Community Based Seed Production- practicable strategy for Nigeria seed system development Emmanuel Sangodele N2Africa-Nigeria

CURRENT SEED SYSTEM SCENARIO

•No sustainable supply of improved and appropriate varieties to different category of farmers in the community

•Government interference in the seed business

•Lack of synergy of different seed system development scheme

•Lack of continuity of various initiatives and intervention

•Lack of enough human resources to handle mammoth load of certification and seed quality control

•Low rate of adoption of improved varieties

•Lack of effective seed production plan

Editorial Banning rice import through land, right decision

The decision of the senate chamber to suspend the idea initiated by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) is a sign of responsiveness to people’ yearning towards rice development in Nigeria. Although this has generated a lot of arguments and counter arguments just as many observers have expressed their contradiction against the world trade agreement which logically may not be logical in the case of Nigeria based on her economic challenges and the need to develop our agricultural sector with backward integration policy that will encourage local production thereby creating jobs and encouraging farmers.  

The newly constituted NACOTAN promises development

The newly certified executive of National Cotton Association of Nigeria with members of FACAN.

The newly elected president of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) Mr. Anibe Achimugu has indicated about thirteen ways the produce would be positively repositioned towards achieving the vision of President Mohammudu Buhari’s backwards integration policy of the economy to non oil sector of agriculture for wealth and job creation.

Senate orders custom suspend lifting ban of rice through land borders

Senator Barau Kibrin, Kano North

The Nigeria Senate chambers has nullified the custom proposal of lifting ban of rice through the road borders saying all imported rice should go through the sea port for proper accountability and monitoring.

RIFAN chairman says Nigeria can be rice sufficient

The Chairman, Rice farmers association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Kano state chapter, Alhaji Abubakar H. Aliu has advocated the continuation of the policy of rice acceleration towards self sufficiency using the growth enhancement scheme of inputs and mechanization to ensure expanded production to substitute importation. Read his excerpts below.

BOA MD Advocates Naira devaluation, says farmers will benefit more, opens plans on irrigation farming

Prof. Danbala Danja

The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) Prof. Danbala Danja has said that the devaluation of Nigerian currency would enhance economic activities at the grassroots as agricultural produce will be more exportable thereby enhance micro economic activities at the rural areas just as he hinted a plan towards mechanized farming in about ten pilot states using irrigation technologies. 

Stakeholders disagree on last administration performance - *Minister commends

  At the Stakeholder conference organized by Daily Trust Fund, RT-  MD Nig. Comm Exchange, Mrs Zaheera Baba-Ari, NAIC MD, Mr. Bode Opadokun, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and others.

Stakeholders at the last month concluded agricultural conference organized by the Daily Trust Fund together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) have expressed diverse views on the performance of the last administration while Sen.  Abdullahi Adamu underscored the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), both farmers and bank officials applauded the impact saying present government must build on areas of weaknesses which seems to may have received the positive nod of the new Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh who has promised to ensure continuity with the policy. 

NASC to burn fake seeds, says there is improvement in quality

The National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) between November and December may have destroyed about 80 kilogramme confiscated grains in the year 2015 market raid that was carried out in about five locations of Kano, Zaria, Ibadan, Gusau and Zamfara to rid the sector of adulterated and fake seeds in the circulation thereby ensuring food security through improved quality seeds sold to farmers. 

Organic agriculture: need for clear policy to check challenges says former Jigawa Military administrator

The former Military Administrator in Jigawa state, Col. Abubakar Malayia has said that government need to provide a very clear policy for the practice of organic agricultural practice to reduce challenges that practitioners faced towards achieving more potent food security in the country. Read the rest of his excerpts below. 

Mallam El Rufai urges horticulturists to challenge climate change by land reclamations

       Stakeholders at HORTSON  32th Annual Conference standing for National Anthem

 * identifies disconnect between research and practitioners

*expresses worry on losing N22 billion on imports