Nigeria imports N165bn fruit juice annually – MAN

Nigeria spends N165 billion annually to import fruit juice, the President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Frank Jacobs, has said. In a paper presented at a workshop organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Owerri on Friday, Jacobs noted that in spite of the high rate of fruit production and a thriving juice market, the country imported fruits concentrates. In the paper entitled “Promoting Investments in Concentrate Production,’’ he said the situation resulted in an estimated loss of one billion dollars annually. Jacobs, represented by Mr Nwabueze Anyanwu, observed that Nigerian farmers also lost 60 per cent of their produce as a result of lack of processing facilities. He listed other factors to include limited demand and logistics challenges such as handling and transporting the fruits to the urban centres. “Importation of concentrates has adversely affected local fruits cultivation for juice processing,’’ the MAN president said. He also said that the continued dependence on massive importation of concentrates by industries was not healthy for the nation’s economy. He said that the availability of raw materials, a large market, a ready domestic concentrate and good export potentials should serve as incentives to attract investment in the project. Jacobs said that the challenge of poor concentrates in the country could be overcome with improved high-yield seedlings, technology and technical services and better education and enlightenment for farmers. He noted that the recent drive by the Federal Government to diversify the economy, encourage resource-based industrialisation and backward integration should provide the needed impetus to attract investors. He urged the government to ensure policy consistency to avoid a repetition of policy summersaults of yester-years. The industrialist said that research and development be made an integral part of the country’s backward integration policy while various research institutions should be strengthened through funding and manpower development. Another area to be considered, he said, was a “special lending facility of not more than 5 per cent interest rate’’ for investments in concentrate production in view of the huge capital outlay required for the project. Jacobs opined that the gains of promoting resource-based industrialisation included conservation of foreign exchange, employment generation, wealth creation, economic diversification and poverty reduction. “A nation’s over dependence on importation harms its poise, weakens its future reserves, affects its ability to be fully independent and presents a string of unpredictable social ills,’’ he said. The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Imo state Polytechnic, Umuagwo.

Source: Vanguard

Chamber to drive agric with cooperative society

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) plans to drive agriculture through its cooperative society to make farmers have easy access to loans.

Chairman of LCCI Agric and Agro-Allied Group Mr. Adeola Elliott told  reporters in Lagos that the cooperative society is part of the chamber’s integrated agriculture project.

“We have small farm holders scattered all over and they do not want to remain small farm holders all their lives. They are still small farm holders because their capacity to expand is limited and it is difficult for even banks to give loans to small farm holders. The cooperative society intends to bring all farmers under one umbrella and yet operate independently,” he explained.

Elliot said as farmers become members of the LCCI Agric and Agro Allied Group and the cooperative society, they automatically will be entitled to loans.

Elliott said the cooperative society will also be used to confront the government and ensure that loans for farmers get to the real farmers.

He said this way, farmers would be sure that whatever assistance coming from the government would be spread to them as members, unlike now that loans for farmers would be given to non farmers.

Elliott noted that the cooperative society is open to big and small farm holders nationwide.

He said there would be opportunities for farmers with similar produce to come together and get a tractor to plough their lands, which would be cost effective.

According to him, ordinarily small farm holders will not be able to hire a tractor because of the cost, but when they come together, it would be cheaper.

In a related event, the LCCI has empowered 70 mentees at its yearly mentoring programme for young entrepreneurs.

The gesture was in recognition of the key roles entrepreneurs play in a nation’s economy.

LCCI President Dr. Nike Akande said the mentoring complements the Chamber’s mission to promote and protect the interests of its members and the business community through public policy advocacy, creation and facilitation of investment opportunities, provision of business development services and observance of the highest standards of business ethics.

Mrs Akande, who spoke at the  LCCI entrepreneurship programme, noted that quality human capital can be a major driver of sustainable economic transformation, pointing out that people are important to make things happen in any system.

She said the initiative was aimed at contributing to the development of the  youth and also to facilitate their self-discovery. She said this was the way to harness the huge human capital potential, which the youthful population offers.

Mrs Akande added that the mentoring programme started three years ago with 25 mentees, and that by the end of 2015, the chamber had trained and mentored 93 young entrepreneurs most of whom are doing very well in their various spheres of enterprise.

“Today, we are admitting another set of seventy young Nigerians who will be graduates of this programme in the next six months. I am pleased to inform you that the council of the LCCI only recently approved the admission of the graduates of our mentoring programme into the membership of the chamber on very concessionary terms. The idea is to nurture the next generation of businessmen and women,” she said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, represented by the State Coordinator of the Ministry, Mr. Wale Shado, praised the leadership of the Chamber for the strategic initiative.

He described the programme as “apt and timely” when viewed against the backdrop of the present administration’s agenda on employment generation and youth empowerment for sustainable development.

The minister said the Federal Government planned to provide experiences and opportunities for youths and adults to bring forth the best within them to constantly develop and enhance their abilities and take responsibilities to make positive contributions to their communities.

