FG - Insecurity forcing up price of fertiliser

The Federal Government says the current hike in price of fertiliser is as a result of security concerns as criminal elements are using its components to make bombs and other explosives.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a Special Town Hall Meeting for Youths organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The minister said that fertiliser being sold for N10,000 per bag was because the security agencies placed hold on its distribution.

“Fertiliser came late this year due to security challenges.

“We started moving fertiliser in February to meet up with the farming season but the national security agency stop us from moving it.

“Over 400 trailer loads of fertilisers were held down in Lokoja for two months because Boko haram were converting urea among other fertilizer component to make bombs.

“ It took two and half months to get arrangement from security agencies to escort fertilisers from the factories to the farms.

“We were cut between security problems and food security for the people,’’ he said.

The minister said that the delay in accessibility of the product led to hike in price.

He, however assured farmers that the price will reduce to less than N5,000 in the next planting season as arrangements were being made for transportation by rail.

Ogbe said that the federal government has also signed agreement with the Moroccan government for supply of phosphate and potassium for fertilizer production.

He said the agreement would assist in further reducing the prices of fertilisers to the barest minimum.

(NAN)

Federal Government halts sales of Silos over food security fears

The Federal Government has put hold on sales of its 23 silos nationwide to address the challenge of food shortage.

Agriculture minister Audu Ogbeh disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a town hall meeting organised by the Ministry of Informational and Culture.

Ogbe said that the silos with the capacity of two million tons of grains would be used to store the commodities which are currently been exported to West African nations by farmers.

Responding to questions on looming food shortage due to alarming rate of exportation of grains by farmers to neighbouring countries, the minister said government cannot stop the trend.

He explained that as a member of ECOWAS and signatory to the Commission’s Free Trade Agreement, it will be illegal for the country to stop the exportation.

“Government cannot stop such exportation but rather would store grains in its silos,’’ he said.
The minister further noted that stopping exportation of grains would amount to depriving farmers from having huge returns.

“You are telling the farmers to grow food over the years, they have done so and their returns have been very low but for the first time they are making money and they are happy.

“People come from Ghana to buy maize, they come from Mali to buy sorghum and millet and so on and we are monitoring but we cannot stop them

“This is the best incentive you can give somebody in any line of business that there is a market and there is profit,’’ he said.

The minister said to ensure food security in the country and also have reserve for export, government will from January 2017 intensify irrigation farming for production of grains thrice in a year.

He added that about 10 irrigation lakes or dams would be built in every state to enable growing of food all year round.

He decried the situation where states like Oyo, Kano and Ogun were having 22, 23 and 12 dams respectively but none of them were being used for irrigation.

The minister attributed the challenge facing the country to the abandonment of agriculture for over 30 years.

(NAN)

Lagos To Commence Sales Of Lake Rice Today

Indications have emerged that the Lagos State Government will begin sales of the much  expected Lake Rice it produced in partnership with Kebbi State Government to members of the public at  the sum of  N12, 000 per 50 Kg bag with effect from today.

A source told our correspondent that the location for the Lake Rice promised by Lagos State government to cushion the effect of economic recession, has been formalized and could be officially released today.

It was further learnt that the state government has reduced the price of the 50 kilogram  to N12, 000, following complaints received by the government over the price of the commodity.

It was gathered that the previous location earlier announced by the Special Adviser to the governor on security, Sanni Okanlawan that the rice would be sold at the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LDCA) will no longer be used.

A top government official said the new locations were scattered across the three senatorial districts of the state to easy purchase of the commodity.

The locations according to the source are Lagos  East, Ikorodu -Odogunyan Farm Service Centre, Epe -Temu Farm Service Centre Eredo -Noforija Town Hall, Ibeju -Magbon Alade High School, Maryland -SUBEB Premises

In Lagos West,  Agege – LSADA Complex/Farm Service Centre, Ojo -LAISA Office Agric Bus Stop, Muwo-Coconut House, Badagry -Town Farm Service Centre, Marina, Oshodi -Ikeja Grammar School, Bolade

In Lagos Central it will be sold in Ajah -Ministry of Agric Area Office, Lagos Island – LASTMA Office Adeniji/Freeman

Ajegunle – Alakoto Senior High School, Tolu, Surulere -TESLIM Balogun stadium, Yaba – Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park.

Fomer President Chief Obasanjo endorses Agric-driven Economic development

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed support to President Muhammadu Buhari on his efforts to revive the nation’s economy through agriculture.

 

Obasanjo who stated this during an interaction with journalists shortly after his visit to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, in Edo State, affirmed that it had become crystal clear that agriculture was the only sustainable business in the country capable of withstanding any season. 

 

He also said the move by the President would redirect the economy of Nigeria from oil.

 

“We have no other sustainable business other than agriculture that can keep us going, come rain or shine,” he said.

 

Speaking on the visit of the elder statesman to his kingdom, Oba Ewuare noted that being a successful farmer, Obasanjo would inspire the agro-allied industry in Edo to grow, adding that agricultural development was the way forward for Nigeria.

 

The Former President had visited the ancient city of Benin to inspect a multi-million dollar farm project owned by an Edo –based business man Dr. Hosa Okunbor located in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government of the State.

 

Guardian reports that Okunbor recently started a multi-billion naira agro-allied business in collaboration with a Mexican firm, Wells Sam Carlos Farm worth N150 billion. The farm is expected to generate 85,000 jobs in the State.

FMARD refutes claim of CAPFIS collaboration

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has in strong terms stated that it has no affiliation with the promoters of Capfis Program advertised on the internet.

 

In a release signed by the Director of Information, FMARD, Tony Ohaeri, expressed that the Ministry was not aware of any cassava processing intervention scheme which sought to provide a two weeks intensive training with on mechanized cassava cultivation coupled with loaded benefits as advertised on their website.

 

“It has come to the notice of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that certain individual/individuals have placed an advertisement on the internet inviting people to register in a certain programme named CAPFIS. The advertisement also said that the programme is supported by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development”.

 

According to the advertisement, participants are to get benefits such as the allotment of cassava and 5 hectares to cultivate cassava to each participant, N20,000 monthly allowances, Provision of accommodation, 25% accrued profit on inter cropping opportunity and N1,000,000 after 8-9 months as reward for monitoring and nurturing the farmland.

 

Ohaeri refuted claims that the program was endorsed by the ministry as stated in the advertisement.

“The Ministry wishes to inform the general public that it does not know the promoters of the advertisement (Programme) and has not given expressed support in any form to the said programme”.

 

He however advised members of the public to validate such programmes with the Ministry before getting involved.