Editorial- Why is FMARD taking the back seat in its mandate?

 The recently held dialogue on global food system summit organized in Nigeria, championed under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning, Dr (Mrs) Olusola Idowu has conspicuously exposed some lapses that are begging for the role of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) who had statutory mandate of policies formulations and implementation as regards food security in terms of productions in the country at the primary levels.

Bt cowpea has economic value of $638, says OFAB Director

The country director, Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Dr. Rose Gidado has said the newly released bt cowpea by the national released committee would generate $638 million in six years into the economy through its sales alone.

Potato stakeholders call for marketing board, fairness of farmers

The elected leadership of the National Potato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NAPOGPMAN) Mrs. Christie Sunkur has called for the resuscitation of the marketing board and adequate compensation for potato growers and markers who had recently lost their produce to food stuffs blockage by the Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) allied with the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria.

NGO determines to help 100,000 women in agriculture annually

The president, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) named Aged-Network, Dr. Majidadi Bala Kontagora has lamented over under-utilization of women in Agriculture, saying they are supposed to be well integrated into food security matters with a right to own a land. 

ARCN boss decries CBN loans to untrained farmers

* Laments over insecurity

The Executive Secretary (ES) of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Professor Garba Sharubutu has condemned and described Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s loans to untrained farmers as sheer waste of economic resources, just as he complained on the state of insecurity on food productivity.

Food security in trouble as ADPs employ non agriculturist as extension officers

There is great indication that Nigeria might be in deep shit if a proactive step is not taken against the employment process into the department of agricultural extension across the states in the country as findings revealed that majority of the newly employed extension officers have been confirmed not to have certificate on Agriculture. A typical case study was in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

50,000mt maize into market reduces price, say CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through its communication office has credited itself for the injection of 50,000 metric tons of maize into the market to step down price from N200.000.00 to N180.000.00 per ton.

SW Governors finally decide on food security measures

The governors of six states in the South West (SW) which includes Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo Ogun and Lagos have gone to drawing board to provide lasting solution to challenges confronting food insecurity created by the activities of herders and kidnapers in the region.

We’ve concluded on GAF, says AFAN committee chairman

The chairman, committee constituted to organise the General Assembly of Farmers (GAF) Bar. Ademola Okeya has said the venue for the congress would soon be announced, but advised that election into new executive posts of the association should try to avoid contempt of court in its plan to organize an election.  

Food blockage, rather an opportunity says Oyo state Governor

Contrary to the general belief of many southerners to foods suppliers from the Northern part of the country, the Executive Adviser (EA) to the Governor of Oyo state on Agriculture, Dr. Debo Akande has described the action as rather an opportunity to accelerate foods productivity, saying the state had already commenced this through its agribusiness model.