LCCI Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, reiterated that the  programme has been a huge success. He noted that this batch of mentees would have a similar and even better experience.

He stressed that the mentoring has been further enriched to empower young entrepreneurs on building capacity, access to market and to create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive. Yusuf said this year, the chamber would be involving more credible private sector partners to improve experience sharing.


Source: The Nation

Hydroponics – Soilless Cropping System, A Panacea To Perennial Nomadic – Fulani And Crops Farmers Conflicts In Nigeria? (2) M.K Othman (PhD)

Apart from Boko Haram insurgence, Fulani – Farmers’ conflict is the most deadly and perennial conflict in Nigeria. Unlike Boko Haram insurgence, Fulani – farmers’ conflict is spontaneous and sporadic, existing in many rural areas of both south and northern parts of Nigeria. Losses of lives and properties due to this singular crisis is colossal and beyond imagination. The conflict takes place in rural areas where news and events are under reported and mismanaged due to poor infrastructure and inaccessibility. The fundamental cause of the conflict is resource use; pasture and water. However, other factors such as religious and political differences as well as ethnicity inflame the conflict to unmanageable proportion.

In an effort to search for pasture, Nomadic Fulani herdsmen move from north to central and southern part of the country. During this movement, they experience difficulties trying to feed their cattle especially in the dry season period and rainless months of the year, they only find solace in the green fields found along the rivers and valleys across the country. The major problem faced while moving their cattle to these green fields is that these pastures are also dominated by farmlands. Naturally, farmers frown at the presence of herds of cows near their precious sources of livelihood thus, leading to frequent clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and local farmers. These clashes have been bloody with attendant losses of properties from both sides. The clashes have become perennial occurring all over the country with the use of sophisticated weapons and modern warfare tactics by both sides. The conflict has become a very serious security threat to the people of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The need to address this conflict cannot be over emphasised. The problem attracted the attention of many spirited Nigerians including the National Assembly and Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari. At the national Assembly level, a bill on grazing reserve was proposed by Senator Zainab Kure during one of the sessions of the 7th Senate of the Federal Public of Nigeria. The bill successfully passed the first reading and has been awaiting the attention of the distinguished senators for the second reading at the present (8th) Senate. Similarly, President, Muhammadu Buhari   was recently reported saying “to achieve enduring peace in the country, greater effort must be made to eradicate poverty and injustice”. He made this assertion when he received a delegation from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, an organisation actively involved in the promotion of peace in Nigeria. On Fulani – farmers’ conflicts, President Buhari said that a plan to map out grazing areas will soon be presented to the Nigerian Governors Forum as a temporary solution to the frequent conflicts until cattle owners are persuaded to adopt other means of rearing their cattle. How are these cattle currently being reared?

Nigeria has an estimated 19.7 million cattle. Nigeria is the biggest consumer of meat in the ECOWAS, with Lagos as the largest livestock market. Significant percentage of meat consumed in Nigeria comes from neighbouring countries. Nigerians take meat availability in their markets for granted without bothering on the production challenges and sacrifices made by the producers – Fulani.

Nigeria has a land mass of 98.3 million hectares, 82 million hectares of arable land of which about 34 million hectares are currently under cultivation. In crop farming, human beings directly utilise only about a quarter of the total biomass. The other three quarters are in the form of crop residue and low quality crop, which is directly useless to humans. However, cattle (ruminants) convert these into high quality meat and milk. In addition to this, the cattle utilise grasses on fallow lands, non-arable poor quality lands and open ranges. However, cattle move from one location to other to access these crops residue and posture. Movement of herds between fixed points to exploit seasonal availability of pastures has become part of livestock production process of the Fulani. This mode of production in Nigeria involves sending part or all of the herd to access crop residue in adjacent farms or graze in open range and in some cases even move further southwards as the dry season becomes more severe and returning home (North) with the advent of the rains. To further facilitate this movement, governments over the years developed grazing reserves and demarcated interconnecting stock routes that have been in existence for a longtime. However, most of these routes have been encroached by farmers as the Nigerian population increased. Population increase has resulted in more land being put to crops production. It is an irony that the same population growth demands more food of animal origin which in turn calls for expansion of animal production without due regard of land for livestock production.

With this clear picture of the situation, the Fulani – farmer conflict requires genius innovation to address it on sustainable manner. The innovation must be seen to create a win -win result for Fulani, farmers and indeed the rest of the population.  Can hydroponic system be one of such strategies?

