STUDENTS GET LESSONS FOR BETTER CAREER CHOICES IN AGRICULTURE.

Students aspiring to be farmers can now get more skills and training on the subject through a new program recently launched in schools with an aim of enticing youths into agriculture.

The program known as 4-H, launched as a partnership between Egerton University and 4-H Kenya foundation- a not for profit organization, aims at changing the attitude of the youth towards agriculture by creating fun driven 4-H clubs in schools.

The program as a result exposes pupils to careers in agriculture, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, innovations and leadership skills through agricultural activities, the program’s director explained.

Annie Nyaga, 4-H Founding Director, notes that through the program they have worked with 7,076 youths across 162 schools in five counties- Embu, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, and Nairobi to influence them into agriculture.

“The responsibility of feeding the nation cannot be met by a few individuals as a result by there is need for collective contribution of all stakeholders in nurturing the interests and perception of future generations in a way that appeals to them,”

According to Annie, besides gaining knowledge on farming, the program opens learners minds enabling them to become innovative enough to tackle challenges such as food security, environmental degradation, market exploitation and poverty reduction.

Annies says that the 4-H programs have taken root in 13 countries in Africa including Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia.

“These programs are preparing the world’s young people to meet urgent global needs, including hunger, sustainable livelihoods, and food security,” she pointed out adding that through 4-H, pupils are exposed to agricultural activities early enough so that they can identify more career opportunities in the agricultural sector.

AGRICULTURE IS PROFITABLE SAYS SOMA SUNDAR

Agriculture is a profitable occupation if we manage to produce crops systematically,” said Soma Sundar, Joint Agriculture Director at ‘Raitha Dinacharane’ organised by Joint Agriculture Directorate, Mysuru as part of birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, former prime minister, at Rajendra Bhavan on Friday.
 

After inaugurating the programme, he said, “Food security is an important factor of our society. Our population is growing rapidly. Thus there is greater responsibility on farmers to produce sufficient amount of food to satisfy the existing population”.

“Although most of our population is engaged in agriculture, our agriculture production is struck to 250 million tons. Thus, if the farmers adopt the integrated and scientific farming system, then the agriculture will be a profitable occupation”.

“Farmers must not commit suicide but they should opt to take it as a challenge and must become capable of producing more agriculture crops. We must analyse the fact that our youth are running away from agriculture”.

“Our recent study has revealed that there is a gradual decline of youth in agriculture. Youth must think that the agriculture is a profitable occupation when science and technology are adopted,” he added.

Later Dayananda Murthy, Chairman, Agriculture and Industries Standing Committee, Zilla Panchayat, said, “Farmers should monitor the level of the crops and the availability of sources at their land. In the current condition where the rainfall has gradually declined, we must move towards the scientific farming”.

“Government must organise more programmes for farmers to spread awareness about the government schemes. Because the farmers are future of this country,” he added.

Neema Sultana, President, Zilla Panchayat, Kalamma Kemparamaiah, President, Talk Panchayat, Mysuru and more than 200 farmers were present. By raitha.

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.

Imported Agric Products Rose by 33% in Q3 - NBS

The volume of imported agricultural products rose by 33 percent in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2016), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated monday.

It added that raw materials imports grew 60 percent above the level in Q2While imported solid minerals grew 68.5 percent compared to the previous quarter.

The statistical agency further stated in its 3rd Quarter 2016 External Trade News: Trade Intensity Index/Re-Exports Analysis, which was released yesterday that the value of exported agricultural products rose by 5.30 percent relative to Q2., while imported raw materials was 32.05 percent higher in value than the previous quarter.

Essentially, the report serves to complements the quarterly trade reports- particularly the Q3 foreign trade statistics released recently, by providing a clearer analysis of sectoral classification of imports and exports at a more aggregated level, without crude oil and oil products which tend to distort and disguise other trade patterns due to their size.

In the new analysis by the NBS, wood fuels are separated from mineral fuel which was classed in the same category with crude oil and other oil products.

It further enhances the regular trade report by deepening trade analysis by introducing the concept of re-exports and trade intensity, according to the NBS.

