Category: Agriculture

CASWI establishes cassava processing plant for Cameroonian refugees in Calabar

Officials of Cross River government and CASWI inspecting one of the grinding machines in the plant

Plant

By Christian Njoku

Calabar, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Care for Social Welfare International (CASWI) has established a five ton per hour garri processing mill for selected Cameroonian refugee women in Calabar.

The initiative which was implemented by CASWI with funds from Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and technical support from UN Women was titled “women household empowerment project.”

Inaugurating the plant on Tuesday in Calabar, Mrs Eyoawan Otu, Wife of the governor of Cross River said that the initiative was beautiful adding that it was all about the women.

Represented by Dr Inyang Asibong, Special Adviser to Gov. Bassey Otu on Gender Mainstreaming, she said the plant was teaching the women to fish and not just giving them fish.

“This is an economic empowerment and economic sustainability for the women and we really appreciate CASWI for the project while hoping they do more.

“The women have mentioned some of their challenges and areas that can make the project even better for them, so, I call for more support so that this project can be scaled-up,” she said.

Meanwhile, His Highness Esimfam Kasuk Efficient Ntiero, Village Head of Kasuk community in Calabar Municipality, where the plant is located said he had to donate the land for the project because he believed in the empowerment of women in the society.

Ntiero said his father did something similar so many years ago when he donated a parcel of land to the government to build a hospital which did not only serve his community but all the neighbouring communities as well.

“This project is important because we have to start helping people, if we don’t, we will be making our society more unsafe as we see today with the growth of street children popularly called “Skolombo” for the boys and “Alakasera” for girls,” he noted.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Esther Akun, a Cameroonian refugee and a cassava farmer said she was very grateful for the project as she could now harvest her cassava from her farm and easily process it in the plant.

While appreciating CASWI for the project, she appealed for a truck to be provided for the women to enable them transport their cassava from the farms to the plant and also a borehole in the plant for constant water supply.

“Paying trucks to move cassava from the farms to the plant is very expensive, the women will not be able to afford it.

”Constant water is also needed for easier washing of the cassava and very importantly a toilet around the plant for the women to ease themselves,” she said.

Speaking on the project, Mr Ifeanyi Damian, Project Manager, CASWI, said the project was borne out of the desire to ensure financial independence for selected refugee women.

Damian said this would in turn increase their voices and participation in peace building and economic recovery in their host communities.

He appealed to other stakeholders to support the initiative and the women who had been divided into three separate groups with starter kits such as raw cassava besides the ones to be provided by CASWI. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CBN/DCO/EAL
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Edited by Deborah Coker//Ekemini Ladejobi

Fishery

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Auyo (Jigawa), June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Jigawa government has stocked three water bodies with 90,000 fingerlings to accelerate fishery production in the state.

Gov. Umar Namadi stated this on Monday during the 2024 Annual Fishing Festival held at Kalgwai barrage waterfront in Auyo Local Government Area of the state.

Namadi said that 30,000 assorted fingerlings had been stocked in each of the water bodies, to encourage fishery production and enhance food security.

He said the gesture would also provide livelihoods to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the citizens.

The governor said that his administration accorded priority to fishery and aquaculture as part of the agriculture transformation programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the festival featured water sport contests such as fishing, gourd racing for male and female categories, swimming, diving, among others.

NAN also reports that winners across the categories of the contest received different prizes ranging from cash, motorcycles, water pumps, sewing and grinding machines.

The biggest fish caught during the contest weighed 100 kilogrammes.

In 2016, the state government stocked 300,000 fingerlings at Warwade Dam in Dutse, and distributed fishing gears and canoes to fishermen in the community. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

MNB/MAM/RSA

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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Rabiu Sani-Ali

Agribusiness

By Stanley Nwanosike

Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase-1 (ATASP-1) on Monday began a 10-day training of 50 youths from Anambra and Enugu States on agribusiness incubation in Enugu to enhance food sufficiency.

The incubatees were selected from eight participating local governments in ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone coverage area of Anambra and Enugu states.

The National Programme Coordinator ATASP-1, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, informed participants that the Federal Government launched the programme to attract private sector investment in agriculture and ensure food and nutritional sufficiency.

“The ATASP-1 is also transforming agricultural landscape through reduction in post-harvest losses, value addition to local agricultural produce and development of rural infrastructure,” he said.

