I did not say ‘Nigerians eat too much rice, that’s why it is expensive’ – Ogbeh

Chief Audu Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has dismissed news report quoting him as saying ‘Nigerians eat too much rice, that’s why it is expensive’.

Horticulture can enrich you within short period - Chairman ADP, Oyo state

Horticulture

The chairman, Oyo state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Alhaji S. A Imam spoke with food farm news on the 3^rd Africa Horticultural Conference held at Ibadan on the benefits and gain of the conference on his members. Read the excerpt of his short interview below

Let us free cocoa policy from self says MD, Ile Oluji Cocoa Company

cocoa

The Managing Director of the only surviving cocoa processing company, Ile Oluji and interim chairman of Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN), Mr. Akin Olusuyi has described most of our agricultural policy especially the one on processing as very subjective rather than being rational. In his chat with Food Farm News, Mr. Olusuyi said the policy of government has not sufficiently supported processing of cocoa produce into products lamenting on the high cost of producing in Nigeria with low consumption of the produce. He spoke on so many other issues. Read his excerpt below.

Editorial- Our concern over FG MOU with dairy companies

FG MOU with dairy companies

We want to commend the effort of the Federal Government towards tackling the conflict between the pastoralists and farmers through the use of global best practice of animal production with efficient process of off takers by the private sector as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) graciously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one of the processing companies in the country recently thereby increasing the numbers of the MOUs in this regards. 

Controversy on Orange Fleshed potato as FG terminates MOU

Dr. Peju Phorbee.

Despite the global award given to Orange fleshed Sweet Potato( OFSP) for its ability to mitigate hunger especially in Africa at the recent 2016 World Price Laureate, the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has issued a letter of dis-engagement from her initial recognition given to this crop cultivation through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Potato Centre (IPC) by official termination through a letter convey to the office under the coordination of Dr. Peju Phorbee.

Seed companies, others removed from GES rain season planting

Seeds

There are indications that the seed companies and the Value Chain Supply Managers (VCSM) who had actively participated in the last Growth Enhancement Programme (GES) of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the last administration may have been tactically eased out from the present 2016 wet season planting arrangement of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) that is about to commence.

Nigeria loses N198billion yearly to inefficient harnessing of horticulture

banana farmer

The just concluded 3rd All Africa Horticultural Congress (AAHC) has identified that most developing countries in the continent have not complied to using Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) to attract premium prices for fresh fruits and vegetables with Nigeria losing N198 billion on yearly basis to post harvest problems, just as scientists, researchers, farmers, policy makers, transporters and other input service providers from the rest of the world noted that GAP adoption cum efficient value chains and transportation institutions by most of these nations in Africa will galvanize fruits and vegetables availability to meeting the increasing population and rural-urban migration.

Agric economy: Lukas Adeniji condemns farming methods at Port Harcourt

 Lukas Adeniji

The economic diversification of the President Muhammudu Buhari using non-oil sector with Agriculture at the front burner came under attack by one of the speakers at the Editors’ conference that took place in Portharcourt with submission that all the agronomy practice in Nigeria are inefficient to deliver the expected commercialization added the culture of hard work would checkmate corruption perpetuated by government officials in the country.

Elect FACAN President blames agric underdevelopment on squandering

FACAN President, Dr. Victor Iyama receiving certificate from electoral officer

·       Agric Minister, FACAN in close talk

The newly re-elected President, Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association Nigeria (FACAN) Dr. Victor Iyama has indicted the past governments in Nigeria of not being able to utilize surplus of the crude oil during boom to develop Agriculture saying the impact of the negligence is already taking its tolls on the economy through unabated food imports.

OYO TO CREATE RANCHES FOR HERDSMEN

ranch

The Oyo State Government has disclosed its plans to establish ranches to stem the increasing waves of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the state.