Hydroponic can certainly be one of the strategies for massive production of animals’ fodder in a very short time. Hydroponics is a system of growing crops without the use of soil. This is done by physically ‘feeding’ the plants with water for the crop to germinate, grow at high speed rate. Example, a crop (barley) grown via hydroponics grows to a height of up to 15 cm in 7 days as compared to 12 weeks when grown in soil. Food grown through this system is nutrient rich, hygienic and reliable as it can be done throughout the year as it is not at the mercy of external weather conditions. For the production of fodder, barley is preferred in hydroponics rather than maize or sorghum as barley has a high protein level of as much as 23 percent as compared to other grains that record a high of 12- 19 percent. In the absence of barley, millet is a better substitute to maize as it can gives 17 percent protein.  Hydroponics system uses very small parcels of land. A hydroponic shelter measuring 5m long by 3m wide can produce 240 kg of fodder for cattle daily. The fodder is also 90 to 95 percent digestible as compared to 40 percent of animal feed made from unsprouted grains.  The advantages of fodder produced hydroponically are numerous; there is an increase in the butter fat content of milk; a 14 percent increase in cows on a diet of this fodder was recorded by many herders; a 21 percent minimum increase in milk production over regular cows were noted and increase in appetite was similarly observed while female animals were observed to come on heat quicker with fodder produced using hydroponic system.

The most attractive part of producing fodder, using hydroponic system is the simplicity of the process. The process involves soaking of seeds with water for four hours, sieve out the water after the four hours duration, incubate the wet seeds for 48 hours by covering them inside a container with holes for aeration. The incubated seeds are moistened with water at 12 hours interval (about 10 centiliter of water to about 2 kg of seeds). After 48 hours, that is two days, the 2 kg is spread over an aluminum tray of 30 cm by 1.2 m by then the seeds must have started sprouting. Supply water to the sprouted seeds two times a day for up to additional four days and by then the fodder must have grown to the height of 12 – 17 cm ready for consumption.  The same fodder can be supplied to poultry, small ruminants and other animals but with differences in the number of days when the fodder was produced. However, the maximum production period is 10 days. A hydroponic structure with standard dimensions of 5m long by 3m wide by 3m high, can feed 60 pigs per day, 20 cows per day, 80 goats per day, 2,400 chicken per day, 480 rabbits per day.

Fodders provide 30 percent of the quality protein requirement of the animals daily but the animals still require energy and vitamins to grow healthy and productive. They have to be fed with 70 percent dry matter as source of energy for growth and milk production in addition to 30 percent hydroponic fodder as source of protein for milk synthesis.  An easy formula to determine a total feed requirement by one cow per day is 10 percent of its body weight in kilograms.  Example: If the cow is 200kg, the total amount of feed it requires is 20kg.  70 percent of 20 kg is 14kg – Feed 14kg as Dry Matter, 30% of 20kg is 6kgs – Feed 6kgs as hydroponic fodder. Salt lick should always be provided for animals for vitamins. Dry matter is recommended because the fodder lacks energy as much was utilised for germination and the dry matter is the major source of energy (Carbohydrates) to animals.

In conclusion, this option is readily available for transforming the nomadic nature of cattle production to the range system where the production is high, more profitable, sustainable and a solution to permanently solve Fulani – Farmers conflicts. National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University is a willing partner with other stakeholders to extend this innovation through intensive training of herders and other interested livestock farmers. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development should provide a leading role in this transformation process. Reputable organisations like Miyeti Allah should take advantage of this option.b

Via Leadership 

7 Things You Must Prepare Before Your Chicks Arrive

The time is approaching- your chicks are going to be delivered soon, but are you totally prepared?

It may seem like you have everything, but if it’s your first time there’s a good chance you may have missed something.

You don’t want to be running round like a headless chicken when they arrive, so it’s best to double check everything now.

We have compiled a check list for you of the 7 most important things you will need to have to ensure a good start for your little fuzzies!

Brooder Box

A brooder box is an absolute necessity. No matter what size your new additions are- chicks or pullets, they need their own secure space.

They need to be isolated from your other birds to prevent possible cross infection. The quarantine period should be no less than two weeks– minimum!

The longer the better, but anything over a month is too much.

It is also for their safety- chicks need to be at least 2/3 the size of adults before they are mixed in with the big girls otherwise they may be severely picked on. The only exception would be chicks raised by a Momma Hen who is already a flock member. She will protect her babies.

They need to be safe from predators (think dogs or house cats). The box or container needs to be large enough to comfortably hold the chicks and their food and water. A plastic tote bin with secure lid is ideal.

A cardboard box or similar is also fine as long as it is secure.

If you are brooding outside of the house, in a barn or outbuilding for instance- the brooder needs to be strong enough to withstand predators such as raccoons, mink and foxes.

Correct Bedding

Bedding for chicks needs to be absorbent- they poop a lot!

It needs to be easy to clean up for you since you will be doing housekeeping at least twice a day to start.

Pine shavings are relatively cheap and easy to find in the farm stores. They also have the benefit of a bit of traction for the chicks and they smell nice. Chopped straw is also good for chicks.

I tend to lay down a piece of burlap under the shaving for the first few days, as the smooth plastic surfaces can be ‘slippy’ for them- so giving the chicks something to grip on reduces the possibility of ‘spraddle leg’ or injury to very delicate ligaments and tendons.

Heat Lamp or Alternative Heat Source

A heat source is vitally important. Without heat your chicks will likely die.

Until they are fully feathered out, they need supplementary heat. There are several kinds of heat source available to you.