Arabi, represented by ATASP-1 National Agribusiness Specialist, Dr Kunle Alege, said the programme would also enhance access of farmers and other value chain actors to financial services and markets.

“The objective is to enhance food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, employment generation, wealth creation, rural access and accessibility and facilitation of financial services and markets for the benefiting communities of the Programme.”

Arabi said that the project had developed strategies that would attract, train and retain these youths in the agribusiness sector.

He said that the youths would be provided with on-the-job training and mentoring to improve their practical skills and knowledge in agribusiness.

Declaring the training open, Dr Patrick Ubru, Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, said the Gov Peter Mbah administration in conjunction with ATASP-1 and other donor funded agencies, empowered the youths with agricultural innovations.

According to him, there are endless opportunities in modern agriculture for youths that have the energy and drive.

The commissioner explained that all the value-chains were open, which included digital agricultural marketing if one did not want to go to the farm.

“As you are already aware of Enugu State Government’s core vision, led by His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah is to grow the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031”.

“While between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of this target is expected to be generated from the agricultural sector.

“It should be noted that no country develops without sustainably huge investments in agriculture.

“Being mindful of the above, His Excellency, Gov. Mbah had paid seven years of counterpart funds for ATASP-1 and many other donor agencies’ funds within the first few months into his administration,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Zonal Programme Coordinator ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, Dr Romanus Egba, lauded the support and smooth working relationship of the Enugu State Government.

Egba said: “I commend the agriculture-loving Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, for paying a huge backlog of 7-year arrears of ATASP-1 counterpart fund at once.

“This shows the outright commitment and seriousness of the government towards agriculture.

He noted that the incubatees that performed exceptionally well during the training and with a practical business plan/proposal would get seed fund as a start-up grant.

The coordinator said that ATASP would also link the incubatees with lawmakers, offices and organizations willing to support youth agribusinesses.

One of the incubatees, Miss Amarachi Ezemaduekwe, appreciated the Federal Government and ATASP-1 for providing the opportunity for the intensive and extensive training which had made an impact on her agribusiness outlook.

“I am grateful to all, especially ATASP-1 that made the training possible. I will appeal for a sort of support for us to practically engage in what we have learnt here,” Ezemaduekwe appealed.

Another incubatee, Mr Kingsley Chukwuebuka, said that the training had made a huge impact in his life as he would be going back home after the training to start his own business. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

KSN/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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Agriculture contributes about 21% to Nigeria’s GDP – Group

GDP

By Doris Esa

Abuja, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Youth for Agricultural Revolution Initiative (YOFAGRI), an NGO, says the agriculture sector contributes about 21 per cent to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The National Chairman, YOFAGRI, Mr Jerry Ngene, stated this at the inauguration of the youth empowerment initiative in Abuja.

Ngene said that with 70 per cent of the population engaged in the agricultural sector, agriculture had the potential to solve the youth unemployment crisis as well as to be transformed.

“Understandably, agriculture is the fastest and most stable industry in Nigeria contributing about 21 per cent to the Nigerian GDP.

“With 70 per cent of the population engaged in the sector, it has the potential to solve the youth unemployment crisis as well as to be transformed.

“It is in view of this that YOFAGRI, a non-governmental Oganisation has the vision of empowering 1,000,000 Youths annually with quality seeds of crops that have comparative cultivation advantage in their domain.”

He said that youths were very important resources for sustaining agricultural productivity and for national development in every nation.

Ngene said that it was in view of the need to engage the youths, that the Nigerian government in collaboration with private sectors, had established programmes that engaged youths.

He said that the youth could also present a significant threat to social cohesion and political stability if sufficient economic and employment opportunities were unavailable.

“We therefore call on Government and other NGOs to partner with us in order to take our youths out of the street while providing food for the common Nigerian,” Ngene said.

In a Goodwill message, Dr Deola Lordbanjour, Director, Extension Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said that the department was proud to associate with the laudable objectives of the organisation.

He said that the growing demand for food meant that there was scope for the forces of supply, to take advantage of a growing market.

“Global food prices are at their highest point in several decades and are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future and Nigeria is not exempted.

“Youths as the life wire of any nation when empowered, can take advantage of the food crises for national food security and sustainability,”he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ORD/AMM

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Food

By Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu

Awka, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Gregory Onwuka, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, has called for the adoption green technologies in food processing and preservation to achieve sustainable food security in the country.

Onwuka, a Professor of Food Science and Technology, made the call at the 10th Regional Food Science and Technology Summit held on Monday in Awka.

