The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) has set up an operations and enforcement department within the agency, which will oversee seamless operations and adhere to the guidelines of European Union (EU) exportation to avert product rejection and unnecessary seizures.
The Acting Comptroller General of NAQS, Godwin Sunday Audu, announced the establishment during the maiden meeting with station and zonal coordinators held at the headquarters in Abuja, where the agency promoted over one hundred officers to Assistant Superintendent of Quarantine I (ASQ I).
NAQS, as a regulatory agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was created to promote and regulate harmonization of plant, veterinary, and aquatic resources (fisheries) in connection with the import and export of agricultural products with a view to minimizing the risk to the agricultural economy, food safety, and the environment.
The agency, in collaboration with key stakeholders, undertakes protocols to control and prevent the introduction, establishment, and spread of animal and zoonotic diseases, as well as pests of plants and fisheries, including their products.
Audu disclosed that efforts are being made to adhere to the European Union (EU) requirements for the exportation of products, stating that the development will no doubt avert the imminent rejection of Nigerian products by EU countries.
The Quarantine Boss noted that adherence to the Act establishing the agency and also being conversant with international standards will go a long way in promoting the ease of doing business, while calling on the staff to rededicate themselves to the task of repositioning the agency to better serve the diverse stakeholders.
He assured the staff of his administration’s open-door policy, which will give room for innovative ideas, stressing that the development will contribute to growing the agency and adding that human capital development will be a priority for the service under his leadership.
https://farmersmanual.com/naqs-establishes-enforcement-department-to-implement-eu-exportation-guidelines/

The Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG) has advocated for the adoption of climate-smart agriculture to improve food productivity, create jobs, fight the scourge of poverty in the country, reduce greenhouse emissions, and mitigate the impact of climate change on agricultural systems.

The Director General of NABG, Jafar Umar, made this call while delivering a speech at the Validation of the Climate-Smart Agriculture Framework organized by the group, stating that the significance of the framework cannot be overstated, considering the current challenges facing the agricultural sector.

Umar noted that the country is confronted by the harsh realities of climate change, which threatens not only crop yields but also the very fabric of agricultural heritage, adding regenerative agricultural practices to the national agenda.

“We recognize that the adoption of these practices is not merely an option but a necessity if we are to ensure the sustained productivity of our farms and safeguard the livelihoods of our farmers. By integrating sustainable practices into our farming methods, we aim to contribute to a healthier environment for all.”.

“In our commitment to leaving no one behind, the framework places a special focus on building the capacity of our smallholder farmers. These hardworking individuals form the backbone of our agricultural sector, and their success is crucial for the overall prosperity of our nation.

Also speaking was the Chairman of the Administrative Board of NABG, Arc Kabir Ibrahim, who pointed out that whatever is done here will be disseminated to all the farmers in the 774 local governments, and the farmers will be taught in their own languages.

He emphasized the need to pay attention to what is happening about climate change and adopt precision agriculture to optimize productivity and ensure food security in Nigeria as the giant of Africa, saying we not only need to feed our population, we also need to feed the people of Africa.
https://farmersmanual.com/nabg-calls-for-adoption-of-climate-smart-agriculture-for-sustainable-food-production/

The Niger State government, under the leadership of Governor Umar Mohamed Bago, has disclosed plans to cultivate 10,000 hectares per local government for the 2024 planting season, to make up a total of 250,000 hectares in his first year in office.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Musa Salihu Bawa Bosso, made this known in Minna during his media briefing with journalists, while outlining that the vision was to cultivate a remarkable 1 million hectares over the next four years.

The commissioner outlined the utmost priority given to the agriculture sector in the state and backed it up with a substantial plan targeting 250,000 farmers across various crops, emphasizing the importance of quality inputs and proper agricultural practices.

He stated that the focus on agriculture is viewed as a key strategy to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and ensure food security, highlighting the governor’s dedication to collaboration and partnership with investors to increase yields and transform farming into a sustainable business venture.

According to him, the state government is determined to capitalize on these assets, including abundant resources and vast arable land and water bodies, in order to create jobs, particularly for the youth and women, and boost overall productivity.

“This initiative marks a pivotal moment in restoring Niger State’s agricultural glory, ensuring a prosperous future for its residents. The governor’s administration is unlocking the agricultural potential of Niger State, positioning it as a beacon of sustainable development.”

“The Bago administration’s commitment to agriculture has not only spurred economic growth but has also played a pivotal role in reducing insecurity by providing employment opportunities and addressing the root causes of unrest. The government aims to foster a more secure and prosperous community.” He added.
https://farmersmanual.com/niger-govt-to-cultivate-10000-hectares-per-lg/

The Lagos State Government has disclosed its readiness to increase the production of paddy rice at the state’s own rice factory, Imota Rice Mill, from 15,000 metric tons of rice paddy produced last year (2023) to 100,000 metric tons this year.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, said during the Lagos Food Systems Stakeholders’ Breakfast Meeting that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the stakeholders about the ministry’s activities for the year 2024 and also get their contributions.

Olusanya explained that the state government would increase the production of rice paddy by partnering with other sister states, such as Niger and Kebbi, on land bank collaboration as part of the roadmap to increase the production of rice paddy in order to meet the growing rice consumption of the state.

The Commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to implementing the five-year agricultural and food systems roadmap to achieve 40 percent food self-sufficiency by 2025 through the provision of funds for agricultural service providers, improvement of rice paddy production, and land bank collaboration with sister states.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, pointed out on his own that the state will need N50 billion to successfully reach 100,000 metric tons of paddy production.

“We were able to do roughly about 15,000 metric tons of paddy, which is over 120,000 bags of rice in 2023, but this year, we are hoping to do 100,000 metric tons of paddy. Believe me, it’s not cheap, because last year we started at about N200, 000 per ton, but today, as I speak, the cost of paddy is about N510, 000 per ton.

“We started off with about 5,000 metric tons of paddy, and with the ingenuity of the team, we were able to partner with the Commodity and Exchange Board, bringing another close to 10,000 paddy for us to end the year. Fashola noted.
https://farmersmanual.com/lagos-to-increase-production-of-paddy-rice-to-100000-mt/

The Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) has called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to immediately take visible steps with the implementation of policies required to end food insecurity in the country.

