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.

Senate seeks ban on palm oil, kernel importation

The Senate at the plenary on Tuesday urged the executive arm of government to ban the importation of palm oil, palm kernel and other products of the cash crop.

The request followed the adoption of a motion moved by Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo-North), titled ‘Urgent Need to Halt the Importation of Palm Oil and Its Allied Products to Protect the Palm Oil/Kernel Industry in Nigeria.’

The upper chamber of the National Assembly particularly urged the Federal Government “to urgently place a ban on the importation of palm oil/kernel and inject needed funds through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to aid the production of this cash crop.”

The lawmakers also resolved to urge the private sector to partner state governments “to embark on revolutionary transformation of palm oil production and creation of allied industries through backward integration.”

They also mandated the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to invite the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research on why the body had failed to deliver on its mandate.

In the motion, Alimikhena said the Senate noted “with serious concern the unbridled importation of palm kernel and allied palm products into Nigeria,” which he said was threatening Federal Government’s campaign for the diversification of the economy through increased agricultural production and exports.

The senator said Nigeria had imported 450,000 tons of palm oil to the tune of N116.3bn since 2017.Describing the development as a grim reality that was worrisome, he said, “With an ever increasing population, a steady decline in palm oil production and a proliferation of the uses of various products from palm oil, it is an economic fact that there is high demand for palm oil in Nigeria.”

Patronage of local rice increases in Enugu

The Chairman of Amalgamated Enugu State Farmers Association, Romanus Eze, says government policies and investments in local rice production have increased patronage of the staple food.

The chairman said this in Enugu on Tuesday during a solidarity rally organised by the association in honour of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

He said that members of the association had benefitted from the kind gesture of the state government which had direct impact on food production in the state.

The chairman said that there had been a substantial increase in agricultural output as over 65 per cent of rural dwellers in the state were farmers.

He said that the Adani Rice in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area had flooded markets in the state and beyond leading to reduction in prices of the product in the state.

According to him, a bag of 50kg bag of local rice now sells for N14,000 as against N18,000 sold before.

He said that the patronage enjoyed by local rice in the state was massive, adding that it had become the mainstay of staple foods eaten in many homes.

He thanked the governor for his support to farmers including distribution of tractors to all the 17 local government areas of the state which he said aided farmers do their work.

He said that the governor also donated 45,000 bags of lime to improve soil fertility.

Mr. Eze, however, pointed out that much still needed to be done in order to make agriculture attractive to the youths, adding that mechanized farming was the only way to go.

In an address, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Emeka Edeh, said that the rally was to showcase the potentials of farmers in the state as well as thank the governor for his support.

Mr. Edeh described the governor as a `good human resource manager’ who had shown outstanding attention to the sector.

He said that a new vista of development was being injected in the sector owing to the resolve to liberalise agriculture for increased productivity.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Augustine Nnamani, appealed to the farmers to register in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration so as to be eligible to vote during the coming polls.

Responding, Mr. Ugwuanyi said that he was overwhelmed by the massive turnout of farmers who had come to identify with him.

The governor said that the event was the umpteenth time he was seeing such crowd drawn from farmers.

“The massive turnout is a clear testimony that you are happy with our modest efforts in the sector,” he said.

Mr. Ugwuanyi said that his administration was packaging an empowerment progarmme to further encourage farmers across the state.

Katsina govt procure fertilizers for wet farming season

The Katsina state government has procured enough metric tones of fertilizer for the next wet farming season.

Gov Aminu Bello Masari announced this today when he received members of the rice farmers association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in the government house.

He said the government has since procured and distributed the dry season fertilizer to irrigation farmers, stressing the commodity is presently on sale in the designated areas.

He said the sales of the wet season fertilizer would be flagged off in April this year, as thousands of times were being what’s housed across the government-owned stores in the state” adding we would ensure equity and fairness in the transaction.

He assured that the state government would continue to promote agriculture, stressing agriculture would boost our economy and provide job opportunities to our teaming population especially that our communities are agrarian in nature.

asari noted that the state government has since commenced reconstruction and rehabilitation of 34 water Dams across the local government areas of the state.

