In its quest to improve adoption of agriculture technology in rural communities in Nigeria and Africa, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) has developed different extension models to ensure the scaling up of agriculture technology transfer in different communities in Nigeria and other African countries.

The Director, Strategic Partnership at Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Dr. Mel Oluoch, made this known at the Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW), themed ‘Harnessing Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa’.

According to Oluoch, SAA partners with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to scale technologies that have been developed by research institutes to ensure they reach every single farmer, adding that they leave extension agents behind whenever the association wants to leave an area to encourage sustainability.

“Our model is very simple; we have several strategic pillars on which we work: the first is regenerative agriculture, where we focus on crop productivity enhancement; the second is nutrition-sensitivity agriculture, where we promote nutrition-focused agriculture interventions, including post-harvest.

“The third is market-oriented agriculture, where we work with farmers to grow crops for sale and not only for home consumption; the fourth is capacity building, where we partner with nine universities in Nigeria and thirty-one universities in total around Africa to train agricultural extension agents to help scale up these technologies.

He explained that SAA works together with the farmers to figure out what their needs are and what their challenges are and try to remove all the constraints causing these challenges, and that this has enabled the association to put many technologies that are need-based in the hands of farmers by supporting the universities to train them at the grassroots in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
https://farmersmanual.com/saa-engages-extension-agents-to-scale-up-agric-technology-in-africa/

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has decried the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, insecurity, emerging zoonotic diseases, and other challenges as threats to food security.

Abdullahi disclosed this in a communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Dr. Sati Ngulukun, which was issued at the end of the 59th Annual Congress of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), held in Lagos State.

According to the communiqué, the minister who chaired the ceremony advocated for collaboration among stakeholders in the livestock sub-sector to combat the challenges affecting food security in Nigeria in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwu-Olu, as the Chief Host, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ruth Olusanya, called for the use of social media as a tool to create awareness of the activities of NVMA while asking for the association to partner with the Lagos Government since the state is the highest consumer of livestock in Nigeria.

The keynote speaker was Prince S. J. Samuel, Chairman of Origin Tech Group, who encouraged veterinarians to consider human health, climate change, and modernization to enhance public health and improve their practice.

The outgoing president of NVMA, Dr. Olutoyin Adetuberu, encouraged members to leverage emerging opportunities to tackle new challenges, ensure food safety, and sustain a bond between humans and animals.

The Congress elected new NVMA National Executives, which include Dr. Moses Bolarin Arokoyo as President, Dr. Dauda Garba Bwala as Vice President, Dr. Samson Agbese Attah as Secretary General, and Dr. Gloria Daminabo as Assistant Secretary.

Others include Dr. Lydia Lucas Chagwa as Financial Secretary, Dr. Madaki Baba Nuhu as Treasurer, Dr. Simiat Titilola Adeogun as Publicity Secretary, and Dr. Olutoyin Catherine Adetuberu as ex-officio.
https://farmersmanual.com/agric-minister-decries-factors-threatening-food-security-in-nigeria/

The Principal Investigator of the TELA maize project, Professor Rabiu Adamu, has disclosed that the highly anticipated Fall Armyworm-resistant Tela Maize variety will be made available to Nigerian farmers for planting by June next year.

Professor Adamu made this known while speaking in Nairobi, Kenya, at the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) and noted that the new maize variety has a 20 percent yield increase compared to the conventional variety.

He said maize will be released as hybrids and will be marketed by licensed seed companies to assist in the seed multiplication of this new maize variety in order to ensure there is no shortage of the seed.

According to him, tremendous progress has been made and that what remains is to fulfill the regulatory requirements, adding that by the end of December this year, possibly mid-January, a dossier would be submitted to the National Varietal Release Committee for evaluation and release of the transgenic maize hybrid for the first time in Nigeria.

“So, we are proposing to release at least two new high-yielding fall armyworm stem borer-tolerant maize hybrids for Nigeria, which is a great development because we don’t have any resistant varieties in the country.

“This maize variety has proven to be resistant to pests, and there will be some yield increases if you cultivate it compared to the non-resistant hybrids. That is the promise we are making. So in the next two months, there will be some great news for Nigerian farmers; hopefully, the farmers will have access to those seeds in May or June 2024.

