Thursday, 28 May 2015

STOP DREAMING, GET YOUR DREAM STARTED


Do you have a dream? 

Can your dream make the difference for your community, your country or even the whole world? Enter the NESCAFÉ Get Started challenge and show everyone how powerful your idea is.

All you need to do is to submit your dream here. If you find it published on the website the following week, it means that it’s passed the preselection. This is the time to get as many votes as possible, so make sure you get all your friends to vote for your dream.

The 4 most impressive dreams will receive support from inspiring African mentors to pitch their ideas to the grand jury. The ultimate winner’s dream will get started by NESCAFÉ.
1. Your dream must not be of material benefit to oneself.
2. Your dream should focus on one of these categories: Technology,
Arts and Culture, Community Development, Environment or Health.
3. Your dream must have an action plan.
4. Your dream must start something big for you and people around you.
5.Make us fall in love with your dream and we’ll help you to get it started.


https://www.getstartedafrica.com/en/rules/

2015 NNPC/ESSO Postgraduate Scholarship Awards

Since 1974, ExxonMobil upstream affiliates in Nigeria – Esso Exploration and production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) and Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) have supported the education of thousands of Nigerian students through the Companies’ various scholarship schemes. 


International and National Post Graduate Scholarship Awards


These programs are sponsored by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) in production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) as co-venturer. The awards, which focus on Geosciences and Engineering disciplines are part of efforts at developing people for rewarding and productive careers in the petroleum industry. To qualify for the scheme:
 International Post Graduate Scholarship Awards: The candidates must have a first degree (First Class or Second Class Upper Division in Geosciences or Engineering disciplines obtained from a Nigerian university, provisional admission for a Master’s degree program in any of the above stated disciplines in any reputable Foreign University for the international post graduate award. The candidates must also be among the top performers in the selection tests and interviews conducted.
National Post Graduate Scholarship Awards: The candidates must have a first degree (First Class or Second Class Upper Division in Geosciences or Engineering disciplines obtained from a Nigerian university, provisional admission for a Master’s degree program in any of the above stated disciplines in a recognized Nigerian University for the national post graduate award. The candidates must also be among the top performers in the selection tests and interviews conducted.

As at 
2014, a total of 123 young Nigerians have been sponsored for international post graduate studies since 1994, while another 159 persons have gone through similar programs in Nigerian universities since 2007. Other schemes sponsored by this partnership include the NNPC/MPN Undergraduate Scholarship Awards . These scholarship programs are amongst several initiatives by the ExxonMobil upstream subsidiary companies EEPNL and MPN), along with the respective partners and co-venturer, to help build capacities of young and brilliant Nigerians and further boost pool of qualified manpower for career opportunities in Nigeria and abroad. 


Carefully read the Requirement/Eligibility, How To Apply and Frequently Asked Questions pages for more details

Apply here: http://www.scholastica.ng/candidate/login?ReturnUrl=%2fschemes%2fapply%2f5044

Visit the page: http://www.scholastica.ng/schemes/nnpceepnl

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina has emerged president of the African Development Bank

Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, President-elect AfDB.
The pan-African lender made this disclosure via its Twitter account on Thursday.
Adesina will now take over from outgoing bank president, Donald Kaberuka on September 1.
The election was part of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
He defeated contenders like Sufian Ahmed, Jaloul Ayed, Kordjé Bedoumra, Cristina Duarte, Samura M. W. Kamara,Thomas Z. Sakala and  Birama Boubacar Sidibé to become the 50-year-old body’s eighth leader.
Earlier, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari had requested the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the candidacy of Adesina as the body’s president.
Gen. Buhari had communicated his backing of Dr. Adesina’s candidacy to Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the chairman of ECOWAS, a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said.
According to him, Gen. Buhari said his support of Dr. Adesina’s candidacy was not just because he is a Nigerian.
”Dr. Adesina has a proven track record in a career that predates his position as Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.”
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.

Credit: Channels TV

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

US Ambassador Congratulates Newest Mandela Washington Fellows

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General today recognized 40 young Nigerians selected to participate in the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship.  The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and a key component of President Barack Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.  The White House developed this initiative in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

Speaking at a special gathering in Abuja and via satellite in Lagos, U.S. Ambassador James F. Entwistle congratulated the new fellows on their competitive selection amongst 7,000 Nigerian applicants and tens of thousands of others throughout Africa.

