Jatropha farmers abandoned by government

Jatropha farmers in Katsina say they have been neglected despite being pushed into the business by government ahead of the proposed establishment of a Bio-fuel refinery in Kogi state.

The chairman of Jatropha Farmers International Merchant And Dealers Association, Sen Ahmed Sani Stores at a press conference said farmers were encourage to plant Jatropha for the production of seed that will be processed by the refinery.

He said, having invested heavily in its farming, government has abandoned the initiative with no support or incentives to those farmers.

“The movement for the production of bio fuel as an alternative source of power was initiated during Jonathan administration but left along the line, Jatropha is a plant were we get glycerol for power and other pharmaceutical products,” he said

He said, it was only proper for President Buhari to take a look at the idea to build on it for the farmers to benefit from the project adding that with bio fuel, our society will be better off.

“Jatropha farmers are ready and willing to partner with the government inorder to provide alternative source of energy as is done in countries such as South Africa, India and Brazil,” he added

Adamawa Trains 240 Farmers On Dry-season Farming

The Adamawa Government on Friday said it had commenced the   training of 240 farmers in various dry season farming.

Gov. Muhammadu Jibrillah confirmed the development during the presentation of certificates to the beneficiary farmers in Yola.

Jibrillah said that the development was part of his campaign promises to support vulnerable farmers and ensure food sufficiency in the state.

“Each trainee will receive N30, 000 to complement the farmers to start their businesses,’’ Jibrillah said.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Waziri Ahmadu, said the beneficiaries were trained in various fields of dry season farming.

“The farmers were trained on onion, okro and maize dry season farming,” Ahmadu said.
He said the aim of the programme was to involve more youths in agriculture to boost food production.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms Hajara Bazza, thanked the government for the support and assured of judicious use of the training and the cash. (NAN)

Foundation Establishes N2bn Palm Plantation In Kwara To End Importation

Worried  about 55 per cent importation of the total volume of palm oil consumed in Nigeria, the Mike Omotosho‎ Foundation has established a N2 billion  palm plantation in Kwara State.

Founder and initiator of the project,  Dr. Mike Omotosho stated this weekend in Abuja while briefing journalists ahead of the forthcoming annual lecture of the foundation, themed; ‘Increased Agricultural Productivity for Sustainable Economic Growth.’

Omotosho revealed that the His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II would give the keynote address at the annual lecture which is coming up on Saturday, January 14, 2017.

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He noted that with the economic recession, dwindling in prices of  oil, it was high time government start to look elsewhere. He added that while government is on the right track in terms of agricultural policies, he believed government has not  done enough, hence, the reason while private individuals like himself are now taking interest in agriculture.

Omotosho stated that the foundation aside from organising annual lecture has a 15,000 hectares of farmland, out of which 300 hectares has been cultivated and presently being used as demonstration farm.

“We also have an agricultural academy so people can come in and learn about agriculture. We want to use that as a pilot  and then we can replicate the demonstration farm with the agricultural academy. So far, over 500 people have being trained and we are hoping we glare going to increase this to about 50,000 next year because it is still at the pilot stage,” he said.

Adding that; “Right now 55% of oil palm we use in Nigeria is imported. What we are hoping for is N2 billion worth of palm plantation because we have plans to set up Africa largest palm plantation and that is what 12,000 hectares of land is meant for.”

‎According to Omotosho, if Nigeria become Africa largest producer of palm, not only would the country have enough to consume, but also to export.

“I see a situation where we will ‎begin to export palm between 5-6 years. Just because we have 15,000 hectares of land  ‎does not mean we are not planning to expand beyond that,” he stated.

While explaining why he allotted 12,000 hectares of farmland to palm plantation alone, he emphasised that; “the palm tree is one of the agricultural commodity that every part of it is useful for something, is just that the oil appears to be the one with highest economic value and once you start a farm plantation.