He said the idea was to promote irrigation farming as well as make the youth more independent, dependable and reliable, stressing and it would reduce the exodus of our youth to urban cities in search of greener posture into southern parts of the country.

Earlier in his remarks, the state chairman of the rice farmers association Alhaji Shuaibu Malami lauded the state government efforts on promotion of agriculture.

He said farmers would continue to support the good policies and programs of the government while commending the federal government for the introduction of the anchor borrower agricultural program.

Newsmen report that the Katsina state government has earmarked N400million for the ongoing dredging and rehabilitation of Dabiram dam in Daura local govt area.

Bauchi secures N8bn central bank loan facility for agriculture

In its determination to boost agriculture and make food available, Bauchi State government has secured a N8billion loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Yakubu Kirfi, the loan was obtained under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CAS) of the CBN.

The Commissioner while speaking at a press briefing disclosed that the loan was approved by the state House of

Assembly and was ratified during the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Executive Council last Wednesday.

He added, “The Bauchi state government applied to enjoy that facility and it is meant for 2016, 2017 and 2018, and it is only this year we got the approval. It was N8 billion but we got the first instalment of N5 billion now.”

At the press briefing which was also attended by Information Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim Sade, and Special Adviser to Governor Abubakar on Media and Strategy, Ali Muhammad Ali, the Commissioner further explained that it is with the ratification of the Executive Council that the government started withdrawing the money through the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

“So when you got that loan, you have to agree with the Commercial bank to remit that money before it gets to the coffers of the state government. That what the Executive Council did Wednesday, and the money is meant for rice farming, fisheries and other agricultural activities,” he explained.

In the same vein, the state government has also through a commercial bank purchased 60 brand new buses at the sum of N1, 380, 000, 600 to boost transportation and generate more revenue through the Yankari Transport Corporation.

The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Ali Muhammad Ali, said that 30 of the buses will go to Yankari Transport Corporation, 20 to the 20 local Government Areas while the state government will utilise 10 of the buses for protocol purposes.

He also explained that the 60 buses loan facility has a repayment period of three years and the state government had already given an irrevocable order of over N190 million to be deducted monthly from source.

Ali Ali added that Bauchi state has a comparative advantage in three key areas of agriculture, tourism and solid mineral over other states in the North East sub-region.

Governor Bagudu seeks N200 billion investment in agriculture

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has sought for over N200 billion in agriculture sector to improve Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and food production in Nigeria.

Governor Bagudu who stated this, on Monday, during farmers interactive forum and exhibition organized, by Daily Trust newspaper, in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry of Agriculture, lamented that over N200 billion had been wasted on oil subsidy without good result.

He noted that just about N54 billion invested into the agriculture sector by President Muhammad Buhari transformed the sector within two years in Nigeria, especiallty with the improvement in rice production.

“In the last two years, President Buhari supported Nigeria’s Governor with N1.23 trillion to pay worker’s salaries. He also released N500 billion for social investment making a total of N1.73 trillion. The money that goes to Anchor Borrowers is less than N100 billion. Just about N54 billion invested on agriculture by President Buhari has transformed Nigeria to rice producing nation among the comity of nations .”

Governor Bagudu also noted that if Brazil could invest over $100 billion on Soya beans and sugar cane and got output of over $200 billion, Nigeria, he believed, should be toeing the path to turn around the agriculture sector.

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, represented by Abdulganiyu Sanni, described the exhibition as a laudable initiative. He said the NNPC would strengthen its relationship with stakeholders willing to invest in agriculture.

In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Engr. Abdullahi Sheu, disclosed that over 100 unemployed youths in Kebbi State have been trained and empowered on farming, stressing that the Federal Government was ready to invest more on agriculture.

Bank of Agriculture disburses N262bn to farmers

Alhaji Kabir Adamu, Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), says the bank has disbursed N262 billion to 140,000 farmers through Anchor Borrower Scheme in three years.

