FG plans price, wheat self-sufficiency.

FG plans rice, wheat self-sufficiency within three years – Government document


Nigeria aims to be self-sufficient in both rice and wheat production within three years, a document by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration seen by Reuters showed at the weekend, a massive undertaking given current production levels.

The policy document was circulated among Buhari’s ministers, whose portfolios are yet to be announced, on a two-day retreat. It also proposes overhauling the mining sector, including efforts to “ensure local and foreign investment” in the industry.

However, the five-page document did not provide details of how the administration led by the 72-year-old former military ruler would fund the planned changes in Africa’s biggest economy, which has seen a slowdown in growth.

Buhari has previously stated that long-term plans would be used to encourage local manufacturing in Africa’s largest oil producer, which has been hit by a fall in global crude prices.

“Self-sufficiency in rice production within 24 months” and self-sufficiency in wheat production within 26 months’ are goals in the agriculture section of the document, which also calls for “market guarantees for farm produce.”

About three million tonnes of rice was produced in Nigeria last year, along with 64,000 tonnes of wheat, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) figures show.

Nigeria is the world’s second largest importer of rice and among the biggest buyers of US wheat.

In 2012, it imported 2.3 million tonnes of rice – a record high, said UN statistics which also show that some 4.1 million tonnes of wheat was brought into Nigeria in the same year – nearly double the amount imported in 2000.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restricted access to foreign currency to import 41 categories of items, including rice, to stop a slide of the naira.
Nigeria stepped up import controls when Buhari led a military government in the 1980s.

The document also stated plans to “build a major north-south road within 36 months”. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said a N25 billion ($126 million) infrastructure fund would be set up to improve the road, rail and power networks.

The creation of one million houses for the poorest of Nigeria’s 170 million inhabitants within four years “using methods that create jobs” was also among policy goals outlined in the document seen by Reuters. ($1 = 198.8700 naira)

Employment opportunities in livestock.

FG To Generate More Employment Opportunities Through Livestock.

Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development, said on Tuesday that the
Federal Government was planning to generate
more employment opportunities through
livestock production.
Echono said this at the National Animal
Production Development Committee (NAPDC)
meeting organised by the Federal Department
of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting being the maiden edition was
attended by stakeholders from the 36 states of the federation.
According to him, the development of livestock would go a long way to assist the nation to
improve the non-oil sector revenue and make the country self-sufficient in animal production.
“The ministry knows the contribution of the livestock sub-sector to the National Agricultural Gross
Domestic Product in 2014.
“It created the Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services (DAPHS) with the
mandate to up-scale animal production and make animal protein available to the populace,
likewise boost National Income, “ he said.
Echono, who was represented by Mr Ademola Raji, the Director, Production and Husbandry
Services in the ministry, said the meeting was conveyed to suggest measures of increasing
livestock production.
Prof. Clarence Lakpini, Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Animal Production Research
Institute, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said livestock resource in Nigeria
was enormous.
“Livestock is enormous in Nigeria but the low productivity has minimised its contribution to overall
national economic growth and well being of the citizens of the country,’’ he said.
Lakpini said the nation needed to make use of agriculture to rebase her economy, especially at
this time of fall in oil price at the international market.
He, therefore, called for a paradigm shift in the interface between the government officials and
professionals to impact positively on stakeholders.
Prof. Israel Adu, the President, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), urged stakeholders to
utilise the outcome of the meeting to grow the livestock sub-sector of the economy.
Also, Dr Olufemi Olaifa, Deputy President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the
nation’s livestock, if properly developed, has the potential to improve the living standard of the
people.
Olaifa, a High Chief in the Olubadan Council, therefore, appealed to all tiers of government not to
pay lip service to agriculture. (NAN)

Agro Allied: Turning garri to millions

Agro Allied: Turning garri to millions

Turning garri to millions

Generate Income producing Garri for export in Nigeria.