He explained that the Tela hybrid yield is 6.5 to 7 tons per hectare instead of 3.5 to 4 tons per hectare, adding that the variety will also reduce the use of pesticides on maize, contributing to a healthy environment and savings for the farmer.
https://farmersmanual.com/prof-adamu-hints-on-availability-of-tela-maize-variety-by-june-2024/

In its move to address the challenges posed by climate change in food production, the Jigawa State government is set to introduce a drip irrigation system as part of its efforts to increase crop output and reduce the cost of production.

In Dutse, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba, disclosed that the new drip irrigation system is more cost-effective and efficient compared to the prevalent flood irrigation system currently practiced in the state and other regions.

Drip irrigation remains one of the most innovative forms of irrigation; it delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone across the field in pipes called dripelines, featuring small units known as drippers that emit drops containing water and fertilizer, resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients.

Garba noted that adopting drip irrigation extends beyond water efficiency and includes addressing the productivity gaps resulting from constant flooding and drought-related climate change issues in the state.

According to him, the new irrigation system is capable of increasing crop output by up to 60% per acre, adding that it will also enable farmers to reduce the use of fertilizers and water in their irrigation farmlands while increasing production output.

The commissioner said that the state is working on transitioning from traditional irrigation methods to drip irrigation through the introduction of the system in each Emirate center and establishing demonstration farms to allow irrigation farming communities to learn and potentially adopt the new system.

He made it known that the state government is fully committed to adopting this innovative method to meet 100% of the irrigation demand in the state, while assuring farmers that they would greatly benefit from the innovation.
https://farmersmanual.com/jigawa-introduces-drip-irrigation-to-tackle-climate-change/

Dangote Sugar Refinery has disclosed its readiness to increase its spending on out-grower farmers in Adamawa State from N500 million to N1 billion for the next farming season in order to further empower farmers and boost economic activities.

The Group General Manager of the firm, Bello Dan-Musa, at the sugar factory pointed out that the move to expand the Out Growers Farmers Scheme was to accommodate more people that have an interest in the opportunity provided by the organization.

Dan-Musa noted that the Out Growers Scheme was introduced as part of the company’s policy to encourage host community members to practice good agricultural practices as well as to assist them in becoming financially independent.

He said the scheme has put smiles on the faces of many families within and outside the state, adding that youths in the five local councils that comprise the host community have taken advantage of the scheme to improve their lives.

According to him, the firm helped beneficiaries prepare the land, plant sugarcane, and provide fertilizer and other chemicals needed by the out-grower farmers, stating that the work of the farmer is to pump water, which was also provided to their farms by the company.

The group manager went further to add that after the company does the harvest, the management calculates the cost of the chemicals spent, deducts it from the total cost of the harvest for each out-grower, and pays them the balance.

The secretary of the Out Growers Farmers Association, Mr. Peter Guza, commended the firm for the scheme, saying his life has changed from abject poverty to a comfortable villager that can handle and control his financial needs, disclosing that he gets between N1.4m and N1.7m every year without paying for house rent or buying food for his family.
https://farmersmanual.com/dangote-empowers-outgrower-farmers-in-adamawa-with-n1b/

The Federal Government has disclosed the resolution of John Deere, a popular American tractor manufacturing firm, to establish a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria to improve agricultural production and food security.

This was made known during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and top officials of John Deere, led by its Vice President on Production Systems, Jason Brantley, and facilitated by the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. John Coumantaros.

Deere & Company, also known as John Deere, is an American company that manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains used in heavy equipment, lawn care equipment, and agricultural mechanization.

Speaking during the interaction with the investors, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria is committed to transforming agriculture as a pathway to tackling insecurity and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

“Without mechanization, you can never be truly self-sufficient in food production. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to revitalizing the Nigerian agricultural sector. And for us to be self-sufficient in food production, three key elements are essential. First are certified seeds, then mechanization, the provision of fertilizer, and, of course, agricultural extension services,” he noted.

The Vice President also spoke on the platform provided by the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) and how investors can leverage it to add value to Nigeria’s agricultural produce for domestic, regional, and global communities.

Mr. Brantley, on his own, noted that the plan to set up a tractor assembly plant would not necessitate any government investment. He also narrated that the project will unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential by creating an organized approach to tractor-clearing services for smallholder farmers across the country.

