Transcorp agribusiness arm to begin farming in Benue

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) announced Thursday that agribusiness subsidiary, Teragro Commodities Limited, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Benue State government to lease land to establish citrus farms in Ushongo, Benue.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Donald Gbugho, signed on behalf of the State Government alongside Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Neeyum Tsavnum.

The MOU represents an expansion of Teragro’s current operations in Benue State, which have previously been focused in Makurdi.

Teragro has been functioning as an industrial operation processing oranges and mangoes into concentrates for local consumption.

Over time, Teragro has grown and expanded its footprint and now produces concentrate that meets the most rigorous global standards for purchase by multinational corporations, including a leading international beverage manufacturer.

Mr. Gbugho, the Benue commissioner, thanked Teragro for the move, noting, “Teragro has contributed immensely to growth in Benue State. They first addressed community and youth unemployment by creating jobs and now, the company is taking a step forward by beginning proper farming, through expert agricultural investors who are standing by with improved varieties of oranges, which the Ushongo people and Benue State at-large can benefit from. This is truly a significant step in the development of agriculture in Benue and in Nigeria.

Teragro Managing Director and CEO, Dupe Olusola, thanked the Commissioner for his support, which has enabled Teragro to contribute to the growth of a diversified economy, saying, “The untapped opportunities in agriculture are huge and we are committed to ensuring that Nigeria can once again generate high revenues from agriculture as it did before the discovery of oil. The new farming land will ensure we can do our part to bring those untapped opportunities to fruition.”

“We are grateful to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Gabriel Suswam, CON, for his assistance in ensuring synergy between Teragro and the local community within which we operate and we hope this will continue, said Transcorp Group President and CEO Emmanuel N. Nnorom. “We are committed to the work we are doing in Benue and look forward to a continually harmonious working relationship.”

Teragro Commodities Limited is the agribusiness subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. It leverages on advanced technology in food processing to produce high quality agricultural products, including orange and pineapple concentrates, mango purees and orange peel oil for industrial markets.

(Premiumtimesng.com)

VALUE CHAIN INVESTMENT- STARTING POINT By DANIEL OGUNSOLA RAS, MNIAS

Value chains encompass all the activities and interactions required in the creation of a product or service, from primary production to transformation to commercialization and end-consumers. The term “value chain” refers to the process of continued addition of value that occurs while the product passes from one actor in the chain to the next, gradually increasing its degree of transformation. Main actors in a value chain are suppliers, producers, processors, marketers and buyers. They are supported by a range of technical, business and financial service providers. In a value chain the various business activities in the different segments become connected and to some degree coordinated.

Value chain diagnostics is a method for understanding how actors under given framework conditions operate and coordinate their businesses to ensure that primary materials are transformed, stored, and transported and reach, in certain form and quality, end-consumers. Value chain diagnostics also looks at the various effects that operations in the chain have on groups of people, e.g., with regard to poverty reduction, employment, income generation, firm development, economic growth, or environmental sustainability. Common questions that value chain analysis seeks to answer include the following:

• Who are the actors that participate in businesses across value chains?
• Are there actors that coordinate activities in the overall value chain?
• What are the contractual arrangements under which actors buy and sell products?
• How do actors exchange information and learn about solutions to improve products and business performance?
• What technical, business and financial services are available to support actors in the chain?
• How much value do actors add to the product in the different steps in the chain, what are their costs and how is this value distributed?
• What are the power relations in the chain and to what extent do they determine how economic gains and risks are distributed among chain actors?
• What kinds of barriers exist for firms to enter the value chain?
• What is the level of competitiveness of firms in the value chain?
• What bottlenecks exist and what opportunities are available for development (upgrading) of the value chain?
• Which policies and institutions constrain/support chain actors and facilitate value chain development?

The results of the diagnostics can inform investors, government officials and key stakeholders as to whether interventions/investment should be considered, and in which parts of the value chain. They also can provide insights on how those interventions should be designed. For example, in cassava production, in Nigeria, are there producers of cassava tubers, what is knowledge base of individuals in the chain etc since fewer companies produced starch from cassava based on international standard, if investment is made who are competitors, risk involved. Are there government policies that could hinder growth...?

Constraints and opportunities in cost reduction and product improvement can be identified, or options for achieving better coordination among chain actors. Hence, value chain diagnostics can form the basis of policies and programmes that foster chain development. Finally, value chain diagnostics can also point to interrelatedness and synergies among different interventions and help with partnership-building and the provision of complementary services.

Just By The Way: PR Crisis Response: 5 lessons to learn from Governor Oshiomhole and the poor widow of Benin by Kola Ogunshote

Governor Adams Oshiomhole drinking tea with the widow, Mrs. Joy Ifijeh
(Photo credit: Google)

As a PR professional, I think it is apt that my first blog post should touch on the lessons politicians need to learn from Governor Oshiomhole and the PR crisis response to the "widow, go and die" episode or what I now call #WidowGate.

To refresh your memory, the Governor while on an inspection tour of the environment in Benin-City a few weeks ago, came across this widow who was displaying her wares on the sidewalk. The poor widow's goods were seized and she went on her knees crying and begging the Governor to take pity on her. In a fit of anger, the Governor told the widow to go and die, ordered her arrest and refused to listen to her pleas. The whole incident was recorded on video and posted online by bloggers for the whole world to see.