ACAN Chairman Collins Nnabuife, while addressing journalists, lamented that since the current administration declared an emergency in the agriculture and food sectors, no tangible action has been taken towards implementing policies that can ameliorate the situation.

Nnabuife decried that the Minister of Agriculture is yet to hit the ground running with policy implementation, despite the food outlook reports recently released by some credible international organizations, indicating that some states of the federation were already on the acute hunger danger list.

He called on the government to facilitate better market access for farmers and promote value addition along the agricultural value chain, explaining that creating avenues for farmers to access local and international markets will not only increase income for farmers but also position Nigeria as a key player in the global agricultural market.

“The Ministries of Agriculture, both at the federal and state levels, should evolve stakeholder collaboration to spur inclusive participation among stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector players, and civil society organizations, to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach towards agricultural development.

“There is a need for immediate youth inclusion and programs that attract and engage youth in agriculture through training, mentorship, and incentives to revitalize the sector and address the aging farming population.

According to him, there is a need to strengthen the capacities of agricultural research institutes to develop quality climate-smart seeds and other agricultural equipment, as well as the development of policy reforms that address challenges such as land tenure, trade barriers, and regulatory bottlenecks, fostering an enabling environment for agricultural growth.
https://farmersmanual.com/acan-calls-on-fg-to-control-rising-food-prices-2/

In a bid to improve food security and reduce post-harvest losses, the National Institute for Horticultural Research (NIHORT), has trained women and youths in three local government areas of Delta State on proper management of mushroom and tomato.

Executive Director, NIHORT, Mohammed Lawal Atanda, during the training session pointed out that the choice of training on value addition on mushroom and tomato is relevant due to the increase in mushroom consumption as a result of the consciousness of the nutritional and medicinal value and to alleviate post-harvest loss for better livelihood of the farmers.

The director, who was represented at the occasion by Director of Research, Dr. E. I. Nwanguma, said the training will enhance the Federal Government’s efforts and focus on agriculture and drive the diversification of the country’s economy.

The training aimed at delivering technologies that will address the post-harvest losses encountered by these farmers through training on mushroom and tomato value addition, in order to get best out of these important agricultural products of great economic importance that are of high demand in Nigeria.

The training was in three batches, with each batch representing each local government. The first batch of the training representing Ndokwa West Local Government had 35 women and youth as participants with each of them presented with certificate of participation.

The second batch representing Ndokwa East also had 35 women and youths, while the third batch involving Ukwani Local Government had 30 women and youths. In all, 100 women and youths were trained in mushroom and tomato value chain.

The training covered precautions for food handlers, processing flow chart, value addition, utilization, and processing of mushroom value added products. The tomato aspect of thee training involved, value addition to tomato, processing requirements, storage of tomato products, as well as economic analysis of tomato value addition into powder and value addition into whole peeled tomato fruits.
https://farmersmanual.com/nihort-empowers-delta-women-youths-with-skills-on-mushroom-tomato-management/

The Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) has called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to immediately take visible steps with the implementation of policies required to end food insecurity in the country.

ACAN Chairman Collins Nnabuife, while addressing journalists, lamented that since the current administration declared an emergency in the agriculture and food sectors, no tangible action has been taken towards implementing policies that can ameliorate the situation.

Nnabuife decried that the Minister of Agriculture is yet to hit the ground running with policy implementation, despite the food outlook reports recently released by some credible international organizations, indicating that some states of the federation were already on the acute hunger danger list.

He called on the government to facilitate better market access for farmers and promote value addition along the agricultural value chain, explaining that creating avenues for farmers to access local and international markets will not only increase income for farmers but also position Nigeria as a key player in the global agricultural market.

“The Ministries of Agriculture, both at the federal and state levels, should evolve stakeholder collaboration to spur inclusive participation among stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector players, and civil society organizations, to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach towards agricultural development.

“There is a need for immediate youth inclusion and programs that attract and engage youth in agriculture through training, mentorship, and incentives to revitalize the sector and address the aging farming population.

According to him, there is a need to strengthen the capacities of agricultural research institutes to develop quality climate-smart seeds and other agricultural equipment, as well as the development of policy reforms that address challenges such as land tenure, trade barriers, and regulatory bottlenecks, fostering an enabling environment for agricultural growth.
https://farmersmanual.com/acan-calls-on-fg-to-control-rising-food-prices/

The Niger State Government has signed a partnership service-level agreement with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Niger State Chapter, on 2024 dry season farming to improve agricultural production and ensure food security.

During the signing of the MoU at the Government House Minna, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Musa Bawa Bosso, and the Chairman, Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, Chief Sammy Adigun, signed on behalf of the state government, while AFAN Chairman Niger State Chapter, Alhaji Shehu Galadima, signed on behalf of the association.

According to the agreement, AFAN will serve as outgrowers of different kinds of food for the 2024 dry season farming, while the state government will provide them with inputs worth N30 billion and 550,000 hectares of land to 35,000 farmers to produce three million tons of food, adding that the government will get back its money from the produce.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, during his welcome speech, described the agreement as a milestone in his revolutionary plans for the agricultural sector, disclosing that plans are on for the state to transition from subsistence farming to mechanized farming, saying 300 tractors and other farming equipment will soon be shipped to the state.

The governor boasted that the state will soon cease to be regarded as a civil service state while appealing for total commitment from AFAN for the agreement to achieve the desired result, as he assured them that the government will secure their farmlands and all arable lands will be cleared to drive away all criminal elements.

The Chairman of the AFAN Niger State Chapter, Alhaji Shehu Galadima, on his own, appreciated the Governor for his foresight in revamping the agricultural sector, adding that a lot has changed for the better in the sector since the inception of his administration.
https://farmersmanual.com/niger-govt-signs-mou-with-afan-on-dry-season-farming/

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to improve the cassava seed system through the availability of high-quality cassava seeds.

The Country Director for SAA, Dr. Godwin Atser, said the partnership, which is in the framework of the project named Building and Economically Sustainable Cassava Seed System, Phase II (BASICS-II), will allow SAA to establish cassava seed entrepreneurs in Benue and Nasarawa states.