The summit with the theme “Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects’’ was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), East-Central.

The sub theme of the summit is, “Green Technologies in Food Processing for Sustainable Food Security’’.

Onwuka described green technology as the use of science and technology to create, process and preserve foods to improve its nutritional properties and maintain the safety standards for a safer society.

According to him, Nigeria will overcome food scarcity and high costs of foods if it harnesses the power of technology and embraces innovation.

“The significance of food processing cannot be overemphasised, as it directly impacts our health and safety. Consuming improperly processed food poses a grave risk to our well-being and even our lives.

“There is a pressing need for us to revolutionise our food processing techniques. Technology is at our disposal, and we must utilise it in our food processing practices to enhance the quality of our food and preserving our ecosystem.

“So, the way to go is the adoption of green technologies in food processing and preservation by individuals and industries to achieve a sustainable food security and a safer society,” Onwuka said.

In his remarks, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, described food security as primary and first step towards security of lives and properties.

Ikechebelu said the resolutions from the summit could help reduce the dependency on imported foods.

“In NAU, we recently laid a foundation of food processing industry because we are aware of our role in the development of the society and without sustainable food supply, no society can develop,” he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

LCO/FEO/ADA

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Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Deji Abdulwahab

Livestock

By Bukola Adewumi

Abuja, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, says the livestock sector has the potential to contribute more than 11 billion dollars annually to  Nigeria’s economy if properly harnessed.

Abdullahi communicated this at the 3rd meeting of the Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Global Eradication Programme Regional Roadmap and Blueprint Consumption Consultation in the West Africa Region Hybrid conference on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the livestock sector contributed about 17 per cent of the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and five per cent of the national GDP.

“Unfortunately, the production, trade, and marketing of sheep and goats are seriously constrained by the continuous presence of PPR, which limits its productivity and access to markets.

“This disease often causes large financial losses, particularly detrimental to small ruminant farmers.

“That is why the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current government is committed to improving the livestock sub-sector as a means of fostering economic growth,’’ he said.

He added that the agenda was to also ensure food security and enhance the livelihoods of our people.

Abdullahi said that the eradication of PPR and other major transboundary animal diseases (TADs) was a critical component of this agenda.

According to him, by eliminating this disease, it will not only protect the nation’s livestock but also empower rural communities and contribute to the nation’s economic resilience.

On his part, Dr Otto Muhinda, Country Team Leader, FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO-ECTAD), who represented the FOA Country Representative, Dominque Kouacou, said PPR and other small ruminant diseases respected neither national nor regional borders.

“We must do all we can to provide cross-border collaboration and actions, in line with the episystems approach of the PPR eradication strategy,” he said.

He said that in Africa, FAO had been working closely with the African Union Commission (AUC) for the formulation and implementation of continental, regional and national strategic plans. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

BOL/CJ/CEO/

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Edited by Chidi Opara

FAO to distribute farm inputs to 26,750 vulnerable households in NE

Farming

By Hamza Suleiman

Maiduguri, June 10, 2024(NAN) The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says it is supporting 26,750 vulnerable households in the North-East with productive agriculture assets to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

Mr. Dominique Kouacou, the FAO Representative ad-interim in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, stated this on Monday at the launch of the 2024 Rainy Season Input Distribution in Maiduguri, with the  theme, “Good Prospects for Improving Food Security’’.

Kouacou disclosed that no fewer than 9,975 households in Borno state would benefit from the FAO intervention

He said that the support by FAO would help the households to mitigate the escalating food insecurity and build resilience of returnees in their settled communities.

“It is our expectation that these interventions will improve food production, income generation and build resilience among conflict-affected returnee households,’’ he said.

Kouacou said the gesture was in fulfillment of his commitment to support Nigeria to strengthen the resilience capacity of displaced persons.

“You will recall that a few months ago in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, while presenting the result of the March 2024 harmonised food security analysis for 26 states and the FCT noted that 31.8 million people in the analysed states were in a food insecurity situation.

“Out of the projected population, 4.84 million people are in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

“The report shows an increase in the number of people projected to experience high acute food insecurity compared to the 4.4 million reported during the October 2023 analysis.

“All the vulnerable populations require protection, interventions in addition to food, livelihood, and nutrition assistance,” he said.

He added that FAO had been implementing extensive programme targeting IDPs, returnees and host communities in the three states most affected by conflict in the northeast.