“You all should be proud of your accomplishment.  Your selection says a lot about who you are as young leaders and the level of impact you are having on your communities as entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and public servants,” said Ambassador Entwistle.  He added, “You will have the opportunity to meet hundreds of bright and inspiring minds, just like yourselves, from other parts of Africa.  Take advantage of the opportunity to learn, to share, and to expand your network.”

In 2014, 44 Nigerian fellows comprised part of the inaugural class of Mandela Washington Fellows.  Fellows participate in an intensive, six-week program on academic excellence and leadership focused on business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management at U.S. colleges and universities.

Below is a list of the 2015 fellows, including their disciplines and hosting institutions:



NAME

DISCIPLINE

UNIVERSITY

1

Alueshima Utasha

Public Management

Florida International University

2

Lukmon Buliameen

Business and Entrepreneurship

University of Wisconsin-Stout

3

Ikuba Ona

Civic Leadership

Arizona State University

4

Oluwaseyi Dara

Business and Entrepreneurship

University of Wisconsin-Stout

5

Catherine Edeh

Public Management

University of Minnesota

6

Ibrahim Balami

Business and Entrepreneurship

Clark Atlanta University

7

Nkemdilim Azinge

Civic Leadership

Rutgers University

8

Amina Alkali

Civic Leadership

University of Delaware

9

Grace Jerry

Civic Leadership

University of Virginia

10

Fatu Ogwuche

Public Management

Howard University

11

Rilwan Hassan

Business and Entrepreneurship

Northwestern University

12

Benjamin Dankaka

Public Management

Virginia Commonwealth University

13

Muhammad Saleh

Civic Leadership

Tulane University

14

Rukayya Sani

Civic Leadership

Wagner College

15

Haruna Ndahi

Business and Entrepreneurship

University of Nevada, Reno

16

Bobwealth Omontese

Public Management

Syracuse University

17

Chinomnso Ibe

Civic Leadership

Wagner College

18

Abiola Odunaiya

Civic Leadership

University of California Berkeley

19

Chioma Achi

Civic Leadership

University of California Berkeley

20

Jamila Mohammed

Public Management

Syracuse University

21

Mlumum Ikpaahindi

Public Management

University of Minnesota

22

Cynthia Chiamaka Ndubuisi

Business and Entrepreneurship

Dartmouth College

23

Abosede Oluwaseun Lewu

Business & Entrepreneurship

University of Notre Dame



24

Oluwafunmilayo Adebimpe Ilori

Business & Entrepreneurship

Clark Atlanta University

25

Adekunbi Gbemisola Adeoye

Business & Entrepreneurship

University of Texas at Austin



26

Damilola Opeyemi Sobowale

Business & Entrepreneurship

Clark Atlanta University



27

Anuoluwapo Oluyomi Akinola

Business & Entrepreneurship

Dartmouth College



28

Chioma Ilobekeme Agha

Business & Entrepreneurship

Dartmouth College



29

Ejiro Sharon Okotie

Civic Leadership

Arizona State University

30

Oluwafunmilola Wonsebolatan James

Civic Leadership



Tulane University



31

Glory Chinenye Oguegbu

Civic Leadership



University of Delaware



32

Ayoola Philip Adeniyi

Business & Entrepreneurship

University of Nevada-Reno



33

Oladipo  Adesida

Business & Entrepreneurship

University of Nevada-Reno



34

Omotola Samuel Oni

Business & Entrepreneurship

Northwestern University



35

Oluwatimilehin Paul Olagunju

Civic Leadership



University of Virginia/College of William & Mary/Presidential Precinct

36

Olakunle Olusola Ajayi

Civic Leadership

Rutgers University



37

Olusola Samuel Owonikoko

Civic Leadership

Wagner College



38

Williams Kwame Rashidi

Civic Leadership

University of California, Berkeley

39

Olakunle Joel Adewale

Civic Leadership

Tulane University



40

Oluwamayowa Adepeju Salu

Civic Leadership

Credit: US Embassy, Nigeria.