SAA aims to promote need-based good agricultural practices (GAPs) and improved technologies in rural communities by building the capacity of farmers and extension agents through the promotion of market-oriented, sustainable, resilient, regenerative, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural innovations.

SAA Engages Extension Agents to Scale Up Agric. Technology in Africa
The association works with smallholder farmers by adopting a participatory approach that represents the organization’s vision and ethos of establishing technologies and fruitful market linkages that address the specific concerns of farmers.

Atser disclosed that the project would help to tackle low productivity caused primarily by poor planting materials (seeds) that are often diseased, create at least 100 cassava seed entrepreneurs, who are expected to make a decent living from the sale of cassava stems, and form the foundation of a cassava revolution in Nigeria.

NASC Trains Authorized Seed Inspectors on Quality Cassava Seed
On his own, the Project Leader of BASICS-II, Prof. Lateef Sanni, pointed out that farmers could more than double their yield using the BASICS-II approach, which in the last four years has emphasized the use of improved-certified cassava seeds.

Sanni expressed his excitement over the partnership, noting that SAA will bring to the table their expertise in agricultural extension delivery, help scale the BASICS Model to new geographies, change the narrative of low yields, and create wealth across the value chain through the raising of commercial seed entrepreneurs.
https://farmersmanual.com/saa-partners-iita-to-promote-cassava-seed-entrepreneurs/

Pig or hog farming is a branch of animal husbandry dealing with the raising and breeding of domestic pigs as livestock principally for meat. It’s a very popular agribusiness throughout the world with more than one billion pigs butchered each year throughout the world.

Pigs are well adapted to a wide variety of climatic conditions, and they can be raised in many different ways. They can be raised in intensive commercial units, extensive system, or in commercial free range systems.

Benefits /Advantages of Pig Farming Business

Pigs have the high breeding potential capacity (one pig can give birth to 10 to 12 piglets at once)

They have a fast growth rate (If you feed them well, they could grow and mature quickly so you could sell them off and start making within the shortest time frame)

Also, there’s a high demand for pork in local and foreign markets.

They have a high feed conversion rate. When you feed them well, the more flesh they add and the more meat you get out of them.

Money can be making from their waste products (pig dungs can be used for manure)

Challenges facing pig Farming Business

Cannibalism: Some sows (female pigs) eat their piglets during farrowing

Also, some pigs could easily crush their young ones while moving around in the pens or sleeping.

Pigs are highly prone to diseases due to their delicate nature, especially piglets. This could lead to high mortality rates and a massive loss for the farmer.

You’ll spend more on water and electricity, especially in areas where water and electricity are not readily available. This is because pigs consume a lot of water.

FG launches NSD to Control Transboundary Animal Diseases


How to Start a Pig Farming Business

Build the Piggery Housing: Building pig pens is essential for several reasons .First, it is essential to protect the pigs from predators and thieves, especially if you’re using an open space The pig housing should also have a good drainage system to avoid water stagnation which could harbor disease-causing organisms.
Purchase Healthy Piglets: For a good start, it’s best to buy healthy piglets. Buy from a trusted source (Someone with good track records of selling healthy piglets).
Consult/Hire A Veterinary Doctor: To ensure that you breed healthy pigs and run a successful pig farming business, you’ll need the services of a veterinary doctor.
Hire Workers/Laborers: Depending on the size of your pig farm business (large or small scale), you’ll need to hire people to assist you on the farm. You’ll need help cleaning the pig shelter, feeding the pigs, keeping the pigs safe from harm.
Purchase Good Feeds: pig’s health largely depends on how well you feed them. Pig need feeds rich in fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins, protein, and minerals to grow properly.
Provide Clean Drinking Water: Clean drinkable water is also essential for the pigs’ due to pigs’ nature, you’ll need to constantly check and change the water to ensure that their drinking water is always clean
Cost Estimation for pig farming

NOTE: The amount mentioned vary with time, location, breeding program and the kind of housing to be used.

Cost of stocking farm

Assuming you are into pig fattening of 50 weaners at 15000 per weaner, it means you will need 750000 to purchase them.

Agric. Minister Inaugurates National Council On Animal Welfare
Feeding

A pig will consume 3kg of feed to give 1kg of meat, therefore, a weaner of 10kg will consume about 120kg of feed to add 40kg of weight and reach 50kg of slaughter weight. Average cost of pig feed per kg is now 150. To feed a pig from weaning stage of 10kg to slaughtering weight of 50kg will cost 120*150 to give 18000, so total cost of feeding 50 pigs will be 18000*50 to give 900000

Labour & Logistics

Two attendants will conveniently take care of 50 pigs at 20000 for each per month and a circle for pig to reach 50kg from 10kg is six month, to give 240000 on labour. 200000 can be budgeted for logistics and other miscellaneous expenses.

Total cost of production in rearing 50 pigs from weaner to 50kg can be sum up to be 2,090,000

Return on Investment

At 6 months, pig is expected to be ready for market at a cost of 1000 to 1500 per kg, going for average cost of 1200 per kg means a pig of 50kg will cost 50*1200 to give 60000, therefore, 50 pigs will sum up to 50*60000 to give 3000000,leading to a profit of 910,000.
https://farmersmanual.com/creating-wealth-through-pig-farming-3/

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has called on governments at all levels to give needed attention to the dairy subsector of the economy through adequate budgetary allocation.

The call was made by the National President of the association, Baba Ngelzarma, who lamented that the only support MACBAN used to get from the government was the vaccination of cows, while also pointing out that with adequate funding, the nation could become a major hub for milk exports and other value chains in the livestock industry.

The MACBAN chairman explained that though Nigeria has the largest population of livestock compared with neighboring countries, the country produces less milk due to neglect of the sector, stressing that livestock will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with the government’s support.

He also commented on the need for the government to adopt a model of ranching that is suitable to the peculiarities of the pastoralists to enable its successful implementation, such as transforming the grazing reserves into community ranching.

Ngelzarma explained that such a model would involve the fencing of the entire ranch, the provision of accommodation, and the training of the pastoralists to propagate pasture within and create a sense of ownership in them.

