1504 jobs created in Anambra through Agric programme

THE International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, -sponsored Value Chain Development Programme has created1504 new jobs for both men and women in Anambra State
The programme is co-financed by the Federal government, the Anambra State government and the five participating local government areas of Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Awka North and Orumba North. Of the number of jobs created, 1087 were permanent engagements, while the rest were non permanent. Details showed that adult men and women got 767 permanent engagements, while youths got 320 permanent jobs. Presenting the programme’s mid –term review report in Awka when a team from the federal government and donor agencies visited Anambra State, the state coordinator of the programme, Mr. Emmanuel Agwuncha said that off-farm activities had kept many women and men in the various communities where the programme was being implemented very busy as they have been earning adequate incomes from farming activities.

 According to him, the 320 permanent jobs created for the youths had been of great benefit as those who had hitherto roamed the streets had become gainfully engaged. He said that the seed entrepreneurs trained by the programme at the National Root Crops Research Institutes (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia State had become employers of labour, observing, however, that low participation of female youths in the programme was of great concern and added that efforts were being made to encourage them to develop interest in agriculture. Part of the effort to attract female youths, he said, was the introduction of the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodology aimed at increasing women participation in the programme. He also said that 200 hectares of land had been cultivated in the state, adding that the farms were located at Ifite-Ogwari- 50 hectares; Anaku (Ude)- 25hectares; Omasi-25hectares; Aguleri- 50 hectares; Umueri- 25 hectares and Umuikwu- 25hectares, just as six solar-powered boreholes with steel stanchion and tanks were completed in the farms. Also, he added, irrigation facilities had been put in place to ensure dry season farming in all the areas, explaining that seven processing centres were formed with total membership of 85 persons made up of 62 males and 23 females. According to him, 13 agro-processing buildings, market stores and stalls were contracted during the period under review, adding that six of them have been fully completed, while the remaining seven are between 50-90% completion. Agwuncha said that 20 kilometers of road had also been constructed at Omor, Ifite-Ogwari, Umumbo, Umueri and Anaku for use of the communities, while 1.2km road leading to cassava processing center at Igbariam farm settlement and 600m road leading to rice processing cluster at Omor were rehabilitated. “Operation and maintenance teams were institutionalized and trained within the communities to ensure sustainability of the roads. This has also imbibed sense of ownership/responsibility to the cluster communities,” Agwuncha said. Leader of the visiting team, Professor Jones Lemchi had earlier told the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Afam Mbanefo that they were in the state to see what was on ground in the five participating local government areas under the programme. “Essentially, our mission is to know what has been done well, what has not been done well and areas where we need to put in ore effort. But it is not an examination,” Lemchi said.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/agric-programme-creates-1504-jobs-in-anambra/

farmers can provide 40% of Nigeria’s food needs, says Yobe farmers

Gashua (Yobe) – Irrigation farmers in Yobe say the state can provide at least 40 per cent of Nigeria’s food needs, if the partnership between the Yobe government and MardiCorp, a Malaysian firm, is properly executed.
They also indicated their interest to partner with the state government in the project, especially in its special irrigation scheme.

The farmers’ spokesman, Alhaji Modu Gashua said in Gashua on Friday that the partnership would significantly boost food production and economic growth. AbduKareem Usman, another irrigation farmer, said that Yobe had the capacity to make a 40-per-cent contribution to the nation’s food stock. “This partnership will provide more opportunities to improve food production; there is no doubt that this state can contribute 40 per cent of Nigeria’s food requirements. “This initiative is a welcome development, as it will boost the country’s agricultural growth and development,” Usman said. Musa Katuzu, a wheat farmer, said that the partnership would particularly boost wheat and rice production. “Government’s investment in this regard is a huge; the partnership is a welcome development,” he added. In a statement, Abdullahi Bego, the Director-General (Media and Publicity) to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, said that partnership with the Malaysian company would also focus on the Special Irrigation Scheme at Nguru Lake, Boloram, Mugura and Garin Gada. He said that Gaidam was in Malaysia to explore the partnership and engage the services of MardiCorp in training of extension workers and irrigation farmers. “This is why we are tapping from the company’s long years of experience and expertise across many countries so that our irrigation schemes would be more successful” Bego quoted the governor as saying.
He said that the Special Irrigation Scheme, which would cover over 600 hectares of farmlands, was initiated to enhance food production in the state. He said that MardiCorp was also expected to undertake research on the “under-exploited crops” in Yobe, which include the doum palm (Goruba). (NAN)

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/961486/

FAO: 1.9bn adults overweight, 650m obese globally

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said almost 1.9 billion people are overweight and some 650 million people are obese, globally.

FAO Director-General Jose da Silva said at the opening of a regional conference in Montego Bay in Jamaica, that governments must keep the fight against malnutrition at the top of their agenda.