Friday, 15 May 2015

Council of State Tasks Buhari on Farmers, Herdsmen Recurring clashes

FROM LEFT: FORMER HEAD OF STATE, GEN. ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR; FORMER HEADOF STATE AND PRESIDENT-ELECT, GEN. MUHAMMADU BUHARI; FORMER HEAD OF STATE, GEN.YAKUBU GOWON; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO;FORMER PRESIDENT, ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI; FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT IBRAHIMBABANGIDA AND FORMER HEAD OF INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN,WITH STATE GOVERNORS, DEPUTY GOVERNORS AND MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL CAPITALTERRITOTY, AFTER THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY(12/5/15).
2528/12/5/2015/BJO/CH/NAN
Abuja – The National Council of State on Tuesday in Abuja urged the incoming administration of retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to develop viable solutions to the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country.
Addressing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue said already, a document had been prepared by the council to address the menace.
“The issue of the clashes between the herdsmen and the farmers in various parts of the country was also addressed and the way forward.
“Actually, the report that was presented by the Economic Council under my chairmanship as relates to issue of grazing and what the Federal Government needs to do in order to address that will be presented to the incoming president so that he will act on it since there is no time for the present administration to do that.’’
According to him, the prepared document states what needs to be done that will reduce the clashes.
He recalled that a decision was taken at one of the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings on how government could reduce the clashes and gradually domesticate the herdsmen.
“We can domesticate them in ranches. That document stated clearly how the Central Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture ?can act.
“And many of the herdsmen are now willing to be domesticated.’’
Suswam said the council expressed concern that the clashes had resulted to the establishment of a number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in places like Niger, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa.
“These are places you have incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers,’’ he said.
On the issue of insecurity in some parts of the country particularly the North East region, Suswam said the National Security Adviser, who addressed the council, assured that the insurgency would soon be a thing of the past.
“But on the whole, the summary of what the NSA presented to council was to say that Nigeria is now better prepared than it was three years back in fighting any form of insurgency because outside the immediate surrounding countries, the international community has also keyed in to give serious assistance.
“So moving forward is not going to be like what happened before where these insurgents had a filled day, where our military was put in a bad light.
“Our military is well equipped now, there is better training for them to cope with terrorism. Terrorism was alien to this country and so once it came, we needed to counter the terrorists.
“But, the incoming administration will pick up from the solid foundation that has been laid in addressing security challenges.
“So, Nigerians should have confidence that insurgency will soon be a thing of the past and he (thwe NSA) assured the Council of State that before May 29?, at least, the enclaves, which is Sambisa forest, will be properly combed and annihilated and that will, at least, put paid to the incessant gorilla style attacked that have been raging in the past
(NigerianObserver)

Farmers Impacted By Kolo Creek Spill Incident in Bayelsa May Sue Shell

Worried by the unwillingness of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) to compensate them over the April 15 oil leak incident from Shell's Kolo Creek oil fields that devastated their farms, the farmers impacted by the spill have decided to take their case to the court.
The farmers complained that members of a joint investigation committee to probe the cause and impact of the spill excluded their farms, despite efforts to draw the attention of the team to the impacted areas.
According to one of the fish farmers, Mr Aku Aseimo, whose three ponds were impacted, the affected farmers numbering over 50 have resolved to seek legal redress, following the adamant posture of the SPD.
Aseimo said: "This is a clear case of the strong and rich oil firm against the weak and poor farmers. They are claiming that the spill was caused by sabotage and abandoned the polluted environment.
"The regulations which they rely on to absolve themselves clearly stated that the operator of the field where pollution occurs cleans up the site, irrespective of the cause. But SPDC officials declined to capture our farms as impacted areas.

(DailyTrust)

Why Govt, Research Institutes Should Help Farmers On Global Warming - - Prof. Ishaku