“Subsequently, once it begins to produce within three to five years it can continue  producing between 25 to 200 years, it is not like a cash crop  maize that you plant this year, you harvest‎ next year‎ and is gone. So, if you truly wants something sustainable you have to be looking into the future,” Omotosho said.

He also revealed that the foundation would  not just be producing the palm and sending away, but it would also  have mills of the farmland to process the palm oil, stressing that within the next 5-7 years that the foundation should be able to provide jobs for 15,000 people working on the farm.

Ooni - We are where we are today becuse we abandoned the bedrock of Nigeria

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on Nigerians to aggressively engage in agriculture to end poverty and reduce unemployment in the country.

Adeyeye made the call at the 2017 Mike Omotosho Annual Lecture with theme, `Increased Agricultural Productivity for Sustainable Economic Growth’, in Abuja on Saturday.

He said that engaging in agriculture was a sure way to ensure nation building, especially in the currently recession facing the country.

The Ooni expressed concern that deforestation which he said had reached an alarming rate in the country had resulted in low productivity of farmers in food production.

The Oba said: ‘’ We abandoned the bedrock of this country and that is why we are where we are today.

“We need proper mind re-orientation and change our focus to agriculture.

“It is for us to come together and redefine how we do things. We should be exporting agricultural produce because we have huge land mass.

“Agriculture is the largest employment platform and we all must practice it in entirety.

“Our flag has two colours which stand for peace and agriculture. We must go back to our roots to be able to survive.’’

Dr Mike Omotosho, the Convener of the lecture, said the aim of the lecture was to reawaken the spirit of agriculture in people.

Omotosho, also a founder of the Mike Omotosho Foundation, said the foundation had taken the responsibility of eradicating poverty through agriculture.

He stressed the need to improve agricultural production to meet both local and export needs of the country.

Omotosho said that the foundation had acquired over 15,000 hectares of farm land in various states and had cultivated 300 hectares of the figure to encourage youths in agriculture.

“We have an agriculture academy. A lot of people have known that beyond being a farmer, you can also engage in other areas of agriculture.

“We intend to come up with a farm known as Niger Palms, that will be the largest palm plantation in Africa that will employ over 15,000 people, within the next three to five years,’’ he said.

Oyo To Empower 717 Rice, Cassava Farmers

The Oyo State government is set to empower 717 cassava and rice producer under the state’s funded Anchor Borrower’s programme.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Barrister Oyewole Oyewumi said 450 cassava  producer and another 267 farmers would be engaged.

Oyewumi said that the empowerment would improve economic activities in the state as well as create employment opportunities for the citizenry, stressing that the FADAMA project was designed to support the farmers to increase their yield, enhance sustainable profit and boost food security in the state.

The commissioner enjoined the beneficiaries to acquire contiguous lands in order to access the fund allocated for the programme with ease and consequently appealed to members of the committee to design strategies that will assist the Government in achieving its projections on the programme.

Speaking on the state’s funded Anchor Borrower’s programme at the official opening of Operational Project Account for participating farmers of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Agriculture, Professor Adetokunbo Adekunle said that N250,000.00 will be credited into each beneficiary’s account to produce two hectares of cassava following the completion of account project opening processes with the designated bank.

Professor Adetokunbo, who reiterated the role of agriculture in economic development, noted that the programme was aimed at elevating challenges confronting the farmers in terms of production and consumption and consequently urged them to be diligent and invest solely on cassava to ensure the success of the programme.

In his Remarks, the General Manager, Agricultural Credit Corporation of Oyo State (ACCOS) Mr. Bode Raji hinted that the loan would be under the supervision of the ACCOS and promised that the corporation would assist the farmers with the supply of necessary farm inputs.

He appealed to the farmers to operate in line with the rules of the programme and ensure prompt payment of the loan for others to benefit.

In their separate remarks,  the Chairman, Cassava Growers Association, Oyo State Chapter, Mr. Adekunle Muideen and the Chief Executive Officer,  Eagleson and Nito Concepts, Mrs. Remi Tinubu stated that the project remains a platform for cassava stakeholders in the state to excel in the business.