The old fashioned heat lamp is still very popular because it is cheap and easy to set up. However, you need to be extremely watchful and aware of the possibility of fire. Should your lamp come into contact with something flammable it takes less than 2 minutes to start a fire. Many people have lost not only their chicks but barns and homes too.

There are a couple of companies that have come out with a heating plate which is raised so the chicks can huddle underneath- much like Mama Hen. They are not inexpensive, but worth the cost from a safety point of view.

Water and Chick Waterer

The essence of life!

All creatures need water to survive, chicks are no different. Initially they are clumsy little things, they can upturn waterers, fall in and drown if it’s too deep and of course, poop in it!

Your waterer should be sturdy enough to withstand some abuse. My chick waterer is a quart glass Mason jar with a plastic dish attached. I also put pebbles into the dish so the water is not deep enough to drown in.

You will need to change out the water frequently since the chicks don’t seem to care where they poop. Always wash and rinse the dish each time and the container daily- even if it doesn’t look too dirty.

The reason for such cleanliness is twofold.

• Firstly, you don’t want chicks eating the bacteria from their poop- think E.Coli and Salmonella.
• Secondly, the water is going to be kept fairly warm if you use a heat lamp and heat promotes the growth of bacteria.

I have read that chicken nipple waterers are suitable for chicks to use and I will be trying this out shortly. However, I would still keep a small regular type of waterer in the brooder for a few days just to be sure.

Feed and Feeder

Chicks need a special formula calledchick starter. It is high in protein and contains all the nutritional needs of the bird until 6 weeks of age.

You can buy medicated or un-medicated feed for your chicks.

Medicated feed contains a coccidiostat to help the chick develop resistance to coccidiosis. If you have chickens already, medicated feed is definitely worth thinking about since chicks are highly susceptible to coccidiosis and it can spread from older birds to younger birds.

The feeder itself can be a gravity feeder similar to the drinker principle, or a trough feeder.

I prefer troughs because it’s larger and everyone gets to eat, but it does have its’ drawbacks. There are always one or two chicks that will stand on the feeder and poop- this is quite wasteful of feed. You will need to make sure you clean out the feeder daily.

Note: chicks need grit to aid in the digestion of their food. Chick grit is much smaller than regular chicken grit. You will only need the grit if you are going to be feeding veggies or fruit in addition to the regular chick feed.

Electrolyte and Probiotic Solutions

There are several different brands out there, but they essentially all do the same thing- give the chicks a boost right at the beginning.

Just add to the water following the instructions when your chicks arrive home.

It’s also useful to have around just in case one of your birds looks poorly or isn’t thriving like the rest.

The probiotic helps with digestive health in the chicks and the electrolyte solution ensures they get the correct balance of necessary trace elements to start out life.

First Aid Kit

You should have one already for your older birds, but in case you’re new to all this, here’s what your ‘chick’ box should contain:

• Q-tips: For cleaning the muck of your chicks
• Pipe cleaners: These are used if a chick has ‘curled toes’*
• Small pair of scissors: For snipping badly matted fluff (use extremely carefully)
• Electrolyte solution: For poorly birds that need an extra boost
• Bandaids: Use to treat ‘spraddle’leg
• Dropper: For chicks that can’t/won’t drink or eat. A small dropper can be used to give fluid slowly to a challenged chick.

*Spraddle or splayed leg is caused by the chick trying to walk on smooth surfaces such as plastic or cardboard. Easily prevented by using paper towels, burlap or similar under the shavings for the first week or so. Once the leg muscles are strong enough, the burlap can be removed.

There are many other things that will eventually go into your kit, but this will do for starters.

Summary

You are now officially ready for your chicks! Enjoy the little creatures and take lots of pictures because they grow very quickly.

I can promise you with a few weeks they will be outside with the big girls and look nothing like chicks!

If you give them a great start in life, they will reward you with lots of nutritious eggs, laughter as you watch their antics and free psychotherapy! Who could want for more?

Make sure you have all of the items on the list so you’re ready for anything when your chicks arrive.

Is there anything else you think we’ve missed off the list? Let us know what you need for your chicks in the comments below!

Source: http://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-things-you-must-prepare-before-your-chicks-arrive/

Easy Way To Start Modern Fish Farming Using Benuwatts Reinforced Tarpaulin by Zainab Adanna

Fish farming, no doubt, is a lucrative venture with ever growing market within Nigeria, and a greatly untapped market internationally (especially considering the higher value of the dollar).

I have been in the business of fish production for a reasonable while, and I would like to share my little knowledge on the easiest way someone can engage in fish farming without having to break the bank.

Concrete ponds are quite popular for use in rearing of fishes, but due to some challenges that include high initial cost, high likelihood of cracks and leakages, yearly maintenance cost, bulkiness and immobility among others, plastic tanks came on board.

The limited sizes that plastic tanks come in, coupled with their increasing cost have led to the emergence of an even more convenient and less expensive material for fish farming - tarpaulin.

