Category : Agriculture

Other News / Agriculture - 5 days ago

Boosting rural farmers’productivity

The World Bank, in colloboration with the Federal and the Lagos State Governments, is working to assist farmers improve their productivity, writes DANIELESSIET. For many farmers in rural areas, life is difficult. Factors such as poor infrastructure and limited access to business-support services limit their viability to grow more food. That is why they look forward to a sustainable solution to rural poverty. Happily, succour has come their way. The World Bank is partnering the Federal Government and the Lagos State government to assist farmers overcome  their problems. Speaking in Lagos during a  stakeholders’sensitisation workshop on Agro-Processing, Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project, the Commissioner  for Agriculture, Toyin Sarau, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, said the  government is determined to improve food production through  good quality seeds, poultry and aquaculture. APPEALS Project is  a Federal Government/World Bank agricultural initiative aimed at improving agricultural productivity of small and medium scale (SMEs) commercial farmers. According to him, such investments could help farmers in producing more food. & Getting agric back on track & The commission...

Other News / Agriculture - 5 days ago

‘Agric contributed 40% to GDP in 2018’

The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) has said the agricultural sector contributed 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year and employed 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population. The institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Aliyu Umar stated this during the yearly research review meeting held at NCRI Badeggi in Niger State. He said: “Statistical profile of agricultural sector contribution to the  economy growth and sustainable development is impressive, reflecting that the sector has contributed 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product and has employed about 60 per cent of the population of Nigeria.” Umar declared that with this statistics, the sector plays a significant role in the growth and development of the country. He advocated that  diversification through agriculture should be approached frontally, emphasising on more effort from governments at all level. In her keynote address, the  Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Pessu, called for more investment in research to sustain the economy, adding that new technologies, input and techniques that lead to increased agricultural productivity and food security were developed through research. She stressed that the country should not only make agricultural development a prior...

Other News / Agriculture - 5 days ago

Ogun Cooperative Societies get N26m grant

Twenty-SIX agricultural cooperative societies from six  local government areas in Ogun State have been supported with N26million   grant, to improve their farming techniques and increase food supply in the state. The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms. Adenrele Adesina, presenting cheques to beneficiaries in Abeokuta, advised them to use the grant for the right purpose and ensure every member of the cooperative benefited from it. According to her, the grant was the highpoint to round up a three -day Agricultural Production Improvement course  for Ogun State Agricultural Cooperative Societies in six local government areas under the 2015 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS)-LGAS Track Project. The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Adekunle  Hassan said the training programme, organised by the Office of the Special  Assistant to the President (OSSAP) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Ogun State Government, in collaboration with  a Management Consulting firm, Kunle Akiode& Co., would be extended to other local government areas, adding that beneficiaries would be monitored by government officials to ensure judicious  utilisation of the grant. The Assistant Secretary, Farmers Association of Nigeria,  Ogun State Branch, representing Ifo Local Government, Mr  Paul Adeku...

Other News / Agriculture - 1 week ago

IAR&T is 50

The Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training  (IAR&T), Ibadan, Prof  James Adediran, said his organisation has provided a centre of excellence for farmers to support research in the sector. Speaking in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to herald the institute’s 50th anniversary, Adediran said the establishment of the institute ushered in a revolution and helps the nation combat hunger and provides ample food security. Adediran insisted that the institute has lived up to its expectations as a centre of excellence in agricultural research since it was established half a decade ago. He noted that the institute has achieved monumental feats in the areas of soil, crop and livestock research, improved farming systems among others. He said: “We then ask ourselves, have we done enough to showcase and even celebrate at 50? I can confidently say yes, in that our breakthroughs in agricultural research are based on the level of resources available for our use. I am convinced that despite the above challenges, IAR&T has lived up to expectation as a centre of excellence in agricultural research.’’. &

Other News / Agriculture - 3 weeks ago

IFAD-VCDP trains 60 youths on farm management

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has trained 60 youths from three states on farm machinery management in Awka, the Anambra State capital. The state Programme Officer, Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), IFAD, Mr Nnamdi Aguncha, stated this in Onitsha. VCDP is an intervention programme by IFAD for rice and cassava production. Aguncha said the youth, selected from Anambra, Ebonyi and Ogun states, converged on Awka for the training to boost rice and cassava production. “The workshop, which centered on practical demonstration of the various ways of using the simple farm implements is to reduce drudgery and to encourage youths to take up agriculture as a business. “We conducted a survey in 2018 where we discovered that the population of youths in agriculture under the VCDP was low. “So, we looked inward and discovered that farming was tedious for them; and so, we decided to introduce some machinery to attract and support them,” he said. He said the youth were being trained on use of equipment like threshers, power tillers, de-stoners, harvesters and manual/mechanical transplanters, among the 20 farm implements. “We intend to support them with these machineries to create jobs for them and to use the machines to render services that will lead to increased...

Other News / Agriculture - 3 weeks ago

Plant trees, Ogun residents told

Residents of Ogun State have been urged to plant trees in their compounds to beautify the environment and mitigate the effects of global warming. A Director in the State Ministry of Forestry, Dolapo Odulana, made the call at a rally for schools and selected areas in Abeokuta metropolis, to mark the International Day of Forestry. He said the purpose of the rally was to sensitise people on the benefits of forest preservation and the need to prevent indiscriminate felling of trees. Read also: When will Ogun West produce governor? Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘’Forest and education’’, Odulana cautioned that deforestation would have a devastating impact on the people, as trees help to mitigate harsh environ-mental condition. “The forest is no doubt a veritable tool to mitigate the challenges of the environment and this is why we encourage everybody to raise at least a tree,’’ he said. If you and I would raise a tree, it will make a big difference in the environment”, he said. Places visited included: Ita-Oshin, Panseke, Itoku, as well as Abeokuta Grammar School, Egba.

Other News / Agriculture - 3 weeks ago

Boosting agric via demonstration farms

Stakeholders are seeking the establishment of demonstration farms to provide hands-on training, DANIEL ESSIET reports. Co-founder, PS Nutraceuticals, Samson  Ogbole, a young agro entrepreneur, is teaching Nigerians  how to  cultivate yams and potatoes without sand. A biochemistry graduate of the Igbinedion University, Edo State, Ogbole trains farmers on his demonstration farm. He organises demonstrations to show farmers technologies. The visit to a demonstration farm allowed prospective farmers to share concerns  on new techniques, technology and crops. At demo farms, farmers learn   how to use their hands and machines, such as sprayers and cultivators. Farmers and trainers can exchange information and ideas. The immediate past Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA),  Dr. Samson Odedina, loves  to train people on agrobusiness, including how to manage their farms, dry and store grains, and use machinery.”I am a farmer, and I have great passion for farmers. I want to help farmers and make a better life for them,” he said. When Odedina set out to promote profitable  cassava farming, he did it with cassava demonstration plots across the campus. The college made available plots for students  and farmers. It was  a success story. The demonstration farms showcase ag...

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