“It will also enhance revenue generation from pastoralists, livestock registration, and other value chain benefits. The ranching concept that was introduced under the Livestock Transformation Plan is not one that will solve the problem.”.

“These pastoralists are doing cattle business as a business and as a way of life, and most of them are smallholder farmers who have not more than 20 or 30 cows in their herds; this is their only source of livelihood,” he said.
https://farmersmanual.com/miyetti-allah-calls-for-adequate-funding-of-dairy-industry/

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has distributed stainless steel grater machines for processing purposes to groups of farmers in four local government areas of Oyo State in order to reduce malnutrition and improve food security in the country.

The Senior Project Manager for GAIN, Godwin Ehiabhi, disclosed this at the official flag-off and distribution of processing equipment for youth and women project participant groups in Oyo State at the Ministry of Agriculture Warehouse in Awe, Oyo town.

Ehiabhi stated that the project is meant to intensify the campaign on bio-fortification crops and strengthen Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNIPS) such as Vitamin A Cassava and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP), among others.

He listed the beneficiary states to include Oyo, Kaduna, Benue, and Nasarawa states, while explaining that the exercise will enable people to have access to nutritious food and that when people have access to nutritious food, it means they will also consume it, leading to a reduction in malnutrition and more money for the beneficiaries.

“The project has been here since 2021, and we hope to continue for the next two years. We have worked with over 1,500 farmers that have been trained, and we are working with vitamin A maize value chains, orange flex sweet potato value chains, vitamin A cassava value chains, and rice value chains”.

Faden Lachang, project manager of the biofortification under the Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples project implemented by GAIN, said on his own that they are out to provide a healthy diet, and the prospect is there for farmers to expand production and consumption of biofortified crops.

According to him, they worked with two implementing partners, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Diamond Development Initiatives, on capacity building and training in training farmers on community vines and stance multiplication.
https://farmersmanual.com/gain-distributes-processing-equipment-to-improve-food-security-in-oyo/

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has decried the irregularities associated with the database of farmers benefiting from agricultural intervention programs of the federal government, describing it as being corrupt and politicized.

Kyari made this known when he appeared before a joint committee of the National Assembly on Agriculture to defend the budget of his ministry for the 2024 fiscal year, stating that the ministry can never get it right without clean data for farmers.

The minister disclosed that the existing farmers’ database consisted of names of politicians who are not real farmers, adding that the agricultural sector will continue to face challenges unless the farmers’ database is reviewed and equipped with the right people to benefit from the intervention programs.

“I would like to say here that we need to work together with the state and also with honorable members of the National Assembly and the state assemblies to make sure and come up with clean data for farmers.

“It will take a while, but let us start from somewhere. Without doing that, we will never get our input from the right person at the right time, and this is what we have been trying to do,” he said.

The Chairman of the Joint National Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, assured that the joint committee will treat the budget of the agricultural sector with the utmost commitment to safeguard the sector and achieve food security.

The committee chairman commended President Bola Tinubu for identifying agricultural development as one of the parameters of the 2024 budget while promising their readiness to collaborate with various MDAs to ensure the development of agricultural businesses in the country.
https://farmersmanual.com/agric-minister-laments-irregularities-associated-with-farmers-database/

In line with the Federal Government’s move to guarantee food sufficiency in the country, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced partnership arrangements with large-scale farm holdings in the region to boost food security and agro-allied productivity in the country.

The Director of Agriculture and Fisheries for NDDC, Mrs. Winifred Madume, while on a working visit to some notable farm holdings in Delta, pointed out that the food security agenda was an initiative of the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

NDDC was established to facilitate rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta by ensuring sound and efficient management of the resources of the region and tackling ecological and environmental problems that arise from the exploration of oil resources in the Niger Delta region.

Madume noted that the essence of the visit was to assess the farms’ infrastructural facilities and their readiness to key into the initiative of the commission in agricultural intervention, aiming at educating the teeming youth of the region on the business aspects of agriculture, which by implication would make it more attractive to them.

“The Commission’s working tour is to explore areas of collaboration, focusing mainly on how to absorb agro-allied trainees. NDDC is interacting with the identified farm holdings in the region on their challenges, areas of need, and why the nation is still unable to feed its people.

The team leader disclosed that at the end of the tour, the commission will collate various field reports and make presentations to the Group Managing Director for action, adding that the exercise is currently ongoing simultaneously in other Niger Delta States, including Imo, Abia, Edo, Rivers, and Ondo.

One of the farms visited was Adventium Songhai Delta Nigeria Limited, where the Chief Executive of the farm, Mr. Isaac Oghogho, pledged the readiness of his organization to partner with the interventionist agency.
https://farmersmanual.com/nddc-seeks-partnership-to-boost-food-security-in-niger-delta-region/

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has advocated for the application of digital technology to agricultural practices to increase contribution of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Director General of NITDA, Inuwa Abdullahi, at a policy dialogue on deepening the Partnership for Scale-up of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) for Smallholder Farmers, noted that the use of technology in agriculture can boost productivity by 67 percent.

Abdullahi pointed out that despite the fact that Nigeria is 22 times bigger than the Netherlands in land size, the output of the Netherlands as the second largest producer of agricultural produce is bigger than that of Nigeria, due to the deployment of technology.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, remarked that technology adoption by smallholder farmers is essential to improving productivity, promoting best practices, increasing trade competitiveness, and increasing market access.

Also speaking was the Director, Planning and Policy Coordination of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Kothum Ibrahim, who described ICT as the key to enabling poverty reduction, addressing inequalities, and propelling the country towards food security.

She stated that the ministry, alongside key stakeholders, has developed several agricultural development initiatives to achieve food security, and wealth creation, adding that the ministry alongside key stakeholders has developed several agricultural development initiatives to achieve food security, and wealth creation.

“We are scaling up our efforts further to deploy strategic approaches and tools to meet 21st century agriculture techniques, as conceived in the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), to modernize the agricultural sector in line with the changing global food systems and supply chains,” she stated.
https://farmersmanual.com/nitda-calls-for-agric-digitization-to-enhance-productivity/

The Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT) has called on the Federal Government to allow the association to have representation in decisions and regulations relating to the practice of animal health in the country.