Garri is one of the many products that can be processed from cassava tubers, it is a staple food widely eaten not only by the 160million people in Nigeria but, also Nigerians abroad and people of other countries in West African. They enjoy eating it in the form of Eba with soup or soaked in cold water and taken with smoked fish, groundnut or cooked beans etc.


There are different varieties of Garri being sold in the market; you have the red Garri, White Garri and Ijebu Garri.

The difference in these Garri products is the production processes used to make them. The red/Bendel Garri is produced by adding palm Oil to the already fermented cassava before or during frying to reduce the cyanide content found in cassava. The White Garri is produced by allowing the grated cassava to ferment for at least 3days without adding palm Oil to it. The Ijebu Garri is very common in the south western region of Nigeria, usually white and is produced by allowing the grated cassava to ferment for five days before it is fried.
Since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria the price of Garri suddenly shy rocketed from N700 to N4000 per 50kg bag .This is due to the massive exportation of Garri from Nigeria to some West African countries like Ghana, Benin republic, Togo and others. Also, been that Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava countries like China and India have started looking towards Nigeria for their supplies of processed cassava for use as industrial raw materials.
To generate huge income from Garri production Business in Nigeria, it is either you start producing Garri for local consumption or you get it packaged for export to countries like USA and UK with large concentration of Nigerians for them to buy and pay you in Dollars and Pound starling.
So, to start a profitable Garri production and Export business in Nigeria here are some of the requirements.
RAW MATERIALS REQUIREMENT. The major raw material need for the production of Garri is cassava tuber and like we all know Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the World and this means that cassava can be sourced easily from farmers in the rural areas or you can even start a cassava farm of your own to help meet the high demand for Garri.
CAPITAL REQUIREMENT.  The capital you need to start your own Garri production and export business depends on the quantity you want to produce. The larger the capacity of the plant the more costly it is to setup. Therefore to setup a small scale Garri processing plant say of 5Hp plant that is capable of producing install capacity of 5tons of cassava daily, then you need at least N1.8Million Naira.
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT. The following are the equipment needed to start Garri production business. Cassava grating machine, cassava press, table knife or peeling machine if you can afford one, cassava frying machine, wheel barrows, plastic or steel basins. All these machines and equipments can easily be purchased from local machine and equipment fabricators in Nigeria.
PRODUCTION PROCESS. To start Garri production process, the first thing to do is to peel and wash of all the sands and dirt from the body of cassava tubers. After this is done, you can now start to grate the tubers into tiny bits or pulps then bag the wet pulp and then mount the bag in an hydraulic powered jack press to remove water from grated cassava.
After removing the excess water from the cassava pulp you should then allow it to ferment for two to three days but depending on the type of Garri you want to produce whether it is white, red or Ijebu Garri. The next stage is to start frying the Garri.
PACKAGING GARRI FOR EXPORT. To make extra income from Garri production business, you need to export your Garri to other countries in West Africa, Europe and America. To start the exportation from Nigeria you need to properly package the product to meet required standard set by the particular country you sending it to.
The great demand for Garri in Nigeria and abroad has made the production of Garri a very profit.

Facts About garlic

7 Facts About Garlic That Will Shock You!

 


Surely, the saying which says “Let food be thy medicine”, knew beforehand the unknown great benefits of garlic, a specie in the onion genus, Allium.

Aside being a taste enhancer for recipes, garlic, which has been around for quite a while is of unbelievable benefits. While some countries believe garlic can be used to ward off vampires and evil spirits, it has been classified among the world healthiest food.

With a history of human use of over 7,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was known to Ancient Egyptians, and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

In fact this wonder food has more uses than you can think of, and some really interesting ones.