“FAOs vision of zero hunger as highlighted by the SDG2 guides our intervention through procurement and distribution of nutrient dense vegetables, cereals, and legume quality seeds and NPK fertilizers.

“We are doing these with the funding support from four financing partners, including the Governments of Norway, United States of America, Switzerland, and the European Commission,” he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Bawu Musami, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources said that the occasion was one of the yearly events of FAO, characterised with distribution of crop production inputs to farmers.

Represented by, Bulama Gana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the commissioner said that the program also aimed at curtailing problems faced by farmers in accessing agricultural inputs.

He recalled that the state government recently released 312 tractors and implements for the 2024 wet season in order to increase food production and ensure food security

The commissioner said the machines were to cultivate farmlands in all the accessible farms across the State free of charge.

On his part, Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum, acknowledged the strategic role being played by FAO, particularly in assisting victims of insurgency and to bring about viable and sustainable peace and security in the state.

Represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, the governor said his administration would continue to solicit the cooperation of international organisations in addressing the multifarious challenges of development confronting the state.

“As you are aware, Borno State is essentially an agrarian state and the majority of the people are engaged in various aspects of agricultural activities.

“The distribution of these crop production inputs will therefore encourage our farmers to be more determined in engaging in farming activities.

“Agricultural production is one of the cardinal policies of our Ten-Pact Agenda, which has been strategically captured in the 25-year Development Plan and the 10-year Strategic Transformation Initiative.

“This administration is therefore ever ready and willing to improve, not only the overall agricultural productivity in the State, but also to enhance the general standard of our rural farmers who constitute the majority of our teeming population.

“In order to achieve this objective, there is a compelling need for governments at all levels to collaborate with our international partners in working hard to end the humanitarian crises caused by the insurgency in our State,’’ he said.

The governor assured that his administration would continue to mobilise its scarce resources in ensuring that youths were given the opportunity to develop themselves for self-employment. (NAN)

HMS/ROT
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Borno farmers demand improved security to boost farming, fishing

Farmers
Yakubu Uba
Maiduguri, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Borno indigenes leaving the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) Camps have called for greater security as they return to farm for this year’s cropping season.

A cross-section of the farmers and fishermen made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Muna Camp in Maiduguri.

NAN reports that the State Government recently commenced the evacuation of the internally displaced persons to their recovered ancestral homes.

The people said they were looking forward to a secured environment to engage in massive agriculture this season to ensure adequate food for their families and state at large.

Mustapha Bukar from Marte said: “Life is really hard now with the current inflation.

“We hope as we go back home there’s adequate security for us to resume farming, fishing and livestock rearing activities.

“That’s the only hope as we have the vast and fertile land to pick up our lives again after staying in camps for several years due to the insurgency.”

Ibrahim Buba from Gwoza and Modu Mukhtar from Bama lauded the military and other security agencies for their efforts in restoring relative peace for people to return and farm.

They, however, asked for more intensive military operations to clear the remnants of insurgents still posing threats to farmers.

“There is still a vast land for farming activities that are not accessible due to threats from remnants of insurgents.

“We need massive and sustained clearance operations by security to enable thousands of farmers to access their farms for more food production.

“This is to help us escape the rising threat of hunger being predicted, if nothing was done to improve security,” Buba said.

Fati Abba from Jere and Tijjani Bulama from Konduga said there were still incidents of attacks on farmers clearing their farmlands, in spite of a recent 10-day clearance operations by the military.

“We need another massive clearance operation and, if necessary, the establishment of military bases in strategic areas in bushes around Sambisa forest and other dangerous areas to protect farmers and fishermen.

“Agriculture is the major opportunity left for millions resettled to recover from poverty, hence allowing the remnant of insurgents to continue to pose threats to agriculture is dangerous,” Bulama said.

Habu Ibrahim in Jere also called for an intensified clampdown on the remaining insurgents to enable motorists to operate smoothly on the Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Road as well as Maiduguri-Gwoza-Mubi Road, Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala Road and Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu Road.

“Everything possible needs to be done to ensure these federal roads are fully operational like the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road.

“Our security must not allow terrorists to continue to pose serious threats to the return of normalcy in the Northeast.

“These terrorists overcame the administrations of former Presidents Godluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari with similar threats.

“They should not be allowed to do the same to Tinubu’s administration,” Ibrahim said. (NAN)(www.nannews.com)

YMU/USO
Edited by Sam Oditah