He expressed the company’s readiness to immediately engage relevant authorities in Nigeria to actualize the objective of establishing the assembly plant, while calling for credit guarantees to facilitate access to affordable credit for individuals or groups interested in this endeavor.
https://farmersmanual.com/john-deere-to-establish-tractor-assembly-plant-in-nigeria/

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in conjunction with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other development partners, organizes an exhibition and an open day to deliberate on upscaling innovations and technologies for food system transformation.

CGIAR country convener, Aline Mugisho, while speaking at the event themed “Scaling Innovations and Technologies for Food System Transformation,”, noted that the purpose of the program is to ensure communication of different research and policies that have been developed to accelerate sustainable development goal number two: zero hunger.

CGIAR is a global research partnership that unites international organizations engaging in food security research and aims to reduce rural poverty, increase food security, improve human health and nutrition, and ensure sustainable management of natural resources.

Stakeholders Converge in Tanzania for Africa Food Systems Forum
Mugisho pointed out that the CGIAR’s primary role is to produce agricultural innovations and technologies for land, water, and food systems transformation to combat changing weather patterns in the country.

She noted that most of the exhibitors at the event are farmers and that one of the organization’s goals as a research institute is to change the face (wrong perception) of who a farmer is and what farming is about.

NABDA to Release Genome Editing Technology for Agriculture Development
“This is one thing we are trying to change—the face of the farmers. For a very long time, when they see a farmer, the image has been surrounding a very old, not so good-looking person. But farming is a business,” Mrs. Mugisho said.

The head of the FAO Northeast Sub-office, Al-Hassan Cisse, while speaking, emphasized the need for farmers to understand why food system transformation is important because of the many challenges facing agriculture
https://farmersmanual.com/cgiar-iita-fao-others-make-case-for-spread-of-agricultural-innovation/

In its move to cushion the effect of the high cost of animal feed production, occasioned by the high cost of maize and soy beans, the federal government is partnering with state governments and farmers nationwide to encourage the cultivation of more cassava as a substitute to minimize the economic impact of the surge in feed prices.

Director General/Chief Executive, Feed Nigeria Summit Secretariat, Richard-Mark Mbaram, made this disclosure during a capacity-building workshop of African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) held in Abuja.

Mbaram noted that the use of cassava as a feed ingredient for ruminants and non-ruminants will provide an alternative to maize and soy beans, which constitute between 60 and 75 percent of the total cost of production, reduce the high cost of feed, increase livestock production, and create job opportunities.

NCGA Stresses Need for Cassava Development Commission
He made it known that thousands of hectares are to be acquired nationwide to grow cassava as a strategic crop, adding that the Cross-River government has already donated 100 hectares to support the government to grow cassava, stating that more states have bought into the project and are allocating land.

According to him, steps have been taken to evaluate the successful use of cassava-based feed resources, and the Federal Government is implementing an initiative targeting the reduction of rural poverty among farmers by creating agro-related livelihood activities linked to the cassava value chain.

How to Make Money From Processing Cassava to Garri
He pointed out that the government plans to leverage the support of the InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources’s (AU-IBAR) Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project in the drive to explore the multi-purpose use of cassava as feed to improve the income of women involved in the value chain and generate more employment.
https://farmersmanual.com/fg-to-partner-states-over-usage-of-cassava-to-reduce-feed-cost/

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has disclosed its readiness to prioritize agriculture as one of the pillars of the development agenda of the commission, stating that it is the surest way to restore and sustain the livelihoods of the people of the zone.

The Chairman, Security, Special Interventions, and Climate Change Committee of the NEDC Governing Board, Sir Sam Onuigbo, disclosed this while delivering his goodwill message at the Continental Hotel in Abuja during the Conference on Accelerating Agricultural Adaption in Africa.

NEDC was established in 2017 to coordinate all intervention programs and initiatives directed towards the rehabilitation, integration, and resettlement of victims of terrorism, as well as tackle the menace of poverty, illiteracy, and ecological challenges in the North-Eastern states.

The NEDC board chairman noted that the North East geopolitical zone is very rich in agriculture due to the availability of fertile arable land that occupies one-third of the country’s land mass, while lamenting the impacts of climate change in the region, which include drought, desertification, drying up of Lake Chad, loss of livelihoods, and forced migration that fuels insecurity and insurgency.