The question then was, how did a populist Governor like Oshiomhole, a former labour leader, a fighter for every cause of the masses come to this? How could Oshiomhole, a widower, be so insensitive as to tell a widow to go and die? 

To make matters worse, the opposition party, the PDP berated the Governor, promised to give the widow a sum of 250, 000 NGN and rolled out a manifesto in support of widows. It was the making of a perfect crisis for the Governor and a perfect opportunity for the PDP in Edo State, Nigeria.

But how did Oshiomhole turn the tide in his favour? Below are a few points or lessons to learn for a successful crisis response:

1. Listen, analyze the issues

The Governor simply listened to his advisers and his children who told him how absolutely reprehensible his action towards the widow was and asked him to make amends. The surprise is that he accepted to do so. This is obviously a rare trait in Nigeria where Governors go around with huge egos and are power drunk.

2. Take action, do not lose the initiative
This is where the opposition lost the game. They issued a press statement and asked the widow to come for money. They did not seek out the widow and fully milk the opportunity. The Governor, in contrast, took action and got his team to find the widow and bring her to the Edo State Government House.

3. Apologize, show appropriate remorse
This is exactly what the Governor did when he finally met the widow again. He talked to her directly and apologized. He explained to her that she violated the law by displaying her wares on the roadside, but was sorry to have spoken so harshly to her. As Nigerians watched this episode on social media, they equally forgave the Governor for what he did to the widow.

4. Make amends, if possible
The Governor did not stop with his apology. He offered the widow a job as an ambassador on environmental sanitation with the state government, gave her the sum of 2 million NGN to invest in her business and promised university scholarships for her children. The widow, her children and the nation rejoiced. It was the perfect masterstroke.

5. Leave a powerful visual impression - share that cup of tea
This is the most powerful and the most important part of the crisis response efforts. Few people can ever forget that image of the Governor sharing a cup of tea with the widow. It was the final defining moment, the enduring image and the most powerful photo opportunity. That picture will forever remain indelible on my mind. It is a photograph that is worth more than a million words.

Finally, let me thank the bloggers who shared the widow's story for the world to see. Their action demonstrates the positive use of the immense power of social media to promote justice, equity and social change. They need to do more of this from day-to-day.

Allow me to also congratulate the Governor's PR team for a job well done. They are lucky to have a principal that listens and values their advice. I know that in Nigeria, it is not always so easy. 


Kola Ogunshote is a seasoned PR professional, journalist, entrepreneur, social marketer and change agent. He is committed to the propagation of positive human values.

(NaijaVantage)

2015 Kasetsart's Agro-Industry Scholarships for International Graduates Students, Thailand

Credit: Google Search

Application Deadline: May 15th 2015

The Faculty of Agro-Industry (AI), Kasetsart University (KU) offers scholarships for new international students to undertake graduate studies (Ph.D. and Masters.) in the following programs:
Agro-Industrial Technology Management
Biotechnology
Food Science
Packaging Technology
Agro-Industrial Product Development

Amount awarded will be one of two types as following:

Type 1 (Full tuition and fee): 10 scholarships
Grantee will receive a full tuition and enrollment fee waiver for 3 consecutive years for PhD students and 2 consecutive years for Master’s students.
Type 2 (Full tuition and fee, and monthly stipend): 10 scholarships
Grantee will receive a full tuition and enrollment fee waiver and monthly stipends for living expenses at the rate of 12,000 Thai Baht for 3 consecutive years for Ph.D. students and 10,000 Thai Baht for 2 consecutive
years for Master student

Scholarship applicants are required to apply for the graduate school admission of KU in the same graduate program they have applied for the scholarships.
Please note that the scholarship application will be considered along with KU graduate school admission
application and the required documents.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible to apply for a scholarship you have to:
Not hold a Thai citizenship or a permanent residence status.
Meet the requirement of the graduate student application of the graduate school, Kasetsart University.
Hold a bachelor degree in food science, biotechnology, applied science, or related area of Agro-industry.

Criteria
Scholarships will be awarded on academic merit and research potential in the areas of Agro-industrial technology management, Biotechnology, Food science & technology, Packaging & materials technology,
and Product development
Submission of the English language proficiency of one of the following English proficiency test such as
IELTS or TOEFL score will be beneficial in the scholarship consideration

How to apply:

1. Reviewing the information about the graduate programs of the Faculty of Agro-Industry (http://www.agro.ku.ac.th) and the information about the admission to the graduate school of Kasetsart University on International Studies Center (ISC) website at http://www.interprogram.ku.ac.th/.
2. Downloading the application form of KU graduate school and AI scholarship application form which
are available on the ISC website at http://www.interprogram.ku.ac.th/.
3. Filling up the application forms and submitting the “KU Admission Form” and “AI Scholarship Application Form” in MS word format with the attachment of scanned “required documents” to ku.oip@ku.ac.th,(cc to phuthai.b@ku.th). Using “2015 AI Scholarship” in subject line (no signature required
in these forms when sending by email) .
4. Signing and submitting the original “ KU Admission Form” and “ AI Scholarship Application
Form ” with the required documents to:

Mrs. Palita Surachinnawat
Noble International Studies Center (ISC),
Office of the Registrar,
Kasetsart University
50 Ngamwongwan Road, Chatuchak,
Bangkok, 10900 Thailand

Placing “2015 AI SCHOLARSHIP ” on the envelope
Required Documentation

1. Signed and completed application form for “Scholarships Application Form 2015”
2. Signed and completed application form for admission to Kasetsart University with attached photo
3. Conceptual proposal (3–4 pages A4)
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate coursework
6. Curriculum vitae
7. Proof of English proficiency
8. A copy of passport
9. Other information that the applicant deems relevant

Only completed applications will be considered and must be received no later than May 15th , 2015.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by email at the end of July 2015.
Scholarship recipients must maintain full-time graduate student status.

