Nigeria: Obasanjo to Commercial Banks - Lower Interest Rates for Farmers

Farmers

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged commercial banks to lower their interest rates to enable farmers access loans for improved agricultural production.

The 4th National Commodity Growers, Processors and Buyers Forum

group picture

The 4th National Commodity Growers, Processors and Buyers Forum with the theme " sustainable  market opportunities in agriculture materials for stakeholders in the North Central and South western states in Nigeria held at National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) Ilorin was very eventful as stakeholders were admonished to take the advantage of present economic repositioning of agriculture commercialization by the FG with upper priority using the best agronomics practices and value addition through processing for maximum market advantages for both local and international markets. Stakeholders are taken through some of the available simple farming and processing machines available at NCAM for off takers.

Tanzania: Controversy Surrounds Suspected Expired Sulphur

cashew trees

While Mtwara regional authorities have reportedly seized expired Sulphur, used for spraying cashew trees, the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) officers have reported to the Minister of State in the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr George Simbachawene, that government agencies keep interfering with the administration of the said substance.

Ethiopia: UN Agency Sounds Alarm As Drought-Stricken Herders in Ethiopia Face Massive Livestock Losses

The most severe drought in decades has struck parts of Ethiopia, exacerbated by a particularly strong El Niño effect. This has led to successive failed harvests and widespread livestock deaths in some areas, and humanitarian needs have tripled since the beginning of 2015.

Drought has devastated herders' livelihoods as it exhausted pastures and water sources, the United Nations agriculture agency said today, stressing that supporting them to get back on their feet and prevent further livestock losses are crucial in the Horn of Africa country, where hunger has been on the rise this year.

FMARD/ICRIST train youth fabricators

FMARD/ICRIST training youth fabricators

 As part of the Federal Government drives to reposition agricultural practices to remove drudgery in farming through the use of modern simple and efficient tools, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in partnership with International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is presently giving training to 34 youth fabricators along the value chains of sorghum at National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin. 

UNIDO technical support programme, Agric, Trade ministries co-chair

UNIDO

In a bit to ensure standard of agricultural produce in Nigeria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has set up a technical support programme that will resuscitate and extablish zonal commodities certification centres with both the federal Ministries of Agriculture, and Trade and Investment being the co-chair.

Ethiopia Coffee Export Hits Record High

Coffee

Ethiopia earned 866 million USD exporting 221,000 tons of coffee during its last fiscal year .

Farmers’ cooperative demand 10 million naira loan of NIRSAL/RUFIN

farmer

Many different farmers’ cooperatives across the six geo political zones of the nation that have submitted applications for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ten million naira loan for agricultural activities for the 2017 rainy season farming are yet to collect the said amount even when certification have been issued with 10% down payment of deposit in the Association of Non-Bank Microfinance Institute of Nigeria (ANMFIN).

Africa: Why Controlling Rats On Small-Scale Farms is Vital for Food Security

Rat

Recent analysis suggests that Africa will only be able to achieve food security if it invests in crop intensification like increased fertiliser and pesticide input per hectare. But the expansion of agricultural production areas can also improve this.

Fulani cattle cooperative commends Agric minister for windmill provision

herdsmen

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu ogbeh has been commended by a Fulani cattle rearer group called Kautal Hore Fulbe Dou Lawol Fulfulde cooperative society limited residing at Gwagwalada Grazing Reserve, Paiko-Kore.