetable oil processors in its region, with major market share in the northern part of the country.

According to Mr. Adewale Adeyemo, Founder and Managing Director of Diamond Pearls Agro, the company was selected after a rigorous operational review of several edible oil processors across Nigeria. “FAFIN’s team came at the right time to help facilitate the achievement of our ambitious expansion plans and we are delighted to have them as our partner, as we position to become one of the largest edible oil processors in the country,” he said.

The release further indicates that FAFIN’s investment, Diamond Pearls intends to procure equipment as well as augment its working capital. Given the seasonality of raw materials in the edible oil sector, the investment will enable Diamond Pearls to better optimize its processing operations throughout the year as well as increase its capacity utilization to meet the large unmet demand for its products.

In addition, the company intends to develop and expand its oil palm plantation in order to strengthen its supply chain; in line with government’s efforts to develop the local production capacity of the sector. As part of the investment, Diamond Pearls’ Board of Directors has been reconstituted to include two independent directors with significant wealth of experience in the oil palm sector.

Two members of Sahel Capital’s team, Mr. Olumide Lawson and Mr. Ayodele Balogun will be joining the board. Mr. Olumide Lawson in his remarks said “Diamond Pearls Agro is well positioned to exploit the great potentials of the edible oil sector and we are excited to make an investment in such a promising company. Our objective is to help establish Diamond Pearls as a clear leader in its sector, and we look forward to providing the necessary support to take the company through its next phase of growth.”

FAFIN, an agribusiness‐focused private equity fund, managed by Sahel Capital aims to transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Its fund sponsors include the Nigerian government, via the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the German government via KfW Development Bank, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.

Forex ban threatens 100,000 tomato processing jobs

There are indications that the listing of tomato paste among the 41 items banned from accessing foreign exchange from the official window by the Central Bank of Nigeria is endangering the jobs of 100,000 workers in the country.

Labour union officials in some of the local tomato processing companies said the inability of the firms to import paste and other raw materials used in their production process had drastically affected them.
According to the union officials, the jobs of the workers are at stake unless the ban is reversed, adding that the opportunity for backward integration would be lost by the affected companies under the present regime.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, noted that although the climatic condition in the country was in support of local cultivation of tomatoes, farmers lacked the capacity to produce them in large quantities.

He said, “What is it that has made the CBN to prohibit tomato paste manufacturers from the foreign exchange that should not be extended to numerous products, including petroleum, for which the Almighty God has blessed us with in abundance?

“Our climate can support the cultivation of tomato but processing it into tomato paste is a different kind of business. And those who are packaging tomato paste depend on output from those who are processing them before they can package.

“If tomato paste is now placed among the list of items that will not have access to the foreign exchange market overnight, that line of business has been killed because the government is working from the perspective that there are tomatoes in the environment for cultivation, processing into paste and packaging. Rather than prohibiting the items overnight, why not engage the manufacturers in discussion.”

In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the President, National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Lateef Oyelekan, said the companies involved should be given the latitude to plan for backward integration.

According to him, the quantity of the produce being cultivated presently in the country is not enough for local consumption as well as processing into paste.

He pointed out that it would take over a year for the planting, harvesting and processing of the produce into paste, adding that most of the companies had run out of stock.