Onuigbo, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023, noted that as the sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Act and an advocate for climate change awareness, he can’t overemphasize the relationship impact of climate change in agriculture.

He explained that agriculture and food security can no longer be seen in isolation from climate action since the agricultural sector is not only responsible for almost one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions but also a victim and a contributor to climate change.

“Therefore, today, I stand before you to address a matter of utmost importance: the future of African agriculture and the pressing climate crises. As the organizers of this first-of-its-kind conference have highlighted, agriculture is not merely an economic sector; it’s a lifeline for millions of people, particularly women, who are the backbone of African agriculture.”
https://farmersmanual.com/nedc-vows-to-prioritize-agriculture-in-transforming-north-east/

In a bid to strengthen food security in the country, the Federal Government has revealed that it is working with partners to boost food production through agro-industrialization and technological innovations.

This was revealed by the Vice President of the federation, Kashim Shettima, in his remarks at the World Food Prize hosted in the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.

The Vice President said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up policies and programs to boost production and improve the availability of food for Nigerians.

According to Shettima, “Nigeria, under the able leadership of my boss and friend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified the Agrifood sector as the key to unlocking economic growth and development.

“Our main focus is on enhancing the capacity of our farmers to ramp up primary production while harnessing and deploying the economic power of agro-industrialization.”

The Vice President said that the government, in partnership with its international partners including foreign governments, institutions, and foundations, is working to reduce the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war as well as the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“We have, therefore, proceeded to undertake short, medium, and long-term measures to address the problem of spiking food prices – brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and accentuated by the Russia-Ukraine war and only recently: the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

“Accordingly, the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (NAGS); the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program are all interventions that the government is working with its partners to leverage for immediate, medium, and long-term value,” he said.

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) has called on the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC) to establish an African Cashew Development Fund, which will help in developing a system for processing Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) within the continent instead of shipping them to Vietnam and India.

President of ACA, Otunba Tola Faseru, who made the call during the 17th African Cashew Alliance (ACA) conference held in Dakar, Senegal, noted that the creation of the fund would enable banks such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Afrexim Bank to provide funding for cashew development.

ACA was established in 2006 to provide a great and unparalleled platform with an interest in promoting a globally competitive African cashew industry that facilitates trade and profitability for all actors in the industry through different programs and activities.

Agric. Minister Laments Low Rate of Cashew Processing
Faseru pointed out that this year’s conference, with the theme ‘Sustaining the African Cashew Industry: Assessing the Journey so Far and Looking Forward’, would help in reflecting on the sustainability agenda’s progress, identifying the challenges faced, and re-strategizing for the future of the industry.

He reiterated the commitment of ACA to sensitize all African countries on the need to tap into cashew production while explaining that the development fund would transform the African cashew processing capacity to build a sustainable economy, which is driven by women and youth.

Stakeholders Converge in Tanzania for Africa Food Systems Forum
“ACA is positioned to empower women and youths to increase cashew yields across Africa. The ACA yearly conference is not just a mere gathering of major players in the cashew value chain, but a coming together of cashew industry stakeholders in the private sector (business owners, producers, processors, exporters, and the public sector) to re-strategize and strengthen alliances for the progress and productivity of the cashew industry globally.
https://farmersmanual.com/aca-calls-for-creation-of-cashew-development-fund-in-africa/

Avocado is highly nutritional, contains vitamins and minerals, and is widely used in a variety of dishes and culinary applications around the world. Its acceptability around the world made it one of the most profitable and lucrative farming businesses in Nigeria, with high demand from local and international markets.

Farmers venture into avocado farming in order to diversify their crops and increase their income. Avocado trees are one of the best fruits that produce high-quality fruit with high market value. It is scientifically known as Perisea americana, which belongs to the laurel family of evergreen trees.

Its fruit is known to have an oval shape with a very greenish color when unripe and a dark color when ripened for consumption. The fruit is made up of a fleshy edible interior and a large seed at its center, packed with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, making it a favorite among health-conscious consumers.

STEPS ON HOW TO START AVOCADO FARMING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA

Avocado farming is a profitable business venture that involves growing and cultivating the avocado fruit. Some of the steps on how to start an avocado farming business are:

Land preparation.

Avocado cultivation technique.