By tarpaulin, I do not mean the normal ones used in making canopies and bill boards. No, those ones will break under few months after installation as fish ponds.

By tarpaulin, I am actually referring to the reinforced type which can last more than 7 years when used in fish pond construction.

Because there are different types of tarpaulin in the market, and overzealous marketers who are willing to sell low quality materials to customers are not in short supply at all, I will like to advice any interested party to buy directly from Benuwatts.

Benuwatts is about the only reliable manufacturer of fish pond tarpaulin in Nigeria, and I am aware that their reinforced tarpaulin is of ship grade (the type used in ship construction that withstands high ocean tides).

Initially when I bought my first fish pond tarpaulins, I bought from retailers who, as I later discovered, always bought directly from Benuwatts and then retail to direct consumers at a higher price.

Some retailers actually offer to do the wh*** construction for you, but I have come to discover that it is cheaper for you to embark on Do It Yourself (DIY) project. Just buy the genuine tarpaulin suits from Benuwatts and then engage your local carpenter or welder to help you construct whatever size of frame you like.

However, if you intend to install more than 15 tarpaulin fish ponds, then – as stated on Benuwatts website – you can also rely on the hired services of their expert agricultural and building engineers. 

In my next write up, I will give a little cost analysis that will further inform you on your choice of materials for fish pond construction.

Thanks for reading.

FG Votes U.S.$300 Million to Fund Youth in Agriculture

The Federal government,through the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has revealed that in its efforts to bridge funding challenges in the sector,it is set to invest 300 million USD to fund youths in agriculture.

He also assured that 20% of an innitial grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the Islamic Bank is to be channeled to support the development of women and youth in Agriculture at a total cost of N100m annually for a five year period.

Senator Lokpobiri made the disclosure while fielding questions from Journalists at a media briefing to declare Open the Empowering Novel Agri-Business Led Employment(ENABLE) Conference which began in Abuja Yesterday

The ENABLE Conference which envisages to host 30 African countries is Championed by the African Development Bank in Collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA)

According to the Minister"as a way to support the Youth,the government is set to invest N300mUSD to fund youths in agriculture as a means to cutting down the nations food import bill which stands at over N20 billion Naira.

Senator Lokpobiri who said the programme will be duplicated across all the nations 109 Senatorial Zones with the ultimate aim of empowering the Nigerian Youth and bringing down the nations food import billl lamented that Nigeria had become a dumping ground for all manner of poisonous foods including poultry pumped and preserved with formaldehyde.

"We cannot continue to import food at this time. With Nigeria being the highest producer of Cassava and the high demand for ethanol,the federal government is in the process of acquiring 18-20 cassava processing plants from China" he said

He lamented that "6m naira worth of rice was daily imported and over 20 million eggs respectively as Nigeria suffered a 100mtonnes deficit in egg production"

The Minister also revealed that the federal government was set to unfold the sectors Roadmap in a few weeks for the development of agriculture.

Meanwhile the ENABLE programme is a mechanism for empowering graduate youths and directing them to careers in agri businesses base on the agripreneurs(Agricultural entrepreneurs).

It is a five year programme organised on 4 platforms which include creating an enabling environment for youth employment,supporting agribusiness incubation,financing agribusinesses as well as coordinating,monitoring and evaluation.

The program aims to create jobs,food security and rural income generation.Its supported with 12.5busd and targets 1. 25 agribusinesses jobs in 25 countries including Nigeria.


Source: Leadership Newspaper

Two fighting: Buhari/Saraki's battle for supremacy

Four months into the new year, the executive and the legislative arms of the government are yet to settle their political scores.

The duo of Buhari and Saraki led Executive and Senate respectively, have remained egoistic, refusing to approve and or sign the 2016 budget at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians whose lives depend on it.

For your information, this fight has not stopped the salaries and allowances of the President, Senators, Ministers, House of Representatives members, including their Special Assistants and advisers from being paid regularly. This power tussle has not stopped them from getting estacode, for each official engagement, neither has it stopped them from getting first class medical attention, when their health calls for one.

However, this ego and superiority induced rancor has put a stop to ongoing and newly initiated projects that touches the lives of the common man. These include; Lagos/Ibadan expressway, Benin-Ore road, Abuja-Lokoja road, Abuja-Kaduna light rail, Calabar-Lagos rail, various housing and infrastructural projects. Hydro power, mining, aviation and dams construction projects.

In the fourth month of the year, farmers have not benefited from Irrigation projects capable of boosting food security in Nigeria and Africa. I know this because I am a farmer. Salaries of civil servants don't come regularly, boys are not smiling, hence increasing insecurity and kidnapping. We talk about increasing crimes and saboteurs vandalising public infrastructures, have you forgotten that a idle hand is the devil's workshop? While there isn't a justification for crime, the government has a responsibility to cater for the needs of its people in order to reduce crimes. The government also has a responsibility protect public assets from Vandals, as against the opinion of Mr. Femi Adesina S.A Media to Mr. President.