Adamu, who disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto, said the disbursement was to support farmers and boost agriculture in the country.

According to him, the bank used to disburse the loans directly to farmers in the past but due to some hitches had to introduce indirect lending through input suppliers to ensure that genuine farmers access the facilities.

Adamu however said that the bank had to take legal action before it could recover N5 billion from the farmers.

He said loans taken by some farmers that faced natural disaster challenges were restructured from non performing to performing loans, explaining that N9. 3 billion micro credits were disbursed in 2017 alone.

“The focus of the bank remains enhancing social impacts through Federal Government programmes, ensuring commercially viable activities and efficiency.

“Our lending rate is still 9% which makes it different to other purely commercial banks,” the BOA managing director said.

The managing director said the bank has adopted measures to checkmate fraud in its loan schemes through introduction of Information Communication Technology packages to capture details of farms sizes, farmers’ information and quantity of inputs needed.

Adamu said Project Monitoring Teams comprising BOA, CBN, farmers` group, and inputs suppliers were inaugurated to promote distribution of quality inputs while any firm found wanting was sanctioned.

The managing director, therefore, called for more awareness on government agricultural interventions to enable real practicing farmers, especially in rural areas to benefit.

He also solicited increased media partnerships on proper utilisation and recovery of agricultural loans aimed at enhancing the lives of all Nigerians.

Adamu explained that 500, 000 farmers are being targeted in the 2018 dry season, stressing that the bank had earmarked N25 billion for Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and N10 billion for National Egg Production Scheme.

He said 10, 000 farmers were targeted under the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS), to enhance food security, employment generation and promote the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Lake Chad shrinking caused insurgency, socio-economic unrest – President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says the shrinkage of Lake Chad was one of the main factors responsible for insurgency and socio-economic unrest in the Lake Chad Basin Commission member countries.

Buhari, who disclosed this during the International Conference on Saving the Lake Chad held in Abuja on Wednesday, said the negative effects of the shrinkage of Lake Chad are indeed enormous.

According to him, the Lake Chad which is one of the oldest Lakes in Africa is shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

The president added that it is a source of livelihood to over 45 million people living in the Basin in the areas of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock.

He added that the Lake Chad region was formerly an “oasis in the desert”, a hub of economic activities and food security.

The President further noted that farmers, fishermen, herdsmen and traders were happy because business was booming, adding that the happiness and contentment contributed to the stability of the sub-region.

Buhari, however, observed that, “unfortunately, today that is all history. The “oasis in the desert” is just a desert now, due to the drying up of the Lake Chad’’.

He said this had resulted in dire consequences for the inhabitants of the basin.

The President quoted the reports of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:

“Food security has deteriorated, with more than seven million people in the sub-region facing the threat of famine and half a million children suffering from severe malnutrition”.

Buhari added: “Fish varieties are long gone leaving the fishermen jobless. Farmers and herdsmen struggle over the little water left.

“Herdsmen migrate in search of greener pastures resulting in conflicts.

“Our youths are joining terrorist groups because of lack of jobs and difficult economic conditions. This has resulted in serious instability in the sub-region.

“The negative effects of the shrinkage of Lake Chad are indeed enormous.’’

President Buhari: We are targeting zero import bill for food consumption

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said the Federal Government is already targeting a regime of self-sufficiency in food production and consumption, while radically cutting down on imports of agricultural products that depleted the country’s foreign reserve in the past.

Receiving Letter of Credence from the High Commissioner of Republic of Singapore to Nigeria, Lim Sim Seng, at the State House, President Buhari said the era of high import bills on food was fast becoming a thing of the past with growing investments in the agricultural sector, favourable weather and collective will of Nigerians to start feeding themselves, and exporting products.

“I am very pleased with the relationship we have with Singapore, and we are benefiting a lot from your experiences and investment.

“Recently, I was in Kaduna to commission one of your investments in agriculture. We are happy that you are also looking at the agricultural sector because that is integral to our economic blueprint for diversifying the economy,’’ he said.

