Food Sustainability Media Award Seeks Food Writers for Cash Prize

Through May 31, 2017, The Thomas Reuters Foundation and Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition are calling all journalists, bloggers, freelancers, and individuals covering a variety of food issues to enter for a chance to win €10,000 (US$10,743), an all-expenses paid media training program and access to an audience one billion strong.

Excessive rainfall as damaging to corn yield as extreme heat, drought

Recent flooding in the Midwest has brought attention to the complex agricultural problems associated with too much rain.

Yam seeds: Agric Council approves proposal, organization sets for commercialization

 With the proposal's approval, yams:could turn out another inexhaustible source of foreign exchange for Nigeria  

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture  (IITA)and Association of yam producers, processors and marketers’ proposal on yam improved seeds for commercial production presented to the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State got a positive nod with an instruction to have it harmonised with the ministry’s yam value chain for its integration into national policy for the economic benefit of all stakeholders including marketers and consumers.

Climate extremes: Impact on global crop yield variations

Researchers from Australia, Germany and the US have quantified the effect of climate extremes, such as droughts or heatwaves, on the yield variability of staple crops around the world.

Nature's dangerous decline 'unprecedented,' species extinction rates 'accelerating'

Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history -- and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the summary of which was approved at the 7th session of the IPBES Plenary, meeting last week (29 April -- 4 May) in Paris.

Experts, farmers canvas for speedy passage of bills

Farmers and experts in the agricultural sector have called on the Federal Government (FG) on the need to pass into law, bills such issues as seed, fertilizer and warehouse receipt system in Nigeria to help boost and reposition the agricultural industry. This position was taken during the Public-Private Dialogue with Agriculture sector stakeholders which took place in Abuja.

Industry ministry wants transparency of commodity associations

The Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI) has advised the major commodity associations registered under it to be more proactive and transparent in their dealings so as to enhance more government support with detailed record of accountability in all ramifications. The Director, Commodity Products Inspectorate in the ministry, Mrs. Opelolu Opewe gave the advice during an interface session with major agricultural commodity associations in Abuja.

FG, World Bank work out grants to agric cooperatives

·       Ginger, maize, dairy for Kaduna

The Federal Government and World Bank are working on how 10,000 registered agriculture cooperative groups will be given 200 million dollar grants in the six states of the federation under a programme tagged  Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement (APPEAL)so as to achieve empowerment and economic diversification to agriculture.

Five pillars of FAO’s five-year framework, by country rep

 Minister  warns on desert encroachment..

 

The Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)in Nigeria,  Mr. Suffyan Koroma has highlighted the five pillars of its five-year framework in Nigeria. He stated them at the launch a five-year strategic Country Programme Framework (CPF) toward enhanced food security in Abuja.

Industry minister asks for cotton galvanization

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Hajiya  Aisa Abubakar has admonished stakeholders at the value chains of cotton productivity to itemise steps on how to boost the economic viability of the crop for more financial freedom and job creation for stakeholders.