The association made this call in a communiqué issued at the end of its 36th annual conference with the theme : ”Animal Health Practice’’ Panacea to Sustainable Food and Health Security in Nigeria,” held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The communiqué pointed out that the inclusion of NAAHHT representatives where decisions are made in government is very important, as it is not proper that vital decisions relating to the regulation of the profession are made without the involvement of the association’s members.

The association, through the communiqué, appeals to the Federal Government of Nigeria to involve her members as stakeholders in the ministry, agencies, and as members in the board appointments of parastatals under relevant ministries, which will enable members to contribute to the development of the sector.

The association also appealed to both federal and state governments to massively employ animal health technologists into their workforce to ensure successful health inspection of animals and subsequent control of strategies at the production and processing stages to achieve product hygiene.

The communiqué encourages members to see the need for enhancing knowledge sharing and technical collaboration with other stakeholders in the industry so as to overcome the complex challenges facing health and food security in the country.

NAATTH expressed gratitude to the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the support received by members of the association in the state civil service, while congratulating the newly-appointed Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyary, as well as the new Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Balingo Aluku.
https://farmersmanual.com/naahht-seeks-inclusion-of-its-members-in-decision-making-on-animal-health/

The United Kingdom government, under its Propcom+ program, has set aside 95 million pounds to improve climate-smart agricultural practices and increase incomes for four million smallholder farmers by addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges in the food system.

The Propcom+ Country Representative, Dr. Adiya Ode, made this disclosure in Dutse, Jigawa State, during a meeting with civil society organizations and media, stating that the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO)-funded climate and agriculture program will cover several states in the country.

The Propcom+ program was announced by the UK’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, to build on the success of the UK government’s investment in agriculture through the Propcom Mai-karfi program, which ended in March 2022 after supporting over 1.25 million people.

Dr. Adiya explained that the Propcom+ project is set to support sustainable economic growth, improve climate resilience, and increase incomes for smallholder farmers by addressing challenges in the country’s food and land-use systems.

She pointed out that the project will span eight years, adding that the FCDO has approved the release of 55 million pounds for the first three years of the project, subject to review and meeting set targets.

“The program aims to support up to four million people, with 50% of them being women, to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity, income, and climate resilience while reducing emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.”

“It will do this by working through strategic market actors to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers, improve nutrition and food security, enhance climate resilience, pursue lower emissions, and protect and restore nature, while also tackling some of Nigeria’s underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity,” Ode said.
https://farmersmanual.com/uk-approves-95m-for-climate-smart-agriculture-in-nigeria/

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has disclosed its readiness to put measures in place to address the issue of the importation of illegal genetically modified products into the country in order to ensure proper regulation of biotechnology and its products so that they don’t cause harm to human health or the environment.

The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, made this known in Abuja at a media briefing on the agency’s activities and progress, stating his commitment to work hand-in-hand with other partners in providing support and guidance to ensure the importation is aligned with the highest standards of biosafety.

Asagbra noted that in a world driven by innovation and progress, development has become an integral part of the global food supply chain, adding that despite the great potential that modern biotechnology offers, numerous biosafety concerns have been raised, such as safety in the areas of gene flow, toxicity, and social-economic concerns.

According to her, it is the collective responsibility of the agency to ensure that the advancements are harnessed safely and responsibly, explaining that biosafety is not merely a regulatory hurdle but to address global challenges such as food security, crop resilience, etc.

“As we navigate the complex landscape of biotechnology, let us remember that our decisions today shape the future of agriculture, health, and the environment. We’ll not only fulfill our regulatory obligations but also contribute to a sustainable and resilient future.” Asagbra said

She, therefore, warned offenders and those who go against the rules and guidelines that they will not go unpunished, saying, “We will not hesitate to wield the big stick of penalties against any establishment that contravenes the provisions of the law.”
https://farmersmanual.com/nbma-vows-to-tackle-illegal-importation-of-gmo-products/

In its quest to bridge the existing gap in the ratio of extension workers to farmers, the Kano State Government has disclosed its readiness to recruit an additional 1,000 agricultural extension officers to help with the dissemination of agricultural information to farmers across the 44 local government areas of the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), Farouk Kurawa, stated this at an event organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association in Kano while briefing newsmen on the activities of the state government towards food security.

Extension workers offer technical advice on agriculture to farmers through the dissemination of information and the building of capacity for farmers with the use of a variety of communication methods that would help farmers make informed decisions to support their farming and maximize profit.

The aim is to assist farmers in gaining a livelihood, improving the physical and psychological level of rural families, and influencing the behavior of rural people through education and the exchange of information to foster rural community welfare.

Kurawa noted that when the new administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf came on board on May 29, it discovered insufficient workers in various ministries and the need for urgent recruitment of additional health workers, teachers, and agriculture extension officers due to a reduction in their number as a result of deaths and retirements.

“When I assumed office, the number of extension workers was about 1,200, which is still the highest in the country. We are recruiting an additional 1,000 people to make it 2,500.

“The objectives of the recruitment are to bridge the gap and make one extension worker available to 500 farmers. This is the plan; we are on course; we included it in our annual projection; and we are determined to recruit,” he said.
https://farmersmanual.com/kano-set-to-recruit-additional-1000-extension-workers/

The National Agriculture Land Development Authority (NALDA) has entered into a partnership with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho Oyo State, to increase sustainable food production in accordance with the President’s declaration of a state of emergency on agriculture.

The dean of the university’s faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Samuel Babarinde, appreciated NALDA for the opportunity it gave the university through the partnership. The institution is looking forward to the possible enlargement of this fruitful and promising partnership in the future.

Babarinde noted that the result from a 60-acre maize farm under the partnership, which has not yet been harvested, is motivating the university to request more and diversification into the livestock production industry, especially to revamp its 3000 broiler production crumbling facilities on campus.

He explained that in the partnership deal, NALDA supplied all the necessary inputs and equipment, including fertilizer, seeds, agrochemicals, tractors, harrows, boom sprayers, planters, harvesters, and maize shellers, while the university released 60 acres of land for farming and the labor force, using its 400-level internship students.