The President said bilateral relations with Singapore will be further strengthened so that both countries can enjoy the benefits of competitive advantage, especially in exchange of ideas and technology that will enhance growth and improvement in the livelihood of citizens.

President Buhari, who also received Letters of Credence from the High Commissioner of Republic of The Philippines, Mrs Shirley Ho-Vicaria and High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda, Nelson Ocheger, assured the countries of Nigeria’s cooperation on economic, security and diplomatic issues.

In his response, the High Commissioner of Singapore said his country could go into partnership with Nigeria in exchange of technical skills, training of entrepreneurs and public servants.

Describing Nigeria as the “big brother of Africa’’, Seng said an investment in the country will naturally result in growth for the entire continent.

Governor Okowa: How I’ve been managing herdsmen-farmers clashes

Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained how he’s been managing the clashes between herdsmen and farmers in various parts of the state while waiting for the Federal Government’s lasting solution.

Okowa gave the explanation on Saturday while featuring on

The Platform, a programme anchored by Sam Omatseye on TVC, Lagos.

“It is a huge problem. It is there in almost all the states of the country. It is very worrisome.

“I hope the Federal government would come out with a policy plan on how to tackle this strongly.

“I know that they set up a committee of some governors and the Vice President with a view to proffering a solution.

“And we hope that solution comes in as quickly as possible because it is a huge problem that creates not only insecurity but affects also the economy of poor Nigerians, as you find the animals destroying peoples cassava, destroying yams and other forms of farm produce,” he noted.

He listed some of the measures adopted in the state to curb the incidence of herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state.

“In Delta State, we have been working hard with the Police. We have also created an office to manage conflict, I have a Special Adviser on Conflict Resolution, I also have two other appointees, who work very closely with me and who are specifically detailed to manage herdsmen/farmers challenge.

“We held a meeting early last year and we held one two weeks ago. We have also gone ahead to constitute a committee at the local government level which involves the local government councils, Police at the local government level, traditional rulers, Miyetti Allah and some opinion leaders in every local government area to try to handle such issues. But all these we are doing are mere palliatives.

“There has to be a direction because people cannot just continue to migrate continuously and probably aimlessly into peoples’ farms because that’s not the original intent.

“It is different if the cattle were moving and grazing on grass and not on the legitimate efforts and produce of people. But the situation has changed. Obviously, that is not acceptable and all over the country there has been a lot of cries,” the governor stated.

Okowa, however, reiterated his earlier stance that there is no land in Delta State for Cattle Colonies.

“Ideally, it is for them to have ranches. There have been cattle ranches in the Mambila area for some time. So why can’t they do ranches?

“And for those who have plenty of lands and want colonies, we have nothing against it. But for us in Delta State and for most of the South-South, I do know, we have limited land for agriculture and therefore it is difficult for us to be able to relinquish such land to cattle colonies.

“Obviously we have a lot of water and waterlogged land in our area, most of the available land has been degraded as a result of oil exploration activities and the little that is left is being used for agriculture and we hope that a solution would be found soon,” he averred.

Meanwhile, the surgeon-turned politician has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on plans to do more in arresting the menace of herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country before it goes out of proportion.

Lai Mohammed: Federal govt’ll empower more farmers to boost food production

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government will empower more farmers to boost food production in the country.

Mohammed made the assertion on Sunday at the Government House, Birnin-Kebbi, when he paid courtesy call Gov. Abubakar Bagudu during his two-day visit to the state.

The minister said that the agricultural revolution in the state had projected Nigeria as a food producing nation.

“Due to the agricultural revolution, the number of farmers empowered across the country has increased from five million to over 12 million within two years of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

“Our detractors will not believe what this government has achieved; that is why we decided to come to different villages where farming is taking place to tell the whole world our story,” he said.

Bagudu told the minister and his entourage that apart from the success recorded in agriculture, the state was blessed with different cultural festivals like Argungu Fishing Festival.