The scholarships do not cover student health insurance and travel cost.
All application documents will be forwarded to the
Graduate School of Kasetsart University for the admission process after the scholarship consideration
has been done.

For Application for click: http://agro.ku.ac.th/news_detail.php?news_id=499

Buhari Endorses Jonathan's Minister Adesina for AfDB Presidency

                                        Nigeria's President-Elect General Muhammed Buhari

The president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has asked the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support one of President Goodluck Jonathan's right-hand men, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, to emerge the next president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Dr Adesina is the current minister of agriculture and rural development.

To this end, Buhari has communicated his support for Adesina's candidacy to the Ghanaian president, John Dramani Mahama, who is the current chairman of the sub-regional group, ECOWAS.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Malam Garba Shehu, the president-elect was quoted as saying that he was endorsing Adesina's candidacy for the AfDB top job not just because the minister was a Nigerian but because he has a record of excellent performance over time.

"Dr Adesina has a proven track record in a career that predates his position as Nigeria's minister for agriculture and rural development," Buhari said.
He noted that Adesina had years of experience while working in Francophone and Anglophone countries, and a passion to help eradicate poverty in Africa by reducing unemployment and inequality among African youths.

"Dr Adesina is also an agricultural development expert with 24 years of experience in developing and managing successful agricultural programmes across Africa.
"Until his appointment as the minister of agriculture and rural development in 2011, he was the vice president, Policy and Partnerships Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Additionally, he has held senior leadership positions in a number of agricultural institutions in the world," the statement added.

(Leadership)

APRIL 22 WORLD EARTH DAY CAMPAIGN

 

Picture credit: Economictimes.indiatimes

Earth Day Network's year-round mission is to broaden, diversify and activate the environmental movement worldwide, through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.

The Idea

The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. "It was a gamble," Gaylord recalled, "but it worked."

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement

Bad Road Affects Our Economic Activity - Farmer

The deplorable state of road leading to Takushara and Mararaba Takushara communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory is said to be severely affecting economic activities in the communities.

Farmers, the most affected, said that the condition of the road has resulted in heavy losses as a result of the difficulties and challenges they go through to transport farm produce to the market.

This situation, they said, has compelled many of them to wonder if the community is indeed part of the nation's capital.

A farmer in Takushara, Saleh Haliru, said the situation does not only pose a challenge to trading and economic activities of farmers in the community, but has also left them poor.

Explaining the importance of farming, he said: "A country must be able to feed itself before thinking of any other thing. People must be self-sufficient in terms of food before thinking of what they will do for their country. If people are hungry, they won't have time for other things. A hungry man can be easily incited to foment trouble.

"If there is foods in abundance, the huge amount of money government spends on medical services will reduce because most of our illnesses are related to the nature of our food. Either the food is not sufficient or it lacks nutrients necessary for healthy living."

Haliru, who also said they are always cut off from other communities whenever it rains heavily, appealed to the authorities of the area council for aid as they risk losing their source of livelihood.

He noted that government's free supply of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to farmers would be in the right direction, adding that such packages would enhance activities of local farmers.

"Our major economic activity is farming. If government can provide us with fertilisers at the right time and right quantity, I'm confident that we will make a lot of progress," he said

(Daily Trust)

Nigeria’s MDG-1 Achievement: FAO, WFP Corroborate Status

Jose Graziano da Silva

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Food Programme (WFP) have again confirmed the recognition that Nigeria has met the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recently.

This was contained in a letter jointly signed by the FAO’s Director General, Jose Graziano da Silva and WFP Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin, on March 6, 2015, and directed to President Jonathan and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and received at the Ministry on March 24, 2015.

In respect of the MDG1, the letter noted that: “We have the honour to refer to the World Food Summit (WFS) held in Rome in November 1996, when representatives of 182 governments pledged “… to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level no later than 2015.”

It traced the historical events that followed:  “Later, in 2000, 189 nations pledged to free people from multiple deprivations, recognising that every individual has the right to dignity, freedom, equality and a basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence.

This pledge transpired into the formulation of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were then made operational by setting targets and indicators to track progress made at the national and global levels toward reaching the goals by 2015.”

According to the letter, “the First MDG (MDG-1) includes three distinct targets: halving global poverty, achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, cutting by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015.

In light of FAO’s vision and mandate for a world free from hunger and malnutrition, the organisation has a pivotal role in both contributing and monitoring the WFS goal and the MDG hunger target.” Two years ago, Nigeria was given an award in recognition of its achievement of the MDG-1.

The letter emphasised that, “in June 2013, Nigeria was already awarded a diploma for having made very good progress in fighting hunger, and for having reached ahead of time the MDG Hunger target.