Also speaking was Professor Tonyi Abegunrin, who introduced a PhD student to conduct research on the project, stating that the farm is large enough to carry out some useful research and adding that if NALDA had not come, they might not have a farm of such size to conduct that kind of research at the university.

“Now, we don’t need to take our students out of the university before they can see the practical views of what we teach in the class, and mechanization encourages specialization,” he said.

Professor Abegunrin went further in appealing with NALDA to assist the university with irrigation facilities, including water collection technology, noting that two industrial boreholes could provide enough water to irrigate the field. This will increase crop and vegetable production in the off-season.
https://farmersmanual.com/nalda-partners-lautech-to-improve-agricultural-production/

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has flagged off dry-season cultivation of wheat as a staple crop for the country in Jigawa to reduce food inflation and importation, promote agricultural self-sufficiency, and stimulate economic growth.

The Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, while speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP) in Hadejia, Jigawa, disclosed that the government had secured a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the project.

Kyari noted that the government is committed to ensuring that the support does get to the real farmers, while disclosing a plan to support between 150,000 and 250,000 farmers with a 50% input subsidy to cultivate between 200,000 and 250,000 hectares and an expected yield of 1,250,000 metric tons of wheat in the 2023–2024 wheat dry season farming.

“The dry season farming is an integral part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project, made possible by a $134 million loan facility advanced to Nigeria by the African Development Bank (AfDB), to expand the capacity of our farmers to engage in the cultivation of key staples like rice, maize, cassava, and wheat across the country.”

The Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi, remarked that the wheat program is in line with the commitment of the state government to sustain progress and builds on previous achievements aimed at accelerating the drive to achieve food security.

“I am also truly delighted by the choice of Jigawa State as the primary focal state for the Wheat Development Program. It is common knowledge that Jigawa State is the heart of wheat production in Nigeria, with the potential to provide up to 200,000 hectares for wheat production.”
https://farmersmanual.com/fg-flags-off-dry-season-farming-for-wheat-in-jigawa/

The Kebbi State Government, in collaboration with WACOT Rice, a subsidiary of Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, has launched bio-fortified rice to produce the quality and nutritious rice needed to combat micronutrient deficiency in the country.

The launch was held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, where WACOT Rice, producers of Big Bull Rice and Patriot, among others, worked with the Kebbi State Government to demonstrate the feasibility of rice fortification in the country, following the successful fortified rice pilot under the Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PRiFN) project.

PRiFN is a partnership project that was done in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health and other key ministries, departments, and agencies.

The Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Umar Abubakar, at the event emphasized the importance of stakeholder partnership to enhance the value of rice production through micronutrient fortification, boost local production and economic development, and promote the consumption of nutritional food.

The Managing Director of WACOT Rice, Neeraj Kumar, on his own affirmed the company’s commitment to producing quality and nutritious rice to meet Nigeria’s needs, adding that the company, which has made tremendous contributions to Kebbi State under its corporate social responsibility projects, would continue to boost Nigeria’s food security.

“The successful pilot of the rice fortification project is a significant stride towards a healthier, stronger Nigeria. We are immensely proud to have played a central role in this initiative to bring fortified rice to Nigerians.” He stated

Also speaking was the Country Director, World Food Program (WFP), David Stevenson, who noted that Nigeria loses an estimated $1.5b of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) yearly to micronutrient deficiencies, adding that with the successful launch, fortified rice will become a potent tool in Nigeria’s fight against malnutrition.
https://farmersmanual.com/kebbi-partners-wacot-to-combat-malnutrition-with-bio-fortified-rice/

The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has hinted to consumers about the possibility of an increase in the price of rice as we approach the Yuletide period, stating that the rice in circulation won’t be enough and that the scarcity would make the produce expensive.

The chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the association, Raphael Hunsa, disclosed this while addressing journalists, lamenting that given the current circumstances, the sector and farmers needed urgent attention in order to ensure sufficiency in rice production.

Hunsa, while appealing to the government to amplify its support for rice farmers and cultivation in the country, explained that rice production is being impacted by a number of factors, such as a shortage of labor, outdated machinery, insufficient state and federal government support, and insecurity.

The RIFAN chairman went further to solicit investments in cutting-edge mechanized equipment so as to facilitate a boost in the industry, noting that a dearth of such equipment had deterred many farmers from cultivation.

“Without all this modern machinery, we cannot achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. We cannot move forward if we remain in our local practice; we will just be producing for consumption. Rice farmers are not much; we are just educating and encouraging people to come into the value chain so that we can have more paddy and milling all year round.

“We want the government to support us by providing all the equipment required for rice cultivation. We need to combine harvesters, tractors, planters, and other modern machinery that can move us forward and improve our rice production level.

He pointed out that what the country lacks is full commitment and investment in rice cultivation on the part of the government, and that countries we are importing rice from, such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and India, support their rice farmers with improved seedlings and modern equipment.
https://farmersmanual.com/rifan-raises-alarm-over-impending-rice-price-hike-during-yuletide/

The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to invest in science, technology, and innovation (STI), which includes genetic modification and genome editing, to produce more food for the populace.

The President of the association, Arc Kabir Ibrahim, at the Annual Agricultural Show organized by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), held in Nasarawa State, urged the government to encourage the spread of technology to enable smallholder farmers to scale their productivity.

In addition to the promotion of STI, Ibrahim highlighted other immediate actions needed to scale up food production, including the stemming of insecurity that impedes seamless access to farms, the provision of direct subsidies on seeds and all inputs by all tiers of government, the provision of mechanization, and the enablement of all-year-round production through irrigation.

“The expansion of the adoption of STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation), including embracing biotechnology leading to GM and genome editing, ensuring industrial harmony among all stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture space, unleashing processing, as well as providing ready-produce markets or commodity exchanges,”

He harped on the need for direct subsidies on fertilizers by patronizing the nearly 70 blending companies created through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) so as to resuscitate the PFI and make fertilizers available and affordable for smallholder farmers.

According to him, the government must resuscitate the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) by appointing seasoned and educated farmers as board chairs of the National Agricultural Seed Council, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, and the National Agriculture Development Fund.