Zaria — Professor Mohammed Faguci Ishaku, the Director of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, explains how Nigerian government, research institutes and farmers can arrest the impacts of global warming on the Nigerian agricultural sector, among other issues. Excerpt:
Can you tell us the impacts of global warming on our farmers?
I was trained as a plant breeder, a geneticist who specialised in developing new varieties of cowpeas with improved quality and ability to stand pest attack, drought and earliness. In recent time, I have moved into the area of modern biotechnology where genetic manipulation of crops is giving serious attention. This is a situation where crossbred would be done to enhance conventional genetic improvement tools. Now, on global warming, it has been scientifically shown that the world's climate is warming up, and the result of this warming are things like the Tsunami that we had in the Southeast Asia, the flood we are seeing right now in the United States of America and other places, these are the events. There is also the issue of drought. Very serious drought is being witnessed in many parts of the world. These are all the effects of global warming. When there is flood, farmers lose their crops, livestock, and even human lives.
Therefore, we have to be prepared for us to manage our lives under this unpalatable situation. Here, in IAR, our plan for combating this situation is to have early maturing crop varieties so that if there is a flood and the normal cropping has been lost to flood, a new set of crop would be planted. We have also developed drought-tolerant varieties. These varieties survive with a very small amount of water. There is also the expansion of the type of crops that we grow now. We need to look into the future for alternative crops. In case we find our places or farms inundated with water, you cannot grow crops such as sorghum that does not like water, but there are varieties of rice that can be grown. Therefore, we need these crops in our stores in case of emergencies so that government can distribute to farmers to ameliorate the situation. This unfortunate situation did arise recently in like Kogi State. You remember the flooding of River Niger, some years ago, and some other parts of this country. We are looking forward to using development of crop varieties that are adoptable to drought and can grow under high moisture as well. We need to look beyond what we are used to. We need to be situations like, what if our situation completely changes, what can we grow?
In your effort to come up with measures against global warming, have you started devising means of sensitising farmers?
We are in close collaboration with the agricultural development projects based in different states in the country. All our technologies, findings on how to improve agriculture, are taken to farmers, for them to see and adopt. In addition to that, we publish some pamphlets relaying the technologies available, which farmers can access. From time to time, we also invite the media to our events such as farmers' field day, where farmers and members of the public come and see what we are doing at the institute. Through those interactions, we have been receiving a lot of feedbacks from the public. Some of these feedbacks are coming on new varieties of crops, others coming for advice on how to manage certain situations.
Are you saying that IAR has in its stock variety of crops that are meant to suit the warming that the world is experiencing?
For, especially, maize, where we have already developed extra-early maturing variety, which would grow in those areas that we don't grow maize before. This is because the normal maize variety takes long time, into the rainy season. But we have developed the variety that can mature earlier. We have cowpea varieties that would grow almost everywhere in Nigeria, but we still continue researching because the changes can sometime be very drastic. We are trying to mimic what would happen and work along that line.
Is there any role that a farmer can play against the impact of global warming?
The only way that a farmer can assist himself is to contact the extension outfit closest to him for advice so that he would be advised on the appropriate crop variety he would plant, in case drought or flood is predicted in any given season. After doing that, he should consult with them regularly for guidance.
What are the roles of government in this direction?
The government's role, just like it is expected to do in every emergency situation, is to provide seeds. This is because when these things happen, the farmers become devastated. They might have lost the first crop they planted, so, they need some support.
How can agriculture be generally improved in Nigeria?
Agriculture is important in ensuring a stable social environment for national development. I think no investment would be too much on the part of the government to ensure that agriculture is accorded priority to move Nigerian citizens out of poverty. This can be achieved through the strengthening of researches that are primarily targeted towards solving specific problems affecting farmers. Government should also create the necessary environment for which there would be an appropriate pricing that would make farming a profitable venture for farmers so that they would earn a living out of it. I would also want to urge that even our foreign policy should be tailored to strengthen agriculture in our national economy. We can explore a lot of markets outside this country, despite the fact that Nigeria, on its own, is a big market. But we can use other markets, as well, to expand our income from agriculture.

(Daily Trust)

100,000 Farmers Benefit From FG's Agric Subsidy in Ebonyi -Adesina

Abakaliki — Over one hundred thousand farmers in Ebonyi State have benefited from the Federal Government's agriculture input subsidy programme.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this at this year's flag off of farming season in Ebonyi State.
Dr. Adesina noted that the feat was achieved in 2014 alone, assuring that as soon as the dust of transition settles the federal government would kick-start its agricultural programmes.
"Because even the incoming administration has said as far as agricultural programmes are concerned, they are going to sustain them," the minister added.
Represented by a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Anselem Okpara, the minister pointed out that "Ebonyi State remains one of the largest producers of rice in Nigeria and because of that, the federal government does not joke with anything that concerns agriculture in the state.
While congratulating the state government for the feat it has achieved in the agricultural sector as well as its sustained partnership with the federal government, he assured that every agricultural grant from the government due for the state would be given to it.
A total of 2,430 units of agricultural machinery were procured for the 2015 farming season which cost the state government the sum of N368,468,639,17 were given to relevant institutions and agencies, according to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Romanus Nwasum.
(DailyTrust)

Israeli Agric Expert Laments Nigeria's Food Dependency

President, Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, Dr Joseph Shevel, has said that food importation is hurting Nigeria's economy, pointing out that the country spends $11billion yearly to import wheat, rice, sugar and fish.
This development, he said, has made the country the largest importer of wheat and second largest importer of rice globally.
Shevel said that Nigeria can be a global superpower in agriculture by investing in research and development, agriculture, water and environmental management and making deforestation a criminal act.
Presenting a paper titled: "Higher Education and National Development: Lessons for Nigeria", at the 64thInterdisciplinary Discourse of the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan, put together by the dean, Professor Adeyinka Aderinto, Shevel insisted that Nigeria cannot become a global power with near zero investment in its key sectors.
He lamented that even though Nigeria has enormous potentials in agriculture, only 40% of the country's existing 84million hectares of arable land was cultivated.
Shevel said that Israel, a nation without oil, water, land, became a global high-tech country, competing globally, with 67 years investment in quality research and development, adding that Nigeria needed a visionary leader to move it forward.