 


1. Garlic has been used over the years to make evil spirits and vampires run away. It is said to be the flag-bearer of white magic in Europe. Central European legends describe garlic as a powerful ward against evil spirits and vampires.
2. The great smell of garlic has made Muslims to be advised against taking it before prayer time. This is because its smell is distracting. Quite a lot of Hindus do not eat it for a similar reason. For them it is a taboo because it increases carnal desires and destroys piousness. For same reason also, followers of Jainism and some sections of Buddhism completely run away from garlic.

3. Fear of garlic is medically defined as Alliumphobia.

4. If you forgot to buy insecticides, burning garlic with camphor keeps away mosquitoes, insects and flies. Crushed garlic mixed with water is a green alternative to insecticides.

5. Garlic has been said to be one of the world healthiest foods, no wonder it contains 17 amino acids. Amino acids are essential to nearly every bodily function, and make up 75% of the human body.

6. Garlic not just is good for heart as it brings down cholesterol levels. It also fights cough and cold and is a pro-biotic and keeps the gut healthy.

7. To remove the odour of garlic from hands, rub them on a stainless steel object under cold water.


 

Cashew nut biz

How to Start a Cashew Nut Export Business


Do you reside in a region where cashew nuts are in abundance and you want to make money out of this abundance? Are you interested in starting a cashew nut export business but you don’t know how to go about it?

Do you need a sample cashew nut export business plan template? If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then I advice you read on.

Lately, I have been receiving a lot of calls with respect to exporting. So I have decided to give more focus on exporting and issues surrounding it. Now let’s get back to the business of the day.

Cashew is a juicy fruit that bears a kidney-shaped nut, which is edible only when roasted. The demand for this fruit is huge in virtually all parts of the world, but majority of the world’s cashew comes from Africa. Interestingly many people who consume roasted cashew nuts do not know where they are grown or that they grow on trees.



The huge global demand for cashew nuts has led to increased rates of cashew production in Africa and other cashew-producing parts of the world as well as increased exportation to various parts of the world. However, the annual global demand for the commodity far exceeds the supply, which means there is enough room for new players in the cashew nut exportation business.

If you have been looking to start an export business related to agriculture, then starting a cashew nut export business might be your best option. If this idea sounds good to you—and you would like to take a plunge, then I advice you follow these guidelines for starting a successful cashew nut export business.

How to Start a Cashew Nut Export Business – Sample Business Plan Template
1. Conduct market research

When you are just plunging into a business that you know nothing about, you need to research extensively to understand how things work. This is always the first step I recommend for export beginners.

A good way to start your research is to contact a seasoned cashew nut exporter to make inquiries about the business. You will need to find out:



The required startup costs
How to find local sellers (suppliers)
How to find buyers in foreign countries
How to identify high quality cashew nuts
How to process and package your nuts for shipping
How to choose a shipping company and agent, and so on.
Equipping yourself adequately with relevant information about the business will help you plan your business well and avoid all the pitfalls associated with starting and running the business.

2. Determine your target market

A crucial part of starting any export business is figuring out where the export commodities are going—and the cashew nut export business is no exception. It is important you decide which countries you will be exporting cashew nuts to.

When you are just starting out, it is recommended that you stick with just one country that has a good market for the commodity. As your business grows with time, you can consider targeting more countries. It goes without saying that your ideal export destinations are those countries where there is little or no production of cashew nuts, but the demand is high.

3. Find local sellers



You need to find local cashew nut sellers from whom you will buy the commodity. That is, these local sellers will be your suppliers. Be sure to have more than one supplier, so you can turn to others should one of them run out of the commodity.

You must also bear in mind that the success of your business hinges largely on the quality of cashew nuts you sell to exporters, so ensure that your chosen suppliers have a reputation for high quality cashew nuts.

High quality cashew nuts may cost a bit higher than the low quality ones. However, paying the extra costs for high quality cashew nuts will help your business build a good reputation and win more buyers easily in the long term.

4. Find a shipping company or agent

Since you will ship your cashew nuts to the desired export destination, you will need the services of a shipping company. Find out the best shipping company.
More to come.
Remember! Govt can't do it all.