Irrigation in avocado farming

Application of manure.

Pruning

Controlling pests and diseases

Harvest and yield

marketing

HEALTH BENEFITS OF AVOCADO FRUITS

It helps promote heart health.

It helps to boost brain function and prevent cognitive decline.

It helps with weight loss and weight management.

It helps improve digestion and prevent constipation.

It enhances skin health.

It supports liver function and also prevents liver damage.

It helps improve bone health and prevent

It boosts immune function and also prevents

Making Fortune From Maize Farming
Avocado contains compounds that can reduce stress and anxiety.

It helps improve fertility in both men and women.

STEPS FOR PROCESSING AND PACKAGING AVOCADO FRUITS IN NIGERIA

Processing and packaging are essential steps in the avocado farming business in Nigeria. Some of the steps on how to process and package avocado fruits are:

Storing and washing

Drying

Peeling

Pitting

Slicing

Preservation

Packaging

Labeling

Storage

REASON FOR GOING INTO AVOCADO FARMING

It requires low care and management.

The start-up cost is less than in other cash crop farming.

You can generate a huge income from avocado farming.

It can be grown in pots and containers in your backyard or indoors.

PROFITABILITY OF AVOCADO FARMING

Investment in avocado farming has a high potential for profitability and a continuous return for a long time since the trees can bear fruits for over 30 years, while its profitability is enhanced by an increase in demand for avocado products such as avocado oil, butter, and paste. Additionally, its acceptability is further encouraged by the increasing global demand, as it is highly sought after in developed countries for its health benefits and versatile uses in the food industry.

How to Start a Successful Sheep Farming Business
Avocado, as a seasonal crop that grows in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, has its peak production season in Nigeria between April and August, while the peak demand season is between October and December. Meanwhile, during the peak season, there is usually an oversupply of avocados in the market, leading to a drop in prices, whereas prices tend to increase due to limited supply during the peak demand season.

Therefore, it is advisable to plan production and sales strategies around peak seasons to maximize profit. Avocados can also be stored for future sales when prices are high. However, farmers need to take caution when storing avocados to prevent spoilage and ensure the quality of the fruit, because proper storage and transportation practices are crucial to the success of avocado farming businesses.
https://farmersmanual.com/reaping-financial-benefit-from-avocado-farming-business-in-nigeria/

The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has called for the application of science and technology in agricultural production to ensure food security, the provision of employment, and sustainable development of the sector.

The Director of Agriculture Biotechnology at NABDA, Dr. Rose Gidado, made this call while speaking with journalists and noted that technology is something that is based on science, and science is evidence-based, adding that the future of Nigerian agriculture with technology will be great.

NABDA is one of the organizations in Nigeria that is aimed at conducting, promoting, coordinating, and deploying cutting-edge biotechnology research and development activities in Nigeria.

NAQS Tutors Ogun Farmers on Profitable Farming Through Technology
Speaking further, she highlighted that technology holds a very great promise because it evolves and new and emerging tools come up every time to make things easy to create, to get more productivity, and to address all the challenges.

She also lamented that the slow rush of technology adoption in Nigeria’s agriculture is caused by ignorance, misunderstanding, and distortion of scientific facts because of a lack of trust and understanding of science.

“Some due to lack of understanding, some due to trade issues, are seeing this technology as a threat; some who are traditionalists are still in the era of using hoes and cutlasses; meanwhile, the world has moved forward, using mechanization and technology to take agriculture to an enviable position, making it a business.

NABDA to Release Genome Editing Technology for Agriculture Development
“But here in Africa, the adoption rate has been low because policymakers are inundated with contradictory information on the technology. Some people see the technology as a threat to their businesses because the technology reduces the cost of production,” she added.

She then assured that the government and scientists will also measure up in terms of bringing understanding, sharing knowledge, experiences, information, and dissemination, which will help to douse the noise of anti-technology.
https://farmersmanual.com/nabda-calls-for-adoption-of-technology-for-agricultural-development/

In its bid to tackle animal diseases in the country, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has inaugurated a newly built animal health care center at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, while handing over the center to the college management on the day of the inauguration, noted that the center was constructed to improve the capacity of the college to effectively provide quality animal healthcare services.