(Daily Trust)

Agric Minister Makes Case for Investment in Oil Palm, Others

In view of the comparative advantages oil palm, rice and cassava have over other crops, the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina has called on potential investors in agriculture to invest on the crops to enhance the agricultural sector, especially in the area of employment generation.
This call was made by the Minister at the first investors workshop/training on modern crops processing, processors' group formation, products quality and organised marketing held in Ibadan at the weekend.
Represented at the programme by the Regional Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, Olalekan Quadri said: "we want investors to look at the areas they can invest in and take advantage of the different areas we have in the sector because this can ensure job opportunities".
He maintained that there were tremendous opportunities in the agricultural sector, especially in the area of oil palm that could transform the lives of youths, adding that, "the ministry has embarked on what we call wild groove and re-planting operations, in other words, all old palm trees of 40 years to 50years, the ministry is now giving seedlings free so that people can begin to replace the old ones"."Because most farmers are poor resource farmers, so the government is trying to see how they can be assisted. So, if you have a land with old palm trees, you can key into the programme and start a replanting process, in two and half years the palm will mature for harvest", he said.
In his welcome address, Damilola Eniayeju, Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture said the workshop was targeted at training investors and supervisors on modern ways of handling, processing techniques and packaging of various crops.
Eniayeju who was represented by Mattew Owolabi, his Deputy in the Ministry said these techniques would help get the best processed products quality and sensitization of processors on group formation that would lead to organised marketing and trading.
"All these are being done under crops promotion and Development such as cassava, rice and oil palm through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) titled Cottage Crops Processing Factories Programme, he added.
The Director equally said the aim of the workshop was to let every beneficiary of cottage crops processing factory to learn and interact positively stressing that it would also educate them on the advantages and challenges of modern processing that give birth to quality processing output.

(Daily Independent)

Farmers tackle Kogi Govt over ‘inadequate’ N100,000 loan

farmAll Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kogi State chapter, on Saturday described the N100,000 loan to farmers by the state government as grossly inadequate.
AFAN Secretary in the state, Mr. Ademu Halidu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja that the amount was too small for any farmer to work with.
Halidu said, “It is most unfortunate that at this present time, farmers would be given a token sum of N100,000 each as loan. The amount is too small for any farmer to work with.
“What about the stress and the rigour the farmers passed through before they were able to access the loan.
“Apart from the small amount, the process undertaken by farmers before getting the loan in terms of bank registration and documentation is too cumbersome for any rural farmer.
“Farmers are also demanded by the bank to open an account and pay a compulsory deposit of N10,000 before accessing the fund.
“AFAN are saying that the amount is too small in this era of mechanised farming with innovations of farm inputs, which determine the farm output products”.
The secretary said the in-house crisis in the state AFAN and Cooperatives Federation of Farmers was responsible for the association’s failure to press home its demands with the state government.
He promised that the crisis would be resolved within the next two weeks and that AFAN would re-unite to present their case before the state government.
Meanwhile, Halidu had criticised the decision of the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Zacchaeus Atte, to disburse the loan directly to individual farmer without channeling it through AFAN.
NAN reports that Kogi State Government, through the Bank of Agriculture, has commenced the disbursement of N750m loan to farmers in the state.
(InformationNG)