We have read the counter accusations emanating from different quarters. With the Legislative arm identifying several flaws in the budget presentation and in a swift defence of course, the Executive laid claims to the budget being patched, with many heads rolled out already. The Buhari led government has also alleged that some items were totally removed and or deducted from the budget, making project actualization almost impossible. The legislative arm has continuously denied these claims. They have recently threatened to override the Executive, rendering the president impotent, by legalising the budget without his signature.

Without an end in sight to the rigmarole, will Nigerians continue to wallow in poverty, malnutrition and increasing youth unemployment? Will Nigerians both young and old continue to suffer from the heat caused by global warming and aggravated by epileptic power supply or near darkness? Our only alternative is which is the "I better pass my neighbour" generator has gone on holiday due to fuel scarcity. Thankfully, this development has reduced the noise pollution and fumes related hazards caused by the generators. The Bible says in everything, we should give thanks. So, let's give thanks to God.

Will Nigerians continue to die from road accidents, while the political class continues to fly in the air?

Will Nigerians continue to die from failed health and lack of drugs, while our politicians seek medical attention abroad? Will Nigerian farmers continue to feed from "hand to mouth", lacking government supports, while our big shots continues to patronise and import processed food from abroad?

Will our students continue to study in a poor academic environment, while they continue to send their kids to Ivy league schools in Europe and America?

Will Nigerians awaiting trial continue to wait in vain due to poor funding of the Judiciary and prisons service, when those that swindled our Commonwealth continues to work freely? For how long?

If only the Executive and the Legislative arms of the government could respect Nigerians and shield their swords, only then can meaningful development be felt by the "least" citizen of the biggest and most powerful black nation in the world.

Adeniyi Philip Ayoola is a concerned youth and social entrepreneur.

Follow @ayo116
Ayoola116@gmail.com

FG to Introduce Soil Test Kits to Farmers Nationwide - Official

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to introduce soil test kits to farmers nationwide as part of efforts to boost food production, an official has said.

Prof Victor Chude, the Director, Farm Inputs Support Services in the ministry, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Chude said that the technology, known as 'Soil Doctor', would enable farmers to conduct instant test on the soil, to determine its strengths and weaknesses.

He noted that soil testing was critical to farming as it guide farmers on the best fertilisers to apply in various soil types.

He noted that the current system of blanket application of fertiliser results in waste of scarce fertilisers.

"This is because the soil is not well prepared to take the nutrients for root interception within its short lifespan of arable cropping.

"Soil Doctor analyses the fertility of the soil by sending a message to the cloud, and the result comes immediately, telling you the fertiliser to be used for a particular soil.

Source: Leadership

BREAKING THE CYCLE: MOVING FROM CHEMICALS TO COVER CROPS By Peter Le

Legal battles over pesticides are full of twists and turns, but we can make a better case for dropping them by ensuring farmers have better alternatives to harmful chemicals.

WALTER GALLOWAY/ISTOCK

When we enter into legal battles against the chemical industry, we know we are the underdogs. We fight for the underrepresented—farmworkers and children—against an entrenched industry with far greater wealth, power and influence. Despite the odds stacked against us, Earthjustice and other environmental advocates have gotten rid of some of the most dangerous chemicals on the market.

Yet these legal battles are long and tangled, and often, new and equally worrisome chemicals simply crop up as replacements. Some 1.1 billionpounds of pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on fruits and vegetables each year in the United States, and20,000 pesticide poisonings are reported annually.  Many more go unreported. Because so many harmful chemicals are still employed in agriculture, we must also find other ways to reduce their use.

The chemical industry and our industrial farming system are so interdependent that even the EPA appears to think the system is too big to fail. Earthjustice and other advocates are fighting to get dozens of agricultural chemicals off the market because of the clear risks they pose to human health, wildlife and the quality of our water and soil. Here are a few examples of the twists and turns involved:  

ENLIST DUO

The EPA initially approved this new herbicide, designed for use on genetically modified corn and soy. Earthjustice lawyers fought back, pointing out that the EPA had ignored risks to iconic endangered animals such as whooping cranes, which the agency knew would feed in sprayed fields.

The EPA attempted to take back its approval, which surprised and delighted health and environmental advocates. But the court essentially dismissed this move at the urging of the manufacturer, Dow, leaving the door open for the use of Enlist Duo on millions of acres of farmland.

CHLORPYRIFOS

After nearly 15 years of legal pressure – four lawsuits and two petitions--in late 2015 the EPA finally proposed to end the use of this neurotoxic pesticide on food crops. Chlorpyrifos (and other similar agricultural chemicals derived from WWI-era nerve gases) have been shown to irreversibly damage children’s brains. More than 80,000 Americans wrote to the EPA supporting its proposal, but it isn’t final yet. Dow is expected to counterpunch. 

SULFOXAFLOR

When the EPA approved sulfoxaflor in 2013, beekeepers and honey-makerssued. Sulfoxaflor is one of an entire class of chemicals that’s highly toxic to honeybees, which pollinate about a quarter of our food supply. Last year, the courts agreed that the EPA had made its approval decision using “flawed and limited data.” Sulfoxaflor is now off the market, but several states have asked for emergency use exemptions, claiming they have no alternatives.