Nevertheless, other oil products grew by 43.3 percent in the period under review compared to Q2 estimates while solid minerals exports grew by 220.96 percent.

The NBS said the value of manufactured products exports was also 21.86 percent more than the record in Q2 while crude oil exports rose 30.86 percent in Q3.

Nigeria’s external trade totaled N 4.72 trillion in Q3 and consisted of exports worth N2.30 trillion and imports valued at N2.41 trillion, indicating a slight negative trade balance of N104 billion.
Crude oil exports accounted for N1.94 trillion or 4.2 percent of total trade.

According to the NBS:”The Country’s import intensities were also high with India (2.57, 2.49 and 1.28) and the Netherlands (4.38, 2.57 and 1.04) during the same months.

However, the import intensity of Nigeria with United States and Spain were lower, with indices less than one other than for Spain in August.

This is possibly a result of the mix of products imported from these countries, which may have been affected more by the CBN import regulations.”

Expect Big Revolution in Agribusiness in 2017 – Dangote

The President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group, NABG, Sani Dangote, has expressed optimism over massive revolution in agribusiness in 2017 based on collaborations and synergies formed by the Federal Government and the group.

 

Dangote stated this at the 2nd Annual General Meeting of NABG in Abuja, where he also disclosed that NABG Presidential Committee in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were working hard to jump-start and catalyze a roadmap on the implementation of the recently launched Agriculture Promotion Policy, APP, tagged: “Green Alternative,” which will propel the expected revolution in Nigeria’s agribusiness within the next 12 months.

He acknowledged and said with President Muhammadu Buhari leading the revolution in the sector and willingness to engage the organised private sector in renewed drive to diversify the economy through transformation of the agricultural sector, agribusiness will experience a boom and farmers’ living standard will improve.

He said: “Agriculture in Nigeria is still done the way it was done in the 1960’s probably before 1960. But within the next 12 months, we will experience a dramatic revolution in agribusiness.

“The government of President Buhari has started listening. We have engaged the office of the Vice-President, we have also engaged the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and they have agreed to engage NABG to fashion out the way forward for the next 12 months.

“We have proposed focusing on industrial food and non-food ingredients manufacturing, and value added processing of staple foods (crops, livestock and fisheries) into packaged, convenient and nutritious food products for domestic consumption and export markets to create jobs, drive competitiveness and significant increase in generated revenue base at the state level.

“We have proposed a shift from incentivising commercial banks to lend to agriculture to directly incentivising structured cooperative farmers through off-take markets and price stabilisation mechanism.

“We have proposed a strengthening the cooperation platform of the current Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and State driven Anchor Borrowers Programme by shifting to the concept of private sector focused programme through recapitalisation of Bank of Agriculture, NISRAL and Bank of Industry.

“These are some of the proposals we have made to the federal government that we believe, if they follow what we have advised to be done, in 12 months, we will see a big revolution in agribusiness and it will turn out to be a big business, and not a mere formality in service and practice.”

The agro-investor also expressed optimism that with the proposed roadmap for the sector, the expected revolution will bring interest rate for agriculture and agribusiness financing down to five per cent or less in 2017 for more attraction of investors.

NRCRI empowers 20,000 on Root and Tuber crops value addition

The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, has trained and empowered over 20,000 rural women and youths on Production Technologies and Value Addition to Root and Tuber Crops.

Executive Director of the institute, Dr Julius Okonkwo, announced this at a three-day training workshop organised for 120 rural women and youths of six host communities at Awom Na Ebo Secondary Technical School, Amawom in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed that the training was part of efforts to complement Federal Government’s efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment.

Highlighting core aspects of the training, Okonkwo noted that with the new technologies for income generation and improved, disease resistant cassava and sweet potato varieties, the farmers would be able to kick-start their own enterprises.

“We expect the trainees to effectively use the knowledge they acquired to create wealth and employ members of their families in the business”.

The Guardian reports that the Executive Director also pledged support of the NRCRI to empower the farmers, using technological innovations to encourage their entrepreneurial interest to boost food supply.