How Adesina’s Cassava Revolution Saves Nigeria N300bn Annually – CGA

Cassava Farmers Cooperative Union (BCFCU) in BornoThe National President Cassava Growers Association, Pastor Segun Adewumi has said the efforts of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina in revolutionising agriculture will save the Nigeria economy over 300billion annually.
According to him, “this was possible through the 20 per cent inclusion of high quality cassava flour and also because of the vast economic uses of the staple food (cassava)”.
According to him, “aside its domestic uses, cassava has several major industrial uses including ethanol, industrial starch, glucose syrup and sweeteners among others which can be used as raw materials for many utility items.”
He added that “the minister has not only revolutionised the agricultural sector but also restored the dignity of Nigerian farmers, bringing them to the limelight and to the attention of government, where previously it had been a master-servant relationship”.
He assured that “electing Akinwumi as the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) will boost the continents agricultural sector and also restore the dignity of African farmers as a whole”.
Adewumi who made these revelations in an exclusive telephone interview with Leadership said “prior to the efforts of the minister, Nigeria had less than 1000 active cassava growers of which membership had increased to over 1.2million in the past three years”
Speaking on the many success of cassava growers through the minister, Adewumi disclosed that Akinwumi “has assisted over 8000 farmers to get loans from the Bank Of Agriculture (BOA), assisted us to get a grant for 29,500 hectares, allowed the farmers manage their own situations despite limiting government bureaucracy and is in the process of instituting a Cassava Development Commission.”
LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that in a previous research conducted by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA) and the Federal Institute for Industrial research (FIIRO) it was revealed that wheat flour can be replaced by 20 per cent high quality cassava flour(HQCF).
In the light of this the federal government launched a cassava transformation agenda in 2011 with an emphasis on import substitution, particularly to replace 20 per cent of the imported wheat for use in bread, confectionery and Pastas with cassava flour.
The minister in his 2014 score card had revealed that through the 20 per cent partial replacement of wheat flour with HQCF Nigeria will redirect N125b to cassava farmers annually.
(Leadership)

Foreign Rice Importers: Game To Return Nigeria As Dumping Ground

In the rash of misinformation being peddled in the media, it has become necessary to separate the wheat from the chaff, as some entrenched interests seem bent on truncating the genuine strides made so far by the President Jonathan Administration to make the nation self-sufficient in rice production.
Adesina inspecting rice farm with Hajia Baladi, leader of women rice farmers at Bokolori dam farm project in Zamfara State in 2013 planting season
The rice industry was characterised by opacity and confusion, and importers, particularly a few foreigners, dominated transactions. It was this Administration of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that initiated a rice revolution that ushered in massive production of rice within the country, with the ambitious plan of gradually phasing out importation by 2017 when Nigeria is expected to have become self-sufficient in rice production.
It needs to be emphasised that, under President Jonathan’s watch, and with his active support, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, designed the policy framework that gave local producers an opportunity to be competitive in the first instance. The idea of differential duty and levy, which was introduced, was meant to encourage investment in the Nigerian rice industry, to expand production, increasing milling capacity and creating employment along the rice value chain.
In a release by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the new rice policy driven by the Minister succeeded and galvanised $2.6 billion in investment commitments into commercial rice cultivation and establishment of integrated rice mills.
It is surprising that the same Minister, who has worked so hard in ensuring that sanity is brought into the rice industry, would be maligned by some for sticking to his gun that those, who owe government should pay their duties and levies. The Minister never gave waivers.
These Asian rice importers, who believe they are above the law in Nigeria, for decades, have frustrated every effort and policy to reverse the trend of massive food imports by Nigeria, did not envisage that one day an astute and incorruptible technocrat with a passion for change like Dr. Adesina, would emerge.