When states argue that their farmers have no alternatives to sulfoxaflor, what they’re really saying is that the way they grow crops is dependent on chemicals. Growing nothing but a single species of plant over thousands of acres has its drawbacks; you need synthetic chemicals to enhance the performance of your soil.

But recently, more farmers—even on large commercial farms—are discovering the benefits of planting a special mix of crops, known as cover crops, in between harvests. These crops, such as hairy vetch, barley, sunflower and ryegrass, grow deep roots that break up compacted soil, support healthy microbes and protect against weeds and pests. They “cover” topsoil and prevent it from eroding. Cover-cropping has been proven to increase the amount of water and carbon that soil can store and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Although routine among small and organic farmers, the use of cover-cropping is still rare in large-scale conventional farming—in the 2010 agricultural census, only about 10 million out of 400 million acres of U.S. cropland were planted with cover crops—a few small surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest that the practice is growing. (The technique was recently covered in the business section of the New York Times.)

Part of the reason cover-cropping is still rare is that, unlike the use of GMO crops and chemical pesticides, there’s no huge industry to back the practice and no deep pockets or political clout to ensure that cover crops become a standard tool farmers can use.

What cover cropping does have is a small number of research acres to quantify its benefits and the experience of many small farmers over millennia who’ve figured out that it works. This is a start but it’s not enough. Only when agricultural policies support sustainable farming and pest management techniques can we finally begin to escape our reliance on harmful chemicals and move toward a healthier system of food production.  

Fertile Grounds is a blog series that examines the challenges and opportunities in ensuring access to healthy, sustainable and affordable food for all. We talk about the entire lifecycle of food—from seed selection and planting to consumption and disposal—because there is potential for improvement throughout. We’re informed by the expertise of our many clients and allies and by Earthjustice’s years of work to ban harmful pesticides, encourage sustainable farming methods, reduce pollution, support farmworker justice and promote a healthy relationship between farmers and communities.

Source: EarthJustice

Union Bank Pledges Increased Support for Farmers

The Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Enuwa, has assured that the bank will keep providing agricultural finance to rural farmers across the country.

He added that as a member of African Rural Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), the bank remains committed to providing rural finance in Nigeria.

"At Union Bank, we shall continue to provide credit to the agricultural sector and we encourage the other banks to do the same. We remain committed to driving investment in the agricultural sector as an active member of AFRACA and we urge all participants to align with AFRACA's vision of a rural Africa, where people have access to sustainable financial services for economic development."

Enuwa further said agriculture remains a vital tools that can get the country out of the current state, stressing that agricultural financing and infrastructure development must remain an unbroken chain for economic development.

The Union Bank boss stated this in Abuja at a two-day workshop titled: "Catalysing the Diversification of the Nigerian Economy Through Effective Agricultural Finance organised by AFRACA," recently.

He recounted that Nigeria was a major exporter of palm oil, cotton and rubber in the 80s, noting that the oil boom drifted the nation to focus on oil. This, he said, has become a commodity with a value that cannot drive the economy, saying that most African countries like Angola that are dependent on oil are also going through the same economic challenge, while urging government to increase funding to agriculture to enable more farmers have access to credits.

Enuwa pledged the continuous support of Union Bank to rural farmers through a revolving micro credit.

He added: "Nigeria we all know is an oil producing nation as a number of other member nations, and over the last year or so, we find ourselves in a situation where oil revenue has declined approximately to 43 per cent year to year, 2014 to 2015. And when your foreign currency earnings declines, it has a direct impact on the economy.

"There has been a shortage in foreign currency and this has affected sectors like manufacturing and others. It has led to a disparity in the exchange rate. We have also started seeing inflation through our indices.

"Every country needs to diversify its revenue base. Revenue base is production base and that is why agriculture is very important again.

"In the case of Nigeria, we have history. We used to be the highest producer of palm oil, likewise rubber, cocoa, all and we have to get back to such glory even if it is not the same produce, perhaps different ones."

Credit: Thisday

Fashola to discuss infrastructure plan at agric fair

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), will discuss how the government‘s infrastructure development plan will help Nigerians make the best of agricultural opportunities.

The event is Agritech Fair, an international exhibition designed to support the changing operational needs and growth objectives of Nigeria’s dynamic agribusiness. It is  scheduled for between June 15 and 16 at The Old Parade Ground, Garki, Area 10, Abuja.

Fashola is one of the key resource persons.

According to the Executive Director, Remick Promotions, organisers of the fair, Mrs Remi Agbowu, the event is designed to help Nigerians secure a more prosperous future by increasing household incomes and employment, nurturing competitive small and medium enterprises and promoting a vibrant agricultural sector.

She   said the fair would attract Nigerian and international professionals from the agricultural food production, fishing and aquacul-ture and food processing industries.