The result is confirmed by FAO’s most recent estimates: Nigeria has reduced the prevalence of undernourishment from 20.3 per cent in 1990-92 to seven per cent in 2014-16.” Year 2015 marks the end of the monitoring cycle of the MDG-1 and the WFS targets.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/

IFAD Empowers 3,500 Youths, Women in Akwa Ibom

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a United Nations' agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries, has empowered over 3,500 youths and women in Akwa Ibom.

IFAD's Project Officer in the state, Mrs Essien Uwe-Bassey, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.

She said that the agency, under its community-based resource management programme in the Niger Delta, empowered the beneficiaries to embark on various agricultural businesses.

She said that IFAD trained the youths and women on entrepreneurship on livestock, fishery, crop production as well as vegetable and pineapple production, to enhance their living standard.

She said that the agency disbursed about N26.7 million grants to the beneficiaries on April 2 to enable them to improve on their farming business.

Uwe-Bassey said that the programme which started in the state about five years ago was meant to cover 27 communities selected from nine local government areas in the state.

She, however, said that because the state government failed to fully pay its counterpart funds, the programme was restricted to only nine communities in three local government areas.

The state's project officer named the benefiting local government areas as Okobo, Uruk Anam and Ibesikpo Asutan.

"IFAD wants each of the farmers to be on his/her own and encourage others to embrace farming as a business to be self-reliant.

"The gains of embracing agriculture as a business are long-lasting; farming will discourage women and youths from running after politicians for assistance.

"The programme has helped to reduce poverty and violence among the youths in the Niger Delta communities," she said.

She said that the agency's community-based natural resource management programme had taken many rural dwellers out of poverty and turned them into employers of labour.

According to her, the programme which has a mandate to reach out to 400, 000 households in the Niger Delta region, has recorded more than 70 per cent success.(NAN)

Banks Should Lend More to the Agriculture Sector - IITA Deputy Director

Deputy Director General, Partnership and Capacity Development, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr. Kenton Dashiell

Deputy Director General, Partnership and Capacity Development, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Dr. Kenton Dashiell, spoke to Goddy Egene on what the institute is doing to improve the lot of farmers and Sterling Bank Plc's contributions to the agriculture sector. Excerpts:

IITA was established 48 years ago and will be 50 in 2017. Would you say that the Institute has really achieved the purpose for which it was established?

I will say yes and no. Yes we have done a lot in terms of embarking on researches to provide answers to a lot of the challenges in the agriculture sector, but ’’no’’, because we still have a long way to go. In our 48 years of existence we have made substantial progress in conducting research to benefit the small scale farmers in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. We have developed technology to the benefit of farmers for production and cultivation. IITA is an international research institute funded by some countries including Nigeria. I must say that Nigeria has been a major supporter of IITA.

What are the major challenges facing the sector and the farmers based on your interaction with the stakeholders?

I will say that the major problem is the competition from 'cheap' imports. It creates an environment that makes it more difficult for farmers to sell their produce after they have invested their time and money to grow their crops and raise their live stock. This is a major challenge and we really appreciate the fact that the government is doing something to checkmate this trend. The second major challenge is finance. The farmers are knowledgeable, they know what  they need to improve their yield; they know they need tractors to clear the farmland; they know they need fertilizer to increase their harvest; need to buy quality seeds and even employ labour, but the question is where will the finance come from?. Although governments at various levels have come in to support the sector in this area, banks must come in to provide finance. Banks must begin to see it as a responsibility to come in and support the sector. That is why l must commend Sterling Bank for its support to the Agriculture sector. The other time l was discussing with a delegation from the bank, l was told that the bank, in 2014, committed five percent of its total loan portfolio to Agric alone. It was a pleasant surprise when l was told that this would increased to 10 per cent in 2015. That level of commitment must be commended and l hope other banks will emulate this to grow the sector. Apart from these major challenges, there are also problems associated with the country’s infrastructural deficit. The problem of poor road network makes it difficult for farmers to get their input to their farmlands for planting and for harvest to be transported to the market.  This is purely the responsibility of the government but financial institutions must step up their game and make finance available to farmers. Schemes implemented in Nigeria and other African countries have shown that the pay back on loans taken by farmers is as high as 99 percent. I know that bankers, as business men and women, will be looking at the risk factor associated with agriculture but like l said, models have shown that bankers working with farmers get their money back in record time. Despite these challenges, we have noticed that things are changing in the rural landscape. We are beginning to see more rural farmers coming out of poverty, taking farming as a means of livelihood and seeing farming as a business.

Can you be specific on countries in Africa in this category?

Some of the countries that readily come to mind are Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia. But l am particularly happy that Nigeria is doing well in the area of agriculture and the government is also supporting this growth. Nigeria is a beautiful place - good weather, good people and the government is also interested in improving the sector. It also has the resources to progress as a nation in the area of agriculture.

What is the role of research in Agriculture?

Research is mainly to develop technology that would enable farmers to increase yields and improve the quality of food or fiber or raw materials for industries. And just to give you a couple of examples. In the 80s, there was a pest called Cassava Lilyburg destroying Cassava in Nigeria and across Africa. This really affected the farmers as yields and income dipped considerably for farmers in the continent. This insect came from South America. And so our scientists went to South America and they found that there was a small insect that could kill the pest. So we brought it to Nigeria, tested it to make sure that it will not hurt any other plants in Nigeria and across Africa. When the result was positive, we released the insect. Since then, you cannot find Cassava Lilyburg anywhere in Africa because the little insect had wiped them out. That is research for you. Research helps in solving problems.