Before the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), Nigeria was enormously short-changed and there was no level playing field to encourage local production, to the extent the nation spent N356 billion annually on rice importation, thus bleeding the nation’s economy.
Under the ATA, the Federal Ministry Of Agriculture And Rural Development embarked on innovative interventions through the rice policy and set up its implementation plan.
On May 26th, 2014, a new rice policy was approved by President Jonathan to encourage investments in local rice milling and production through the introduction of an import duty differential on rice (brown or polished) imported by investors in the rice sector compared to rice traders. The policy thrust was meant to turn importers into investors to commence local production and become part of the drivers of the local content in the rice industry. This is to contribute in part to the expectation of increased rice paddy production, leading to the achievement of rice self-sufficiency.
The policy has been very successful under the passionate drive of Dr. Adesina, who said that Nigeria must become self sufficient in rice production within four years.
Dr. Adesina drove a massive innovation, which delivered free high-yielding rice varieties and subsidised fertilisers to six million rice farmers within three years.
In the period 2012 to 2014 paddy rice production in the country grew from 4.5 million MT in 2012 to 7.89 million (metric tons) MT in 2013, and 10.7 million MT in 2014.  Never has Nigeria seen such rapid growth of in paddy rice production. The capacity for integrated rice milling for the production of import-grade rice has also risen from 70,000MT in 2011 to over 800,000MT in 2014. The number of integrated rice mills increased from only one in 2011 to over 24 by 2014. Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in producing paddy rice rose from about 45 per cent in 2011 to 85 per cent by 2014. Adesina’s drive for rice self sufficiency is well on course. Nigeria’s food import bill declined from N 3.1 trillion in 2011 to N635 billion by 2014 according to data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.
To encourage greater domestic investments in rice, the rice policy was designed to encourage expanded cultivation of commercial rice farms and establishment of new integrated rice mills. To ensure this, existing rice millers and new investors in rice milling and paddy production with verified Domestic Rice Production Plans (DRPP) will enjoy an import duty of 10 per cent and levy 20 per cent, while pure traders will pay a higher import duty of 10 per cent and levy 60 per cent.
The new rice policy also stated that importation of brown or polished rice should be limited to the national supply gap for import-grade rice. Rice import quotas at the preferential rate of 10 per cent duty and 20 per cent levy will be will be issued to existing and new rice millers/producers based on the national supply gap. Working with rice experts from the Africa Rice Centre, USAID, and from FMARD’s rice value chain, a methodology to determine the national supply gap and allocation of quotas to qualifying rice investors was developed.
Criteria for quota allocation was based on weighted parameters of: existing milling capacity, a Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP) that assessed size of new investments in rice production and milling, purchase of paddy locally from farmers and from the Paddy Aggregation Centers (PACs), and size of new proposed mills.  A report on the methodology was presented to the Inter-Ministerial Committee through a memo sent out from the office of the Minister on October 4th, 2014.
Following feedback on the methodology from members of the Committee, a meeting was held on November 10th, 2014 with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, rice sector stakeholders, and rice experts to deliberate on the report.  The supply gap of import-grade rice was determined to be 1.5 million MT for 2014.  The meeting also agreed that 1.3 million MT should be allocated to existing rice millers and importers with approved Domestic Rice Production Plans (DRPP), at a preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent, while 0.2million MT is allocated to other rice importers at the normal levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.
Subsequently, a letter was sent to existing rice millers and new investors, to submit a DRPP, and based on their submissions a total of 1.3 million MT of rice import quotas was issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.  The remainder 0.2 million MT of rice imports will be at the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for other rice importers.
Based on methodology for allocating quotas and DRPPs submitted by existing rice millers and new investors, the Minister allocated quotas to an approved list of 25 qualifying rice investors (with DRPPs) on November 29th, 2014.  A performance bond to be paid by importers with DRPPs was introduced to ensure compliance with milestones of their investment plans.
It was clearly stated that any beneficiary, who has already imported rice above these approved quantities would have to pay to treasury the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for the excess amount.
Without waiting for determination of supply gap by the inter-ministerial committees or issuance of quotas, two Asian companies, Popular Farms and Mills – owned by Stallion Group, and Olam, had each imported 390,145.53MT and 244,126.63MT respectively of polished rice as at December 3rd, 2014. These two companies together imported a total of 634,270.16MT of finished rice or 56 per cent of the total imported finished rice under the new policy as at December 3rd, 2014.  Their approved quotas for 2014, however were 89,939MT for Popular Farms and Mills and 133,963MT for Olam.  By December 4, 2014, both companies had imported a total of 410,368.16 MT in excess of their approved quotas.
The Minister of Agriculture blew the whistle that this was totally unacceptable. He wrote to the President that the Nigerian Customs must enforce the quota ceiling and ensure that any company, which imported above their allocated ceiling must pay the Treasury at the applicable higher tariff of 10 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy. Accordingly, Popular Farms and Mills owe the Treasury N19.379billion in unpaid levies, while Olam owes the Treasury N9.02billion.
The companies cannot claim ignorance. According to Nigerian Customs, the importers agreed with the Customs to pay any duty and levy differential if their eventual quota allocation turned out to be lower than what they have imported. Rather than pay the levies owed, the two companies wrote letters to the Minister asking for a revision of their rice import quotas. Olam asked for 400,000MT rice import quota, to cover the quantities of rice that they had gone ahead to import (or still desire to import) without any approved quotas or DRPP as required, but a mere agreement with Nigerian Customs that they would pay the duties due once the quota allocations are out.
Both companies pleaded with the Minister to no avail. He insisted everyone must follow the transparent and rigorous methodology on issuance of quotas. He noted that the Nigerian Customs Service has permitted the importation of 852,400.89MT of polished by traders at the lower tariff of 10 per cent duty and 20 per cent levy over and beyond approved rice import quotas in total disregard to directives on the rice policy.
The Minister raised the alarm that two companies had imported 410,368.16 MT above approved quotas and will crowd out local millers from the milled rice market, who will be unable to buy from local rice farmers.  The indiscriminate importation of rice by these foreign companies will undo the rapid progress made in the last three years on Nigeria’s drive to self-sufficiency in rice production
In response to spurious allegations by a faceless group known as ‘Stakeholders in the Rice Industry’ on the alleged indiscriminate granting of waivers and issuance of rice import quotas to investors who have no investments in the industry, either in form of paddy production or rice milling, and the loss of N40 billion in Government revenue, the Minister held a press conference on January 12th to address issues raised by the group.
At the press conference, the Minister described the transparent methodology with which the rice import quota allocation was done and revealed that foreign companies who had imported 410,368.16MT beyond their quotas were the ones owing government N36billion.
The Minister made a strong statement on implementation of the rice policy that “Every Company must follow the rules and there are no sacred cows. The days are gone when they can bribe to get what they want. I will not allow them to scuttle our self-sufficiency drive in rice production. I cannot be bought or bribed. These two companies, Olam and Popular Farms and Mills, owe government and they must pay for the excess rice they imported above their allowed quota at preferential rate.”
Several leading legitimate investors in the rice sector and farmers rose up in support of the Minister. A former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Aondoakaa, a rice processor, said “in all my several years in government, I have never seen a process so transparent and a Minister who fights always for public interest with such integrity and passion.”
The claims of preferential waivers are simply not true. The Minister of Agriculture gave no waivers. Only the President can give waivers. The Nigerian Customs Tariffs Act makes it mandatory for Customs to collect all duties and levies due to government before imported goods can be released to importers. It is the duty of the Nigerian Customs and Excise to enforce the Act. Anyone who owes government duties and levies and rice should go and pay; there will be no sacred cows.