Da Silva said the situation was most worrying in Latin America, where about 96 million adults were obese.

He said a “radical transformation” of food systems and food habits was critical to combat the growing scourge of overweight and obesity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Eradicating hunger must not be our only concern, in a region where seven per cent of children under the age of five are overweight and 20 percent of adults in 24 countries are obese,” Da Silva said.

In addition to the growing threat of obesity and the ailments that often accompany it, the region had also seen the number of people suffering from undernutrition rising to 42.5 million, up 2.5 million, from the previous figure of 40 million.

To address these challenges, creation of “really sustainable food systems” in which production, trade, transport and consumption combine to guarantee a really nutritional food intake is vital, he said.

“Eating fresh locally-grown produce in place of highly-processed foods is fundamental,” the head of the UN agency stressed.

According to him, doing so will also help advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the global development goals related to ending hunger, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.

At the same time, introduction of social protection measures to strengthen family farming can also play an important part in combatting various forms of malnutrition, as well as reduce rural poverty, da Silva said.

He also urged Governments to promote adaptation of agriculture to the changing climate, and to do so in a way that protects poor rural communities.

ECCIMA: Enugu trade fair packaged to promote Nigeria’s economy

The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), says the 29th Enugu International Trade Fair has been packaged to strengthen the promotion of critical sectors of the economy.

The President of ECCIMA, Mr Emeka Udeze, said this when he paid a courtesy call to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the showcasing of critical sectors such as solid minerals, agriculture and tourism will further boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Udeze said that he was at NAN to seek partnership with the agency in order to boost the Fair scheduled to hold from March 16 to March 26.

He said that the theme of the Fair “Engendering the Competitiveness of Nigeria Products in the Global Market’’ had been carefully chosen.

“We plead with your esteemed organisation, and as you have been doing to very well publicise and spread the information on the 29th Enugu International Trade Fair, which will commence from March 16 to March 26, 2018,’’ he said.

He said that the agriculture sector would continue to be a major fulcrum during the Fair in order to boost agricultural production and commercial farming.

Udeze said the Fair would provide the potent platform for robust engagement by stakeholders in the economic cycle to look inwards to advance the industrial and technological development of the country.

According to him, 350 corporate participants both locally and international are expected to participate at the Fair, as well as one million visitors.

“We have introduced so many innovations to make this year’s Fair very meaningful and beneficial to all stakeholders.

“Part of our strategy this year is to provide the endearing platform for interaction among stakeholders for matchmaking and possible joint venture partnership deals,’’ he said.

Udeze said that the Fair would also provide the amenable platform for both the public and private sector to deliberate deeply on diversifying the nation’s economy.

Responding, Onanuga promised that the agency would use its services to boost the forthcoming Fair.

He said that the agency’s Short Message Service (SMS) was the best means of information in the country.

Kogi govt launches online agric market

Kogi State government has launched its online agricultural market place, kogiadp.org, which will connect farmers to the world.

Managing Director, Kogi Agricultural Development Project, ADP, Mr. Oyisi Okatahi, who revealed this yesterday while speaking with newsmen, said the scheme was made possible due to the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello in making Kogi the foremost agricultural state in the country.

He said: “The digital market will enable farmers to fully dispose of farm produce, help in mitigating against loss of profit to middlemen and prevent their goods from getting spoilt since buyers can off-take their produce, even before harvest.

“The strategy is for extension agents to help farmers list their produce online and get the best prices for their labour.”

He urged youths to key into the agricultural revolution of Kogi State and Federal Government rather than waiting for jobs.

Livestock activities in Kaduna to be regulated

The Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed the Bill for a Law to regulate the state Livestock Sector with the aim of regulating the activities of Livestock.

The passage came after the House stepped aside the section 3, paragraph 7 of the standard of the house to allow the third reading of the bill.

Speaking with newsmen after the passage of the bill into Law Chairman House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Hon. Kassim Iliyasawa, said because “we patronized meat daily this is something we need to regulate the entire activities because our population is growing, we are almost 10 million people residing in the state we consume it daily.”

Iliyasawa who also the chairman house committee on agriculture stressed the need to regulate activities o the livestock.

He noted that due to the level of its importance the house has enernomously accepted the bill. Adding that some of the benefits of the bill that un suspected individuals will not be subjected to hazard and risks.

Saying that “meat in the state is going to be sanitized the state will now compete with Netherlands, United State of America, the state will be unique and will set a good example.

He said some specific sanctions has been provided in the law, Stressing the need to enlighten the people of the state on the importance of the law.

Similarly, the House referred nine bills to various committees for in depth studies to be reported back to the House on 21st and 22nd of march respectively. Some of the bills include, the bill to regulate the distribution,marketing and sales of liquor and spirit in Kaduna State, Kaduna State anti-corruption law, 2017, and a bill to substitute the Kaduna State Registration of Business Premises, law 199.