Can you also take us through some other major breakthrough recorded by IITA through research?

I will share two of such with you. We previously had one pest called Avisafe. This is a microorganism that attacks maize and groundnut and some other crops. But you unfortunately can’t see it, you can’t feel it and can’t even smell or touch it. It creates a toxin, a poison called Aflatoxm. We have developed through research, a new product to stop it. I don’t want to elaborate on this. Interested members of the general public as well as institutions should contact IITA. The second one is called Nijumex. This is for Soya beans farmers. It is a little black powder that contains an organism and when mixed properly by farmers with seeds for planting, the seeds grow 25 percent better than other seeds.

As a way of further contributing to the development of agriculture, is IITA involved in skill acquisition?

Yes. We are very much involved in skill acquisition and l am happy you asked that question. We started a programme called IITA Youth Agricprenuers Scheme about two and a half years ago. We started with a group of youth Corpers that finished their service year at that time with IITA. We invited them to a meeting and came up with a workable agreement. So what we do is to work with them and give them the right skills to become what we call Agroprenuers. This scheme has been very successful so far. 

Are you in partnership with any institution, private or government in this regard?

Yes, we are into partnership with the federal government on its youth empowerment scheme. We are also in partnership with state governments in this regard. Specifically, we are into partnership with the Ondo State government’s youth agriculture training scheme. They have a centre located in Ore, Ondo State. The government has improved the infrastructure in the area and we have planted a lot of cassava and other crops with the youths. As for private partnership, we expect financial institutions like Sterling to come on board based on what the Bank is currently doing in the sector.

How would you assess government policy on Agriculture?

Good, in fact excellent. All that we need to do is to ensure that all these beautiful policies are well implemented. In Africa, we need to lay emphasis on agriculture. We also need to be consistent in our policy on agriculture.

Talking about the support of private sector for agriculture, you mentioned Sterling Bank earlier, how would assess  contributions of Sterling Bank to the growth of the sector?

The commitment of Sterling Bank to the growth of agriculture in Nigeria is legendary. Despite the fact that the bank ventured into agriculture finance barely three years ago, it has received a lot of accolades in the sector, where it currently ranks among the top three banks. Like l said earlier, the delegation from the bank that visited me recently told me that the bank,in 2014, devoted five per cent of its loan portfolio to the sector and 10 per cent this year. This is great. The presentation of the award as the Best Bank in Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) to the bank by President Ebele Jonathan is a testimony of its soaring pedigree in the business of agriculture finance in the country.

Now to your background, when did you join IITA?

I have worked in IITA Ibadan for 21 years. I was here from 1983 to 2001 and left. I was delighted when l was offered a job to come back here three years ago.

You left IITA in 2001 and was reabsorbed three years ago. Any developments while you were away that caught your attention?

Yes, there were some positive changes that l noticed when l came back. For instance, l noticed that in the Northern part of the country- Kaduna, Kano, Katsina to be precise, there was a major transition as more farmers are now engaged in the production of maize while a lot of farmers adopted Soya Beans also as a major crop.

(http://www.thisdaylive.com/)

Bayelsa Rice Farmers Want Buhari to Make Agric Priority

Bayelsa Governor, H.E Seriake Dickson

Bayelsa State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has urged the President-elect, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to make agriculture one of his priorities.

State Chairman of the association, Mr Ezekiel Ogbianko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that agriculture was a key to economic growth.

According to Ogbianko, investing in agriculture will go a long way to enhance economic development.

"Insufficient funding, low input supply and lack of modern farming tools are some of the challenges in the business of agriculture.

"We want the incoming government to work more in the sector; the importance of agriculture should not be neglected in growing the economy.

"While we are congratulating Buhari on his victory as the incoming president of the county, we, however, urge him to make agriculture more attractive to the youth.

"Youths are still seeing agriculture as old people's job because the sector is still underdeveloped in terms of modern farming.

"The sector should be seen as the most important aspect in nation building because farming can as well support the fight against unemployment," he said.

According to him, Nigeria can diversify its economy through agriculture by making it an alternative means of economic growth.

Credit: (Daily Independent)

How To Make Your Own Vitamin C Supplement At Home

Pictured: Ourcaststate

For many years, people have used vitamin C supplements as a remedy for the common cold. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in the body. VICTOR OKEKE writes on how you can prepare this nutrient yourself.

Vitamin C is rapidly finding new applications in protecting against endothelial dysfunction, high blood pressure, and the blood vessel changes that precede heart disease. Additional research is discovering that vitamin C can be helpful in preventing asthma, protecting against cancer, and supporting healthy blood sugar levels in diabetics.

While often taken for granted, vitamin C is a critical supplement in your program to improve cardiac health and avoid degenerative diseases.

Unlike vitamin D, which can be manufactured in the body from the sun, vitamin C must come from an outside source and cannot be stored in the body. Thus, the only way to get enough vitamin C is through food sources and supplements, however, did you know that almost all of the vitamin C supplements on the market come from genetically engineered corn?

You may be wondering how you can get enough vitamin C if you want to avoid store bought supplements. The simple answer is to make your own at no extra cost!