Governor Bagudu: Farmers-herders clashes not tribal

Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi has said that the clashes between farmers and herdsmen across the country are not tribal but consequences of climate change.

Bagudu stated this in Birnin Kebbi when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, paid him a courtesy visit with a team of journalists.

The Minister led the journalists to Kebbi for on-hand assessment of the agriculture revolution in the state.

The governor who said that the clashes were misunderstood in many quarters, challenged the media to carry out investigation to ascertain the truth and veracity of his claims.

He advised the minister to lead newsmen to some prone areas to interview the pastoralists and other concerned stakeholders in order to find out the truth and educate Nigerians.

“It is environmental challenge caused by climate change. The occupational practice of pastoralists and even the fishermen are threatened.

“The water resources and grasses are not available and the pastoralists are forced to move toward the South,’ he said.

Bagudu called for the understanding of the plight of the pastoralists and the need to gradually introduce the modern trend of ranches to them.

He said that the average herders were not literate and because of the nature of what they were doing, they were prone to crime.

“In Kebbi, the predominant prisoners in custody are the Fulanis; they are prone to crime because of lack of Education.

“On the other hand, they are also victims of cattle rustlers who attack them and take away their animals,” he said.

The governor said that the state was working with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to revive the Argungu fishing festival.

He thanked the minister for the initiative of leading newsmen to Kebbi to showcase the agriculture revolution in the state with partnership with the Federal Government.

The Minister said the visit was necessary to let the world know what the government was doing to transform the agriculture sector was real and yielding fruits.

“We are here to tell Nigerians and the world of the giant strides of Kebbi in the agriculture sector.

“The story of Agriculture revolution in Nigeria will be incomplete without Kebbi.

“The state has turned around the narrative in the agriculture sector to the extent that everyone wants to engage in agriculture in the state,” he said.

The minister reiterated the federal government’s commitment to supporting the farmers to boost food production in the country.

Source: NAN

Lai Mohammed: Rice importation drops from 644,000 MT to 22,000 MT in 2 years

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the present administration’s agricultural revolution is not a mere propaganda but a reality, with enough evidence to back it up.

The Minister stated this at a banquet held in his honour in Birnin Kebbi by the Kebbi State Government.

The Minister, who was in Kebbi State on a tour of rice farms and other agricultural activities, said the fact that Nigeria has been able to cut down on rice importation from 644,000 metric tonnes to about 22,000 metric tonnes within two years is a clear demonstration that the agricultural revolution is working.

“We brought the media here today to let the world know that when we talk about agricultural revolution, it’s not about propaganda, it’s about reality, it’s about saying that Mr President’s vision that agriculture is the only way out is absolutely correct.

“The fact that the state today has grown from a meagre 2.5 metric tonnes of rice per hectare to as much as 10 or 11 metric tonnes from one hectare, I think it speaks louder than any propaganda you can think of,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed challenged the media to investigate and understand how the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Federal Government is actually supporting farmers to increase their yields.

He said from the support of about N200,000 given to farmers per hectare of rice in form of inputs, improved seedling, water-pumps and extension services, they have been able to realise between N800,000 and N1.2 million as return on investment.

How I made a fortune from rice farming

Former Head of Civil Service of Kebbi State, Buhari Jega said he made a fortune from rice farming under the Federal Government Anchor Borrowing Programme.
Jega told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and a team of journalists were conducted round a 20 km stretch rice farms in Jega near Birnin Kebbi that he ventured into rice farming after leaving office.
NAN reports that the Minister who led the journalists to Kebbi for on hand assessment of the agricultural revolution in the state was guided by the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Dandiga.

The retired civil servant said he ventured into rice farming after leaving office and he took advantage of the supports by the federal and state governments through the Anchor Borrowing Programme.
NAN reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 17, 2015 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi.
Under the programme, the CBN is setting aside 40 billion Naira out of the 220 billion Naira Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund to be given to farmers at single digit interest rate of maximum nine per cent per annum.
It is designed to provide funds, seedlings, fertiliser, agro equipment and extension services to registered farmers.
Jega said he is a proud owner of three rice farms within his community each measuring 13 hectares, 10 hectares and seven hectares respectively.

