Green Shirts of the Niger Delta

When T.Y. Bello (Toyin Sofekun-Bello) sang: “The land is green, is green, oh oh oh; the land is green, is green, can’t you see” she might have had the Niger Delta in mind. No part of our country  is more lush fully green than the Niger Delta  with its all-year round rainfall.  Even in times of tragic oil pollution, some plants stubbornly sprout with their  green coated in oil, as if to say, ‘this land is ours’

The irony however is that the rich natural vegetation of the Region has not translated into food self-sufficiency or security. Like most parts of the country, the Niger Delta has become like Abdul, the man in the fairy tale who wants to get rich without working. Yes, oil is a rich resource, but as we know, it is a wasting one; not only will it not last, but also, its  importance is diminishing daily with humanity finding alternative ways of powering energy and automobiles. In fact, future cars will be run on recycled water. This is why the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari harps not just on the need for alternative sources of income for the country, but with its Green Initiative, backed by various programmes like the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and those of the Bank of Industry, point at agriculture as what would save the country.

When in July, 2015, I was appointed the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme with the sustainable reintegration of 30,000 ex-Militants as a main target, I  worked out in the back of my mind, the fastest and best way to achieve this. My conclusion is   to let the Amnesty Beneficiaries blend with the greenery of the Region by attracting them to return to culture the land and fish ponds.

This I also found as the answer to the Federal Government’s primary objectives in the Niger  Delta which are to ensure peace and sustainable development. So apart from continuing the existing projects such as developing the human capital resource of the Region through tertiary education, professional and vocation training and empowerment, my team and I took the sure turn to agriculture. We entered into partnership with various organisations like the Bio Technology Resource Centre, university Agriculture faculties and established farms to train the ex-Agitators.

These seedlings we are planting are beginning to sprout. You can imagine my joy when on Friday October 13, 2017, before the chiefs, elders and people of George Town, Okrika, Rivers State, twenty young men in green overall stood before us, the mass media and the world, as I handed over to them a modern, zero-waste, integrated cluster farm. These were part of the 105 youths the Presidential Amnesty programme had trained under the Songhai Rivers Initiative Farm. While their colleagues are being empowered with single stand- alone farms and ponds, this was our first experiment to group ex-Agitators into cluster farms, register them as cooperatives and watch them become not just self-employed, but also employing other unemployed youth.

The model farm, fully funded by the  Presidential Amnesty  Programme which we handed over to the Beneficiaries, has 30 Ponds, one  Run-off Earthen Pond, 5000 Bird Poultry including Broiler and  Layers, Free Range, Cropping and Processing Sections,1 Administration and Sales Office, 2 Feed Stores, 2 Implement Stores and one Control Room.

I told the Beneficiaries that they have a once in a life time opportunity not just to make a decent living for themselves and their families but also to employ a number of the unemployed. I also  informed them that  the Amnesty Office was further empowering them by handing over to them as a start-off package, 1000 fingerlings to 2000 post fingerlings,  100 Point of Lay Birds and an additional 200 broilers, 10 Piglets  and a Crop Section with  Cucumber, Pepper, Pumpkin and Okra.

Perhaps the most critical aspect of this farm is that it is designed to be one  with an all-year round production by running a staggered stocking and harvesting plan. With this, commercial sales have been programmed  with the sale of eggs by  November 1, 2017 and, smoked fish, broilers  and vegetables in December, 2017.  We opted that smoked fish, rather than fresh fish be sold, first to add value and secondly to make more profit.

I was also very happy with  George Town  which provided the land for the farm. I was elated when the traditional leader of the town, Chief Akuro Richard George said with this project, we had brought  Federal presence to them  and that the  project has established a bond between the George Town  people and the Federal Government. His request that the Presidential Amnesty Programme establishes   a skills acquisition centre in George Town to cater for lots of unemployed youths, is one that sits well with the Presidential Amnesty Office.

My happiness knew no bounds when the  Chairman of the ex-Agitators  Cooperative, Mr. Emmanuel.T. Promise,  thanked the Federal Government for giving them the opportunity  of  their lives to  run a  viable and sustainable business of their own.  These are men who had picked up arms to fight the country, but who are now a role model for their peers and are resolved to run their lives in peace and security.

The occasion further convinced me that this is the way to go; that this cluster farm which we registered with the  Rivers State Government as “Okrika Agro Farmers 105 Cooperative and Investment and Credit Society Limited”  must be  replicated in other parts of the Niger Delta. Already, we have 1,000 Beneficiaries   who have either been trained, being trained or are on the waiting list to be trained in agriculture.

As we continue with this, our attention is also directed at rice farming for which we have already trained 305 Beneficiaries with two of them establishing their rice farms in Ughelli. My vision is to produce tens of thousands of youths in the Niger Delta cladded in their green overall and shirts, turning the Region into a Green Belt and blending with the green vegetation.  This is the beginning of what I call the “Green Shirt Movement” The Land is green and is becoming greener, can’t you see?