Attendees, according to her, will have the opportunity to source and buy the latest products, equipment and services to enhance their production productivity from the field to the processing plant.She said: “They will have the chance to interact with both domestic and international investors, understand the market appetite for their products and understand the best channels for delivery to market.”

According to her, delegates at the conference will benefit from a mix of seminars and interactive workshops providing unparalleled, highly valuable face-to-face learning opportunities.

A premium line-up of national speakers will present their knowledge, experiences and solutions on all aspects of farm management – productivity, food quality, nutrition and R&D, strategy, animal care, livestock management and agricultural investment. She listed them to include the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Biyi Daramola; Director–General West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Prof Akpan Ekpo, the Harvest Plus Nigeria Country Manager, Paul Ilona, among others.

She said:  “The launch of Agritech fair follows extensive industry research and consultation, which clearly demonstrated the market need for a premium quality, comprehensive agribusiness event for the full ‘farm to fork’ agricultural/agri-food value chain.”

She added: “Remick Promotions is delighted to be working with Nigeria’s dynamic agribusi-ness industry and offering a platform to support its growth. We will be working closely with our strategic partners and other industry stakeholders to ensure that the content and direction of Agritech fair stays firmly aligned with the industry’s needs, objectives and culture. We urge companies and individuals interested in participation at the programme, whether as an event partner, exhibitor, sponsor, trade visitor, conference delegate or speaker, to contact us as soon as possible to get on board and help us to help you support the future growth of your industry.”

The fair is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the peak industry body, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).

Meanwhile, Agritech Fair Beauty pageant will take place at Milverton Hotel Lokoja on June 11, 2016.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper

Grazing Bill an insult to Nigerians

 

 

The National Assembly is about to pass a Bill that is set to kill whatever is left of our so-called over-centralised federal System. The Bill if passed will be the greatest rape on our democracy and the biggest insult on our collective sensitivity as a people and as a country.


 “The Fulani National Grazing Reserve”, is presently before the National Assembly. The bill has successfully scaled through second reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. For it to become law it is to pass through the third reading.
 

“The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of national grazing reserves and stock routes. It is sponsored by Senator Zainab Kure.
 

“The Bill proposes to establish a National Grazing Reserve Commission (NGRC) for the country. The NGRC will be charged with the responsibility of using funds received from the Federal Government to forcefully acquire farmlands from Nigerians in all the 36 States of the country, develop same at government expense through the provision of bore holes, water reservoirs, etc; for the exclusive use of nomadic cattle rearers.”


The issue here is very clear. Fulani Herdsmen are cattle farmers. They could as well keep their cattle in ranches. They could devise whatever means like their counterparts in Argentina, Australia and the rest of the civilized world to do their animal husbandry. The men and boys roaming the streets, roads and bushes driving cattle are not the owners of these animals. They are just employees, labourers, attendants or whatever name they are called.


The owners of these cows like Generals Obasanjo, Nyako, Abdulsalami Abubakar and our president Buhari are big time farmers. They are businessmen. It is immoral to ask tax payers to finance the operations of these businesses. Cattle owners must provide capital through bank loans or whatever means to create their grazing lands in their localities. The cows are not owned by the Federal Government.


Just as the Federal Government is not creating farm lands for cocoa and kolanut farmers in Sokoto or Katsina, or creating farm lands for Agatu yam farmers in Enugu or Maiduguri, or creating special areas for fish farming in Zungeru, it cannot for any reason ever consider creating special lands for herdsmen for grazing. Let the herdsmen run their business without encroaching on the lands of other people. Let the cattle owners buy into the Fodder technology and other modern methods of providing feeds for their animals without roaming the streets and plundering other people’s farms.


To ever dream of this perverted Bill is to step on the toes of other Nigerians and step on sore foot, and by so doing create a dangerous precedent.


Nobody should play ethnic game here. This is not an issue directed against any ethnic nationality in Nigeria. The simple matter is to let those who trade in cattle fund their business like all other businesses, including farming, in Nigeria.


The Bill must not see the light of the day. The sponsors want to create serious problem in the polity and their design must be nipped in the bud.


The Nigeria Bar Association, the Coalition of Civil Societies, and all those who care about the continued existence of this troubled country must rise up to strongly oppose and kill this obnoxious and self serving Bill. It beats my imagination that members of the National Assembly did not see the serious danger posed by this corrosive Bill.


In a reaction to the threats posed by this obnoxious Bill, the National co-ordinator of the Oodua Peoples congress Otunba Gani Adams says:” Without any doubt, this is a very dangerous proposal for Nigeria. We all have seen how the Fulani herdsmen kill and maim members of the community where they graze their cattle without the backing of any law. I am sure that we can only imagine what their attitudes would be if the supposed grazing reserves are forcefully taken over by government and handed over to the herdsmen.


Nigeria has enough problems on her hand right now; we should not provoke new and potentially more dangerous ones.

*Photo Caption - Armed Fulani herdsman.

Credit: http://nigeriamasterweb.com/