Homemade vitamin C has live enzymes, allowing for 100 per cent assimilation in your body. You need not bother with a dosage label or approval by the NAFDAC. Your solution is citrus peels!

In citrus, there are different types of flavonoids, a compound that exhibits antioxidant properties in the human body. Naringin, a powerful antioxidant, is a flavonoid found in the peels of grapefruit, mandarin, and lemons. Several studies have indicated that naringin is so powerful that it may reduce radiation-induced damage to cells.

Hesperidin is another flavonoid found in the white inner layer of oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits. Studies have shown that hesperidin reduces the proliferation of cancer cells, induces programmed cell deaths, and plays an important role in helping those with hypoglycemia.

It’s always best to purchase organic citrus fruits. After you eat the fruit, follow these four easy steps to make your own dried citrus powder:

Save all your citrus peels and spread them onto dehydrator trays.

Allow the peels to dehydrate at 100 degrees F for about 24 hours, or until dry and crispy. Grind the peels in a blender of your choice until they are as fine or coarse as you want. Store in an airtight container and leave in a cool location.

When comparing gram for gram, there are higher levels of vitamin and minerals found in citrus peels than the fruit itself. For example, there is double amount of vitamin C and triple amount of fiber in just 1 tablespoon of lemon peel compared to 1 wedge of lemon.

After you’ve stored some dried citrus powder, try taking it by the spoonful on a daily basis or simply add into smoothies, soups, salads, juices, or raw desserts. Now that you know how to make Vitamin C, you can use this immune boosting remedy any time of year!

(Leadership Nigeria)

Agric Stakeholders in West Africa invited for AGRIKEXPO 2015

WELCOME TO AGRIKEXPO 2015

 AGRIKEXPO 2015 and Conferences, the largest West African Exhibition for Agricultural Products    and Services 5th-7th November, 2015 at Eko Convention, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 2015 edition of AGRIKEXPO, in continued collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is set to deliver the largest gathering of Agricultural stakeholders from all over West Africa, many of whom have registered already. Nigeria being the hub of trade in West Africa and one of fastest global emerging markets, has embarked on a highly focused AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENDA (ATA), with a view to boosting agricultural productivity, value chain activities and other attendant benefits. Consequently an enormous amount of priority in placed on positioning agriculture as pure business as opposed to developmental project through and the creation of supportive infrastructures and policy frameworks. Government at various levels in West Africa is determined to encourage creditable networking and best practices amongst Agro-preneurs, including the establishment of direct partnerships, where necessary, with Manufacturers, Suppliers, Service providers and Consultants. 

Over the past 3years in West Africa, more than US$4billion have been committed to various agricultural technology acquisitions, and direct foreign Investments in value chain Industries. More than ever, there is a renewed drive for commercial scale agricultural practice with the attendant need for renewed approach away from the labour intensive practice. That has already started yielding results and an agri-revolution is set to harm under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and immediate supervision of Dr Akinwumi Adesina. Agriculture is fulcrum to most other economic successes, apart from Maslows priority on food. Little wonder Nigeria is rightly classified in the group of "NEXT ELEVEN" emerging economies in the world.

Picture credit: www.agrikexpo.com

With more than 84million hectares of arable land, abundant sunshine, over 160million people,cheap labour and a renewed zeal towards agriculture, the nation is clearly headed for an agricultural boom. Our vast fertile lands calls for the deployment of modern technolgy for commercial scale productivity and Government is willing to lend supports in partnership with the private sector.Indeed the opportunities for agri-business activities are clearly enormous.

AGRIKEXPO having continously evolved and established an outstanding pedigree over time,remains a premium face-to-face networking forum and a reference event for decision makers.The vistor traffic in 2015 is expected to reach an all time high put in the range of 7000-8000 people as more than 700 have already regsitered. It would be great value for time and money.To avoid a rush, register quick and enjoy early bird benefits too.

For more visit: http://www.agrikexpo.com/

Nigeria: FCT MDGs To Empower 30 Farming Communities

The task manager of the FCT office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mrs. Nancy Nathan, has disclosed that about 30 additional farming communities in the territory would be admitted into youth empowerment programme this year.

Nathan, who was speaking at the annual meeting with farmers' co-operative groups in Gwagwalada on Thursday, said the programme started with 30 farming communities which has risen to 299, adding that over 10,000 farmers have so far benefited from the programme in the territory.

She urged the FCT farmers to continue with the legacy of the programme even after it's rounding off later this year, adding that the programme will be more beneficial to other farmers if they act appropriately and ensure its continuity.

She said a lot has been achieved in the programme since the office of the MDGs came into existence, in which, she said, youth empowerment programme has been given a lot of priority.

"We tried to focus on rural areas especially where people are predominantly farmers and they lack basic amenities in terms of agricultural equipment. And hopefully, we will admit 30 more before we round off the programme," she said.

The MDGs task manager, however, said the programme, which will last for five year is expected to wind up by September this year, saying residents have no doubt felt the impact in many ways.

Also speaking, the manager of community empowerment and agricultural imitative of the FCT MDGs, Dr Shaibu Adamu, revealed that over 400 tonnes of grains have been harvested by the farmers last year, adding that there is hope of a greater produce this year.

"And the grains include maize and soya beans. The farmers got a lot last year and we are hoping there will be more this year when the programme yields excellent result," he said.