*Brig-Gen. Paul Tarela Boroh is the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Source: The Nation

Nigerians importing poverty by importing food – Ogbeh

It has been confirmed that Nigerians import poverty and unemployment through importation of foods and by creating more problems by consuming what they do not produce in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe made this known in Abeokuta during the convocation lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

He noted the country is in serious need of the youths in agriculture to produce the right kind of foods which are in high demand in the country.

He hinted that Nigeria is spending more than 22billion dollars every year on food importation.

The minister who insisted that the most powerful legislative chamber in the world is the stomach, said the future of the country shall be determined by food production.

He also projected that by year 2050 the population of the country will be 450 million and such huge population cannot survive on importation of foods.

He urged the nutrition department of the University to come up with researches that will assist Nigeria to produce the right kind of food that will assist people and guide against building another set of stunted youths.

The minister also advised the institution’s management to review its grading system to 60% practical and 40% percent theory.

He promised that the federal government will build a dam in the institution and assured them that the government is ready to give them the necessary support.

Source: TVC News

Ogun seeks to displace Benue as Nigeria’s food basket

By Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government says it has embarked on many agricultural projects that will make the state self-sufficient,  adding it aims to become the food basket of the nation.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo, said this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2017 World Food Day’ with the theme ‘Change the Future of Migration, Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.’

Adebajo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Steve Ipiniwa, said most of the projects sited at various parts of the state and mostly in agrarian communities would not only stop rural-urban migration but also provide employment opportunities for youths.

Some of the farm projects which she called ‘’Special Intervention Projects’’ included the 320 hectares Rice Revolution Programme in Eggua, Yewa North, Onigbedu and Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Areas of the state.

Adebajo added that harvesting had commenced at the rice plantation with purchase and installation of four rice mill equipment of different capacities for processing rice paddy.

The Commissioner said the other projects embarked upon included 2,000 hectares of cassava revolution project at Owowo, and poultry revolution project at Odeda, with the construction of six poultry pens of 10,000 capacity each.

She also listed fishery revolution project with construction of 1,000 earthen pounds at Odeda, Ikenne and Imasai.

She called on concerned communities to protect them and take ownership of the projects, urging the youths to take full advantage and improve on their agricultural skills, as days of seeking for white collar jobs were over.

Source: PUNCH

We are concerned with mobilising youthS for agriculture – Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh on Thursday called for increased collaborations between Universities of Agriculture(UAs) and relevant agencies of the government as part of efforts to boost agriculture in Nigeria. Ogbeh made the call in Abeokuta while delivering a lecture organised as part of activities for the 23rd, 24th and 25th combined Convocation ceremonies of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB)

 “The Universities of Agriculture should probably be our most important partners in the agricultural sector because agriculture cannot thrive without knowledge. “We are determined to remodel the UAs as nodal centres of excellence and I assure you that our approach will be friendly and inclusive. “We are concerned with mobilising the youth for agriculture. “The UAs are fertile grounds for the accomplishment of this objective and that is why I have directed that the UAs should review their curricula and grading system to give more weight to practical agricultural activities rather than mere theory. “I therefore seek your cooperation in ensuring that this university and the other two are truly remodeled and focused as specialised institutions of agricultural education and training in line with the vision of the founding fathers,’’he said. 

The minister particularly sought the expertise of FUNNAB in the area of research and innovation, saying that the challenges in the agricultural sector required new frontiers of knowledge for significant breakthroughs. Ogbeh also asked the institution to compliment the ministry with knowledge on more efficient utilisation of resources, especially in the area of interconnection between land and land- base resources. The minister also decried alleged deviation of the AUs from their core mandates, describing it as “a dangerous signal and a disincentive to agricultural development in the nation’’. Nigeria has three universities of Agriculture namely the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike,Abia state. He listed the areas of departures as including departure from the provisions of the original statute establishing the AUs, departure from the original academic and programme structure and departure from best global practices. “Until the recent policy change, the institutional structure and functions of the UAs show a marked departure from both the norm in implementing the concept of UAs in other parts of the world.

 “I urge FUNNAB and the two other UAs to take advantage of their reintegration into the Ministry of Agriculture and get enlisted as our reliable allies in the agricultural sector,’’ he said. Ogbeh promised that the Ministry of Agriculture would build a dam and blocks of hostels in the school. He also promised to provide mini- tractors at 60 per cent discount as well as develop the institutions’ seed faculty for production of more improved seedlings among other areas of support. 

(NAN)

Adesina commits $250,000 to African youths in agriculture

President, African Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina

Nigeria’s image received a boost on Thursday before the international community as former Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina formally received the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate award in the US.

Adesina was conferred with the laureate in Des Moines, U. S. during which he committed the 250,000 dollars cash prize to set up a fund for financing African youths in agriculture.

Adesina had been announced as the winner of the global feat by the WFP for his dogged determination and practical commitment to boosting agriculture and food supply chain both as Minister of Agriculture and President of AfDB.

Adesina, who is also the President of African Development Bank, commended his staff for the shared passion to feed Africa.