The AFAN President suggested the need for a very strong synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to ensure all-round agricultural production using our irrigable land efficiently by exploiting our dams and even groundwater.
https://farmersmanual.com/afan-calls-on-fg-to-improve-food-production-through-gm-technology/

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has reinstated its commitment to improve climate resilience and the production of nutritious staple foods to tackle malnutrition through the implementation of its “Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples Project (SNIPS).”

This was disclosed at the Agriculture Innovation Clinic (AIC) program of the organization in Kaduna State, where GAIN’s Senior Project Manager of Supply Chain for Commercialization, Godwin Ehiabhi, noted that SNIPS was meant to give a nutrition lens to what the Green Innovation Centre is doing in Nigeria.

SNIPS was launched in 2021 as a five-year project implemented across four states by GAIN in partnership with GIZ and the Green Innovation Centre (GIC), with support from the German Government. The benefiting states include Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, and Oyo.

Ehiabhi explained that the project will enable farmers to grow more bio-fortified crops and enhance farmers and small-scale businesses capacity to produce more nutritious and safe foods that are accessible, affordable, and desirable in a sustainable manner.

“We are focused on four staples; this time our focus is on nutrient-enriched varieties of these staples. What that means is that we would be talking about vitamin A-enriched maize, cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and the rice value chain,” Mr. Ehiabhi said.

Also speaking was GAIN’s project manager, Business Support, Mercy Olorunfemi, who noted that it is important to work with the private sector for the organization to fulfill its mandate of eradicating malnutrition, supporting access to healthier diets, and transforming the holistic food system.

According to her, they are providing training and support around food safety to the private sector and businesses in order to help in building their capacities, provide them with access to finance, and support them in building healthier and safer foods.
https://farmersmanual.com/gain-pledges-to-improve-production-of-bio-fortified-food-to-fight-malnutrition/

The Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) decried the attitude of farmers who had failed to embrace the use of improved varieties, leading to low productivity as a result of pests and diseases that destroyed plants and animals.

The Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Ado Adamu Yusuf, made this known while speaking during a demonstration of samples of new varieties of maize seeds tagged “Seeing is believing farming field day”, at a farm in Karaye local government area of Kano State.

Prof. Yusuf disclosed that the institute has a mandate for genetic improvement of several crops by producing high-yield varieties that are resistant to diseases and tolerant to drought to ensure an increase in food production and food sufficiency.

“ARI has developed 69 varieties of maize. With more than 50 varieties of sorghum, we have released 21 varieties of cowpea, about 29 varieties of groundnut, 17 varieties of cotton, and four varieties of sunflower. So the institute has been doing a lot.”

“Unfortunately, as you move around the farmers’ field, you will realize that they continue to use the same variety, and you will discover that they continue to use the same variety that they have been using over the years. And they are not getting the best out of the variety”.

The Principal Investigator, Tela Maize Prof. Rabi’u Adamu, noted on his own that Nigeria needs an additional 5 million metric tons, to bridge the gap in maize production demand in the country, stating that current maize production stands at 15 million MT while Nigeria needs 20 million MT.

According to him, the shortage in maize production demand was a result of the invasion of pests, especially Fall Army Worm, that destroyed the crops, which calls for the need for IAR to develop improved maize varieties that are resistant to the disease in order to bridge the gap in production.
https://farmersmanual.com/ari-laments-resistance-of-farmers-to-adoption-of-improved-varieties/

A delegation of six governors from the Northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria sought the support and cooperation of the African Development Bank (AfDB) towards making the zone an industrial agriculture hub by unlocking the huge agricultural potential of the various states in the region.

The governors, including Lawal Dauda of Zamfara, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dikko Radda of Katsina, and Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, had already arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where they held a high-level engagement with Akinwunmi Adesina, president of the AfDB, in a bid to actualize their target objectives.

Adesina emphasized that the bank remains resolute and committed to supporting the Nigerian government in fostering sustainable growth and addressing the challenges faced by the Northwest region through mitigation of the impacts of the high food and energy prices prevailing in the country.

“By providing the Northwest—whose development is critical for Nigeria—with affordable renewable energy that will power our planned special agro-industrial processing zones, we would have gone a long way in taming inflation in Nigeria.”

“The African Development Bank Group remains resolute and committed to supporting the Nigerian government to mitigate the impacts of the high food and energy prices prevailing in the country,” Adesina said.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina disclosed that the Northwest governors decided to adopt a coordinated approach with the bank to implement agriculture and power projects that will drive the zone’s development and improve livelihoods.

On his part, Governor Nasiru Idris of Kebbi State highlighted the critical role of agriculture in the zone’s economy, stressing the need for strategic partnerships and commitment to initiatives like the Desert-to-Power program.
https://farmersmanual.com/north-west-govs-solicits-for-afdb-support-to-boost-agric-potential/

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called on livestock and crop farmers, operators, importers, and distributors of raw materials for the feed and food industry, as well as other stakeholders, to embrace best practices to protect humans and animals.

This call was made at the Nigeria Poultry Show 2023, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, by the NAFDAC’s Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied and Product (VMAP), Dr. Rametu Momodu, who enlightened the farmers on the use of safe feeds as part of a strategy to safeguard human and animal health.

She commended the organizer of the program for gathering farmers and operators of poultry businesses to learn how to adapt innovation and regulatory measures to advance their processes, adding that the sensitization is necessary as part of the agency’s mandate to bridge the gap between the regulator and the regulated.

The NAFDAC boss pointed out that the mission of the VMAP Directorate is to protect human and animal health by ensuring that only safe and effective veterinary medicine and allied products are available for use in Nigeria.

According to her, part of what they do is to enlighten, educate, and tell stakeholders what the agency does and the reason for doing it, stating that the regulation of animal feedstuffs is done to assure the production of safe feed.

“If they use animal feed products that are not certified by NAFDAC, we are not sure of their efficacy, quality, and effectiveness.