(Daily Trust)

Nigeria: WAAPP Seeks Restructuring of Agric Research Councils

The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria has said that stakeholders in the agricultural sector will soon put together a bill aimed at restructuring the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).

National Project Coordinator WAAPP Nigeria, Prof. Damian O. Chikwendu, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said the objective is to suggest ways of transforming ARCN into a more efficient and functional body capable of driving agricultural development in Nigeria.

He said ARCN was established in 2006 with the mandate of coordinating, supervising and regulating agricultural research, training and extension in the fifteen National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and eleven Federal Colleges of Agriculture.

Chikwendu said while ARCN has implemented some initiatives aimed at revitalizing and refocusing the research system, it has recognized that the existing structure and organization is not wholly effective at responding to government's demands for cost-effective management, generation of appropriate technologies, agricultural growth and the individual needs of the rural poor.

(Daily Trust)

The Healing Benefits Of Date Fruit

Date fruits are one-seeded fruits of date palm tree, which is botanically known as Phoenix dactylifera, and belong to the family of Palmae (Arecaceae) plant.

The common English names are dried dates, dates, date palm, etc. Date fruits are usually oblong, with varying sizes, shapes, colours, consistencies and quality.

Constituents

The dried date fruits contains high percentage of carbohydrates (over 50 per cent sugar by weight), low in fat (0.3 per cent and protein (3 per cent), no cholesterol, but high in soluble dietary fibres, various minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, elemental fluorine, boron and sulphur) and over six vitamins, including Vitamins A, C, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), nicotinic acid (niacin), etc.
 
Date fruits also contain other phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds (e.g. flavonoids), glycosides, sterols, cinnamic acids, tannin, saponins, etc.


Therapeutic Activities/ Properties Of Dates

Date fruits are considered as alkaline-forming, antioxidant, anti-aging, anticancer/antitumour, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, cardio tonic, demulcent, diuretic, estrogenic, expectorant, laxative, nervine, nervous rejuvenating tonic, immune booster and purgative.

Methods Of Preparation/Administration

In Nigeria, the dried and soft date fruits are sold out for consumption. However, in the northern part, they are added to the locally -brewed alcoholic beverage to help reduce the intoxicating power.

Date fruits may be seeded, chopped and spread on bread, cakes, pudding, cereal, ice cream, etc. Alcoholic beverages, strong liquor and vinegar can be made from fermenting date syrup or juice.

They can also be prepared and used in the form of milk infusion or milk decoction, syrup or paste. Date syrup is made by concentrating and filtering the juice and used as a sweetener.

Dietary Uses

Date fruits are highly nutritious; they give instant energy. The fruits are rich in Vitamins A, B and C, and minerals, such as calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus.
The milk infusion is recommended as a very high-energy and restorative tonic food for building up wasted muscles and regaining lost weight during convalescence from injury, fevers, anaemic conditions and other illness.

Date fruits milk infusion is also recommended for women in the post-partum and lactating periods.

Studies have shown that eating date fruits on a regular basis promotes longevity and reduces the risk of heart disease and cancers.
Medicinal Uses.

Date fruits have been known and used for hundreds of years for home/folk remedies.

Date Fruits As A Corrective Aid For The Reproductive Organs.

In traditional Arab medicine, date fruits are used to enhance fertility in both men and women.

Taking up to five dates fruits with a glass of warm milk early in the morning and at bedtime daily for 30 days serves as aphrodisiac for sexual debility, both in the young and the old.

It promotes sperms quality and quantity. Date fruit is best used for male infertility.

It increases the size of testes in men and the size the breasts in women.

Date Fruits As A Nutritive For The Nervous Systems.

Drinking a milk decoction of date fruits, made by boiling six date fruits in a cup of milk once daily helps in nourishing the nerves and energising the body generally.

Date fruits contain serotonin that affects the mood and emotion, therefore, the fruits are recommended in cases of debility, fatigue, neurasthenia, alcohol intoxication, alcoholism, paralysis, coma and diabetes insipidus.

Date Fruits As A Cancer Preventive

Dates fruits contain anthocyanins, which act as powerful antioxidants and anticancer or antitumour.

In addition, dates fruits are considered as alkaline-forming, immune-boosting and liver-nourishing.

All these therapeutic activities of date fruits make them very useful in preventing all kinds of cancers.

Studies have shown that people who consume large quantities of dates daily, especially on empty stomach, have low incidence of cancers (e.g. abdomen and colon cancers, testes, uterus, vaginal cancers, etc).

Date Fruits As A Digestive Aid

Dates contain good amount of soluble dietary fibre that acts as a good digestive aid and stimulates bowel movement.
Therefore, date fruits are recommended in all cases of digestive problems- constipation, indigestion, nausea, haemorrhoids, feeble spleens, peptic ulcer, and gastric complaints.

Date Fruits For Respiratory Diseases

Date fruits contain tannins that act as astringents for the respiratory tract. Drinking a milk decoction of date fruit by boiling up to seven date fruits in a cup of milk at bedtime for 30 days is recommended as a helpful remedy for the treatment of coughs, bronchial catarrh, asthma, tuberculosis, cold, flu, fevers, chest complaints, laryngitis, sore throat, etc.

Date Fruits For The Prevention Heart Diseases

Drinking a cup of cold infusion of date fruits (infusing up to12 mashed date fruits in a cup of water overnight) once a day helps to keep the heart healthy and strengthens a weak one.