(NgrGuardian)

Nigeria: Water, Chemicals, Tools, Can Kill, Farmers Warned

Water, some equipment used in farming and crop processing, chemicals and even electricity are basic necessities that enhance productivity in the farm but could turn around to pose risk of accident and, may be, death to farmers on the field.
An Agricultural Consultant, Ameen Muktar, gave the warning on Friday, April 8, 2015 in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Muktar urged farmers to adopt precautionary measures and safety culture to guard against accident or even death on their farms.
"Many farmers are not trained or equipped enough to manage farm safety despite years of staying in the business. To reduce exposure to hazards and emergencies, it is hoped that farmers will learn something new," Muktar said.
He said that various research institutes are now finding ways of making farming safer, saying that there was need to step up campaign on the harmful effects associated with farming.
(Daily Independent)

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Nigeria: Women Farmers Need Friendly Technology - Yaro

The Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Mrs. Hannatu Yaro, has urged the Federal Government to provide women farmers' with friendly technology.
Yaro who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the issue of technology is one of the major challenges facing the small scale women farmers in Nigeria.
"There is also the issue of lack of women friendly technology facing the women farmers in the country. When you are talking about tractors, you are thinking about big tractors that are not women farmers' friendly.
"Women are more involved in post harvest activities; there is the need for women friendly technology, especially those that can be managed by women," she said.
She explained that there were activities which women engage in and which are time consuming and energy draining.
According to her, the activities span from land clearing to harvesting of the crops and marketing.
"There is no technology that you can say specifically takes care of women's needs.
Yaro urged the research institutions to look at those relevant technologies that women can use and handle to reduce their stress and improve their productivity.
She said this would go a long way in helping women to participate with a lot of comfort in agriculture.
The chairperson also urged government at all levels to increase budgetary allocation and ensure timely release of agriculture budget.
She stressed the need to involve smallholder women farmers in decision making at all levels to ensure that policies are more effective.

(Daily Independent)

Nigeria: Ebonyi Farmers to Benefit From Ifad's Programme

Farmers in Ebonyi State are to benefit from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)'s Implementation Support Scheme Programme to boost food production in the state.
The state's Agriculture Development Programme Coordinator, Mr Sunday Ituma, disclosed this in Abakaliki during a facility tour of the state.
According to him, the scheme was aimed at assisting the rural farmers through proper budgeting and policy implementation.
"It will assist the farmers in the provision of necessary farm input, infrastructure such as roads, bridges and culverts and widening of market opportunities for their farm produce.
"The team visited the Abakaliki Rice Mill, interacted with the traders with the aim of expanding market opportunities for their produce, improvement on the quality and standard of their produce, among others," he said.
Ituma added that the IFAD team was in the state to strengthen relevant institutions, examine modalities put in place by the state for the scheme's implementation and issues concerning budget, logical framework for the programme among others.
(Daily Independent)