“As you have seen from one of the presentations, if they use the products properly, they are going to get better birds, which are birds that are healthier and good for business. It is good for the farmers and consumers buying the birds to eat.” Momodu said
https://farmersmanual.com/nafdac-sensitizes-farmers-on-best-practices-to-protect-humans-and-animals/

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is collaborating with the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and the Global Environment Fund (GEF) to ensure conservation and restoration of degraded forest ecosystems through the implementation of Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR).

The Country Representative for FAO, Dominique Kouacou, disclosed this while speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the FAO-GEF 7 FOLUR National Inception Workshop with the theme “Promoting Integrated Landscape Management and Sustainable Food Systems in the Niger Delta of Nigeria”.

Kouacou, who was represented by Mrs. Nifesimi Ogunkua, noted that the collaborative effort underscores FAO’s commitment to advancing the agricultural landscape in Nigeria and contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development.

The FAO representative pointed out that the Niger Delta region is experiencing alarming rates of deforestation, primarily driven by agricultural expansion, especially in cocoa and oil palm cultivation, adding that the project is basically to promote land use and food systems in the region with a focus on Ondo State and Cross River States.

“The implementation of the GEF-7 FOLUR-IP project is anticipated to yield numerous benefits, including 795,200 hectares of landscapes covered by Integrated Land Management plans and 110,000 hectares of land under sustainable practices, with at least a 20% increase in the yield of cocoa and oil palm per hectare by project closure.

“Restoration of 18,800 hectares of degraded forest landscape, sequestration of 15.6 million tons of CO2, and 10,000 people benefiting from income diversification interventions, with a target of at least 50% women.

The National Project Coordinator of FOLUR, Professor Oladapo Akinyemi, explained that the project aimed at focusing on smart agriculture that involves the planting of trees and the use of agro-forestry systems to transform degraded forests in the country.
https://farmersmanual.com/fao-partners-frin-gef-to-restore-degraded-forest-in-niger-delta-region/

The Enugu State government has disclosed its readiness to improve cassava production to boost food security, create jobs, and grow the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) through industrialization and exportation of cassava by-products.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialization in the state, Mr. Patrick Ubru, made this known during an inspection tour of the cassava farmlands in Umulokpa, Uzo Uwani LGA, accompanied by the Chairman of the local government, Mr. Celestine Chukwudi Nnadozie.

The commissioner noted that the state is ready to get every facility to actualize the announcement made early by the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, about the collaboration of the state with the Federal Ministry of Finance, together with Bio-source Technology Limited, a private sector firm, to establish bioethanol plants in the state.

He explained that cassava has about 34 products and over 200 by-products that could be used by different industries, especially pharmaceuticals. He assured that the government had concluded plans to boost cassava to bioethanol value chain development in the state.

“I am happy with what I have seen here today. I thank the people of Uzo Uwani for joining the state in Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to implement cassava-to-bioethanol value chain development in the state.

According to Ubru, three local governments representing each of the three senatorial districts of the state were selected for the pilot scheme of the project, adding that the other two local governments include Nkanu East and Aninri, while promising that it would be extended to the others.

The Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government on his own pointed out that 200 hectares had already been cultivated in communities such as Umulokpa, Ukpata, and Uvuru, while Nimbo and Abbi were willing to assist in meeting the 500 hectare target.
https://farmersmanual.com/enugu-to-establish-bioethanol-plants-increases-cassava-production/

In order to reduce post-harvest losses and curb the effects of fish mongers, the Lagos State government, through the Agro-Productivity, Processing, Enhancement, and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) project, a World Bank-funded project, has supported catfish farmers in the state with blast freezers.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, while speaking at the commissioning of the blast freezer center presented to fish farmers under the aegis of the Lagos State Catfish and Allied Association of Nigeria (LASCAFAN), noted that the project was to promote value addition.

Olusanya pointed out that introducing frozen catfish would address post-harvest losses recorded annually in the catfish subsector as well as deliver fish farmers from the crush of fish mongers, who determine price without recourse to cost of production.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Fisheries, Daisi Osunkoya, said that fish, as a major source of protein, is low in cholesterol, making it medically acceptable to young and old people. He added that the flexibility of fish farming encouraged the involvement of both older and younger people in fish farming as a means of livelihood.

The Lagos State Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Omolara Oguntuyi, advised the farmers to continue the good work they are doing and to ensure that they guide what they are doing jealously.

“It is good you are doing what you are doing, and please follow what you have started. Don’t let it be that in a twinkle of an eye it is dead. Make sure you guide it jealously and hand it over to your children. She said.

The chairman of blast freezer management and a former national president of the Catfish Association of Nigeria, Tayo Akingbolagun, disclosed on his own that the project will not only save farmers from middlemen but also keep farmers in production and enable them to sell fish at an affordable price, and more people will come into the business.
https://farmersmanual.com/lagos-appeals-empowers-catfish-farmers-with-blast-freezer/

A single-digit interest loan facility of N1 billion has been provided by the Oyo State Agricultural Credit Corporation (OSACC) to ensure more access at reasonable interest rates for farmers to expand their farming businesses and attract potential investors into the value chain.

The Executive Chairman, OSACC, Alh. Taofeek Akeugbagold, while speaking during a media briefing at the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation Film Theatre in Ibadan, disclosed that the loan facility will ensure food security and cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidies.

Akeugbagold noted that the state government engaged the service of microfinance banks to disburse and recoup the loan across the thirty-three (33) local government areas of the state to help smallholder farmers, who account for about 90% of the farmers’ population and are responsible for about 95% of the aggregate food and fiber production in the state.

The chairman pointed out that the loan process, which is apolitical, will be disbursed to farmers who are duly registered with the state Ministry of Agriculture to bring more stability to the sector and provide an enabling environment for the development of Oyo State farms and agricultural businesses.

The General Manager of Agric Credit Corporation, Mr. Emmanuel Ogundiran, remarked that the state government has recapitalized the corporation and that the government has released some funds to fulfill one of the mandates of the corporation in financing the agric value chain completely.

“The mode of giving out the loan is going to be exactly as enshrined in the loan conditions of the corporation. We have set rules for giving out loans, and for this program, we are making use of microfinance banks, which are governed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, regulations, and also regulated by the bank and financial institutions bodies’’.
https://farmersmanual.com/oyo-empowers-farmers-with-n1bn-loan-facility/