It also lowers the levels of LDL or “bad cholesterol,” and therefore reduces the risks of heart attacks, strokes, etc.

There are other uses of date fruits. Due to its high magnesium content, date has anti-inflammatory properties and therefore good for chronic inflammatory conditions, like arthritis, allergic reactions, etc.

Date fruits are also useful in the treatment of water retention, oedema, cystitis, strangury, yeast infection (candidiasis), etc.
Cautions

So far, there are no known side effects or hazards associated with the use of date fruits.

However, due to the high in sugar contents, diabetic patients should avoid them.

Source: NgrGuardian
Pictured: Nuts.com

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Nigerian Herbal Drug, SAABFAT6 May Cure Cancers – American Researchers

American researchers from the Department of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Services at the Texas Southern University in Houston
have provided evidence that SAABFAT6, a Nigerian herbal drug may prevent the growth of cancer cells.

The herbal product SAABFAT6 listed by NAFDAC, and produced by a Nigerian phytho-medicinal researcher in collaboration with Halamin
Herbal Centre was the focus of a recent study at the US research centre.

The researchers, Syntia E Kwende and Momoh A Yakubu said “SAABFAT6 shows that cancer, a dreadful disease that has been tormenting humans can succumbed to the power of researched drug combinations from the
Herbal Centre.”

Unveiling the research report “Antiproliferative and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Herbal Supplement SAABFAT6 on HT29 Colorectal
Adenocarcinoma Cells” in Abuja yesterday, the drug manufacturer pharmacist Ben Amodu said the consumption of herbal supplements has
been one of the remedies for several aliments including cancer for a long time.

“This preliminary result indicates that SAABFAT6 supplement may have a potential for the regulation of HT29 growth and survival. Further study is required to identify the mechanism(s) by which the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of SAABFAT6 is mediated,”
researchers said.

Earlier in his remarks, Amodu who is equally the director and chief researcher of the Centre disclosed that similar researches were
carried out in the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID) which according to him showed that his product combinations has remedy for cancer.

The phytho-medicinal researcher added that his products when taken to America had been found to prevent the growth of cancer cells by 75 per cent in lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers.

(Leadership)

FAO's role in water

Agriculture faces complex challenges between now and 2050 to satisfy an estimated population of nine billion. One certainty, however, is that more water will be needed to produce the estimated 60% of extra food needed.  FAO’s work in water focuses on a more efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly use of water in agriculture.

 Issues around water that need to be addressed include:

1. producing more food while using less water
2. building resilience of farming communities to cope with floods and droughts
3. applying clean water technologies that protect the environment
Irrigation

Irrigated agriculture plays a key role in food production.  We work with governments, water managers, engineers and farmers to modernize their irrigation systems so that they are more productive and less damaging for the environment. For many rural people, water is often the primary production factor that needs to be secured. FAO promotes easily affordable agricultural water management solutions that increase rural income and food security.

Water resources

Tremendous progress in food production in recent years has made it possible to provide better quality food to more people than ever before.

Too often, however, this is achieved at the expense of water resources and of the health of the ecosystems they sustain.

To address this challenge, FAO is supporting intensification models that are clean and resource-efficient, raising the productivity of water across the domestic, industrial and agricultural uses.

Water governance

FAO supports programs that improve the governance of water for more efficient, transparent and equitable use of water for agriculture.It addresses competition for water between sectors through the water-food-energy nexus approach, building upon multi-sectoral policy dialogue and conflict resolution work.

For example, our program on groundwater governance focuses on delivering policy and institutional guidelines designed at local, national and transboundary levels. We aim to promote best practices in groundwater governance as a way to achieve  sustainable management of groundwater resources.

Climate change and variability

Climate change will lead to more frequent and intense weather extreme events like droughts and floods, with devastating impacts on food production systems. Sound water management is essential for building societal resilience against such increased risks.

FAO’s work focuses on:

promotion of pro-active drought and flood risk management policies
capacity building on early warning and regular information on threats
support to increased water storage to buffer climate variability and change
Information

The awareness of the interactions between food, energy, poverty, environment and climate change is increasing, as well as the recognition that water plays a central role in all these issues. FAO operates and maintains AQUASTAT, the most comprehensive and quoted source on global water statistics.

Source: FAO

Nigeria: Sokoto to Commence Mechanised Farming Soon

Sokoto — Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State says the state government will soon introduce machinise farming method to ensure full ultilsation of the multi-million naira Goronyo Dam in the state.

Wamakko stated this when he received the people of Goronyo Local Government Area, who paid him a congratulatory visit.

The community was led on the visit by the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Bello Goronyo.

Wamakko, a senator-elect, assured that the in-coming administration in the state would continue to initiate people-oriented policies that would enhance the socio-economic and political development of the state.

According to him, the state is blessed with vast agricultural land convenient for the production of assorted food crops for domestic and external consumptions.

Wamakko commended the people of the state for voting massively for candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the March 28 and April 11 elections.

He said that the era of youth migrating to urban areas in search of jobs was over as assorted modern inputs would continue to be made available for farmers to enhance massive food production in the state.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the delegation, Goronyo said that the visit by the people of the area was also to restate their commitment and support to the governor-elect, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

Source: Vanguard

Pictured: blog.truckandtrailer.co.za