The former minister expressed gratitude to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for nominating him as minister.

Adesina also thanked former President Goodluck Jonathan for giving him the opportunity to serve as a minister.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his strong support to achieve the feat.

“There wouldn’t be any rest for me until Africa feeds itself and for that, we need the youth.

“And so even though I don’t have the cash in my hand, I hereby commit my $250,000 as a cash prize for the WFP award to set up a fund fully dedicated to providing financing for the youth of Africa in agriculture to feed Africa.

“A day is coming very soon when the barns of Africa will be filled and all her children will be well fed when millions of farmers will be able to send their kids to school.

“Then you will hear a new song across Africa; thank God our lives are better for us,” Adesina said.

The Governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds, who officially declared Adesina as the 2017 laureate winner of the WFP, said he was a man who grew out of poverty to create wealth.

Reynolds said that the laureate commitment and dedication in agriculture had impacted on lives of many, not only in Africa but around the world.

Former President of Ghana, John Mahama, attended the ceremony and other dignitaries from Nigeria and African countries.

(NAN)

Farmer explains problems with yam tubers exported to U.S.

Yam

An entrepreneur, Mr Yandev Amaabai, has advised the Federal Government to fast-track the transportation of yam tubers to the United States of America and the United Kingdom before their shelf life expiration.

Amaabai, who is the Managing Director of  Wan Nyikwagh Farms Nigeria Limited, made this appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the Federal Government’s policy on yam exportation was a good initiative, noting that Nigeria was the largest producer of yam tubers in Africa.

According to him, for the policy to achieve its set objectives, there are some challenges that should be addressed by the government to ease the stress of exporting farm produce to other countries.

“I moved my yams from Benue to Lagos on June 25 and June 26; the inauguration  for the yam exportation was on  June 29 by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

“When we got to Lagos, I discovered that we needed a refrigerated  container to export the yams.

“After the inauguration, I was able to get the required container, so my yams were loaded on July 7 and left Nigeria on July 9 to the U.S. but the yams did not get there until Sept. 1.

“After the inauguration , we were left alone without any form of direction or assistance by the government and this did not go down well with us.

“Because movement  within the ports took us more than two to three weeks and to move a container from Tin Can port to Apapa port just a close distance, was hectic for us, ” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government agency saddled with the responsibility to ensure proper packaging and handling of this produce for export lacks the requisite capacity.

“We were asked to cut the bottom of the yams and put wax but when the yams got to the U.S., we discovered that was not necessary. The moment you cut the bottom of the yam, it gets rotten quicker.

“So some of the yams on arriving the U.S. were actually not too good again but most others were good and we sold them out, ” he said.

Reacting to the recent report of poor quality of consignment of yams exported from Nigeria to the US, the exporter  debunked the story, saying that the report was politically motivated to frustrate government’s efforts.

“We did not have any challenge with the American Government; my yams was the first to arrive. It was cleared and delivered in the warehouse.

“There is no way these yams could have been 100 per cent good because of the time wasted to ship them to the U.S.

Amaabai, however, called on the Federal Government to reach out to these shipping lines on the need to fast-track the delivery of such perishable products.

NAN reports that the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), an agency that has the responsibility to ensure the quality of yam for export, provided farmers with guidelines to meet international standards.

Dr Vincent Isegbe, the Coordinating Director, NAQS, spelt out the conditions to include: uniform size of the product, no growth on the head, cut and waxed with candle to prevent infections.

However, a recent report had it that poor quality of yam tubers were exported to the U.S., which the Federal Government  planned  to investigate.

Source: The News

No going back on yam export – Agric Minister

The federal government said it will not relent in its yam export policy which is aimed at attracting foreign exchange for the country.

Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this during a sensitisation walk in commemoration of the World Food Day in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr. Ogbeh, who was reacting to reports that some yams recently exported to Britain were rejected, said that the policy had come to stay.

The minister said that the setback would not deter the dealers of the produce from exporting it, pointing out that the current world market for yams was worth $12 billion.

He said that the country could not afford to stay away from it because it was the highest producer of yams in the world.

“I read some news report about some yams arriving in Britain and being rejected. They stayed so long en route and if they stay that long, they are bound to rot.

“It happens to yams from Ghana as well. We will not stop the policy of the exportation of yam. I can assure you that.

“It is a policy that will stay because we are the largest producers of yams in the world. We produce 67 per cent of the yams.

“We will continue to help exporters; we will not as an institute export yams. We only support the private sector to do that and if there are problems we will solve them,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the yam export initiative was flagged off on June 29 and the consignment exported to the U.S. recently was rejected.

Exporters of yam include Messrs Wan-Nyikwagh Farms Nig. Ltd, Gboko, Nigeria and Oklanbest Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Meanwhile, an exporter of the product, Yandev Amaabai, has identified the challenges that government should addressed to ease the exportation yams.

He said they included lack of refrigerated container and the long time the produce stay before its arrival to Europe of America.

(NAN)

Source: Premium Times