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SF Engine Man: Leak Proof Engine Sheet Metal

Ray Bohacz demonstrates his tip for preventing leaks in oil pans and any other sheet metal parts in your engines. From Successful Farming Episode 1006. Originally aired January 26, 2017

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2 Million People to benefit from Agric Empowerment Training Scheme in S/West

In line with efforts to ensure food security in Nigeria, the Lagos State Agricultural Empowerment Training Scheme has revealed that over two million people would be trained in the South West geo-political zone of the country.

This revelation was made by the Project Director of the scheme Oluwaseyi Bamigbade during an interaction with journalists in Lagos.

Bamigbade informed that the training enable the participants to deepen their knowledge in agriculture in areas such as soilless vegetable production, cassava, wheat and rice processing, including marketing techniques both locally and internationally.

He added that would enable the participants to requisite knowledge needed in rearing domestic animals and catfish production.

While presenting certificates to 225 residents beneficiaries from the training, the director stressed that there was no way people can practice productive agriculture without cognate experience on modern farming and training.

Bamigbade noted that the training currently held in Lagos would be replicated in all the South West states.

Agro Practice with Tony Egba

Group Calls FG To Boost Shea Tree Plantations

The National Shea Product Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to establish Shea tree plantations which will boost the economy and provide more jobs.

The association’s National Auditor, Hajiya Hadiza Danga, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Danga said that the establishment would encourage women to engage more in the business since they had been involved in it overtime.

She also added that, income from the business would provide empowerment for the affected communities where, she said, the majority of the people lived below the poverty line.

She noted that Shea butter production was common in 19 states but was found in huge quantities in Kebbi and Niger states.

Danga told NAN that propagation of Shea butter would support rural and urban economy while Shea tree plantations would ensure sustainable Shea butter production and positively engage the youth.

She said that lack of machines had been a challenge to Shea butter production, adding that most of the production was done manually at the moment. She also added that the machine was expensive, although few producers in Niger had been able to get it.

Danga said that a complete Shea butter making machine would include stretcher, crusher and miller.

“If the government can provide such a machine in at least each local government area where we produce Shea butter, it will go a long way to alleviate the suffering of women in the business,’’ she said.

She then stated that, Shea butter can serve as a base for tropical medicine for relief of rheumatic and joint pains, and treatment of wounds, nostril inflammation and dermatitis, among others.

FG Sets Up Task Force To Check Rising Cost Of Food

The federal government also yesterday set up a task force on food security to address the worrying incidence of rising cost of food items in the market.

The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this after the FEC meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, expressed concern that agricultural products do not get to the market, and when they do, they are sold at very exorbitant prices.

He said the committee is expected to report back to Council next week after which concrete actions would be taken to remedy the situation, adding that government is concerned about the rising price of food and is trying to do something to bring it down.

Mohammed said: “We considered several memos, and approvals were given and the major highlight is Council resolved to set up a task force on food security.

“Government is quite concerned about the rising cost of food items and the fact that, more often than not, even when these products are available, if they do reach the market, there are sold at very exorbitant prices.

“So, the government has set up task force on food security to ensure that an end is put to the wastages that occur, with tonnes and tonnes of produce in the farms rotting away or in the markets getting rotten. It’s an inter-ministerial committee made up of the ministers of agriculture, finance, water resources, transportation.

“The important thing is to look at what areas of intervention the government can make. The intervention can be in the area of subsidy in transportation; that is being worked out, but this goes to show that government is very much concerned about the rising cost of food price and we are responding to it.”

Members of the task force include the following ministers: Chief Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development), Mrs Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Dr. Okey Enelamah (Industry, Trade and Development), Mr Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Engr Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources), and Dr Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment)

The Offices of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would also be part of the task force.

During the briefing, the minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, noted that two memoranda were approved in the Ministry of Transport, which include the procurement of two first class coaches – two for baggage and six for long distance economy class coaches,  and for improvement of the Kaduna airport.