“During harvests in 2017, I got 400 bags of rice from the 13 hectares farm, 200 bags from the 10 hectares farm because I planted other produce on it and 150 bags of rice from the 10 hectares,” he said.
Jega advised workers to consider farming as their post retirement venture and start planning for it early while in active service.

President Buhari At Ghana's 61st Independence Celebration

President Buhari participates at Ghana’s 61st Independence Anniversary Celebration at the Black Star Stadium Accra Ghana on 6th Mar 2018

Below are photos of President Buhari, Vice President of Ghana Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, President of Ghana H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, First Lady of Ghana Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Ghana Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Aaron Ocquaye, Wife of Ghana Speaker of parliament Mrs Alberta Oquaye and Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki during Ghana’s 61st Independence Anniversary Celebration at the Black Star Stadium Accra Ghana on 6th Mar 2018. 

Fear grips local farmers as dam’s water level drops

The water level at the Kangimi Dam, located at Kangimi and other adjoining villages in Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State has dropped significantly in the last two weeks alone.

The dam, which is about 37 km from Kaduna city is located along Kaduna-Jos road and was formerly known as the Baban Rafi River. The River was however dammed in 1977 by the Kaduna State Government to meet the city water needs and for irrigation activities in the State. 

The water capacity of the dam is 59.2 million cubic metre, covering a distance of about 9 kilometres from one bank of the dam across the other.

The drop in water level is already causing panic among irrigation farmers in the area.

The site of the dam is also host to the Tomato Jos Farming & Processing Limited owned by an American entrepreneur, Mira Mehta, and is rumoured to be a likely site for other investors.

The presence of Tomato Jos is already attracting more local farmers to the area.

Farmers like Nasiru Abdullahi, Haruna Gombo Mohammed, Alhaji Wada Haruna from Maraban Jos in Kaduna State and Muhammed Sani from Kaduna City who are already cultivating tomato at the site, said the water level dropped considerably in one week alone when the dam was opened to supply water to Kaduna City.

The American female farmer said one of the things that attracted them to the location was the fact that it was next to a dam. She said ideally, they would have preferred to cultivate the land downstream, but that there was a large community living there and it was challenging for them to find land to farm.

“If there is going to be 5, 000 hectares allocation going to another company and they also plan to do irrigation farming, then we have to have a clear-cut conversation on how to get the water allocated,

“Again, if two private companies are using the water during the dry season, what happens to the smallholder farmers using the water?

“These are the questions the private sector investors, the communities and the government would have to sit down to figure out. How much water is really in the dam? How much agriculture can the water support and how can government make access to the water fair?” She told Daily Trust at the dam’s site.

She said government needed to dredge the dam to increase its size, adding that government also needed to do a full survey of who is using the water and for what purpose based on how much water is available, how much water was used and how much is left over for additional investors.

By Vincent A. Yusuf, 

Kebbi farmers begin massive sugarcane planting for ethanol

Farmers in Kebbi State have began massive planting of sugarcane at Tungan Amadu and Tungan Mai Ramu areas of Shanga and Koko Besse areas for the production of ethanol.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Kebbi State Government, last year, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the production of ethanol in the state.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, while interacting with farmers during his visit to some of the sugarcane producing communities in the state, said his administration would consolidate on the plan by the NNPC and the state government to establish an industry for the production of biofuel in the state.

He said appropriate machinery would be given to farmers for optimal extraction of sugarcane to serve the industry.

Bagudu added that his administration would reconstruct the road linking the sugarcane producing communities.

By Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi 

sugarcane planting for ethanol

By Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi | Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, while interacting with farmers during his visit to some of the sugarcane producing communities in the state, said his administration would consolidate on the plan by the NNPC and the state government to establish an industry for the production of biofuel in the state.He said appropriate machinery would be given to farmers for optimal extraction of sugarcane to serve the industry.Bagudu added that his administration would reconstruct the road linking the sugarcane producing communities.