Umakhihe, who was represented at the occasion by the Oyo State coordinator of the ministry, explained that the center will also provide a level playing field for graduates of the college to compete effectively in their chosen careers by providing quality care services for animals and preventing infectious diseases like anthrax and lassa fever.

https://farmersmanual.com/fmard-develops-strategy-to-improve-animal-welfare-during-emergencies/

He assured that the ministry will continue to support the college in order to achieve its aims, adding that the handover of the facility to the college was to enhance proper management and utilization and to ensure its sustainability.

According to him, sustainability of the infrastructure facility should be a collective effort by ensuring that proper management procedures are put in place and documented appropriately to ensure an enabling learning and working environment for both the students and staff of the college.

https://farmersmanual.com/fg-launches-nsd-to-control-transboundary-animal-diseases/

Also speaking was the provost of the college, Dr. Adekoya Owosibo, who appreciated the ministry for providing the facility in the college while explaining that the center would assist the college in effective training of the students in areas of animal health and technology.

The provost pointed out that the center will not only help lecturers at the college in the area of research but will also impact the immediate community by mitigating diseases affecting animals and other livestock in the state.
https://farmersmanual.com/fg-inaugurates-newly-constructed-animal-health-care-center-in-fcahpt-2/

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), in collaboration with Arajek Multi Services Ltd., has trained farmers selected from the Southwest States on improved agricultural farming on maize, plantains, and oil palms in Oyo State.

The chairman of Arajek Multi Services Ltd., Mr. Rahman Idris, stressed while speaking at the training the importance of agriculture in addressing food security, employment, contribution to gross domestic product, and wealth creation.

The training held at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT), Moor Plantation, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, had 100 farmers selected from each state of the southwest region.

New Agric. Minister Vows to Improve Food Security, and Exports
Idris called for the need to take agriculture seriously in Nigeria, while stating that there is no way one would not eat in a day unless he or she is fasting, adding that almost 65 to 75 percent of Nigerians are engaged in agricultural activities.

He pointed out that there is a need to make the best use of the good land we have from north to south and from west to east, while advising participants to cooperate with the resource persons in order to achieve the set objectives of the workshop.

NACCIMA, CPPE Express Concern Over Economic instability, Call for Improvement
The Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, who was represented by Mrs. Bello Hadijat Jumoke, while welcoming the participants to the training workshop, urged them to make use of the knowledge acquired during the training so as not to make the time spent attending the program a wasted one.

The training coordinator, Professor Adeboye Omole, gave an overview of the training while encouraging participants to be punctual, attentive, and ask questions on areas that are not clear to them, while also appreciating the facilitator of the project, Honourable Kolapo Osunsanya, for the opportunity.

He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government through NAQS for the timely intervention through the training of youths and women in agricultural activities.
https://farmersmanual.com/naqs-trains-south-west-farmer-on-improved-maize-plantain-and-oil-palm-farming/

The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), in collaboration with Arajek Multi Services Limited, organized training for over 100 farmers in Ogun State on the use of modern technologies for profitable agricultural practices.

The Comptroller General of NAQS, Dr. Vincent Isegbe, who was represented at the event by the training consultant, Dr. Yemi Popoola, while welcoming participants to the training workshop, urged them to make judicious use of the knowledge acquired during the training.

The training workshop, held at the Skill Acquisition Centre in Oke-Owa, Ijebu-Ode, was organized to put farmers through good agricultural practices of land preparation, planting, weeding, spraying, harvesting, processing, and marketing.

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Mr. Rahman Idris, the Chairman of Arajek Multi Services Ltd., in his welcome speech, appreciates the almighty God for his mercy over the stakeholders of the workshop. He pointed out the importance of agriculture in addressing food security, employment, contribution to gross domestic product, and wealth creation.

He went further to state that almost 65 to 75 percent of Nigerians are engaged in agricultural activities, as he called on the participants to cooperate with the resource persons in order to achieve the set objectives of the workshop, so as not to make the time spent attending the program a wasted one.

NEPC Calls for Application of Technology in Cocoa Value Chain
The training consultant, Dr. Yemi Popoola, on his own, appreciated the efforts of the NAQS in taking agriculture to the next level of achievements in Nigeria, adding that the workshop is one of the interventions of the NAQS to give back to society in the area of agricultural empowerment.

Popoola appreciated the facilitator of the project, Honourable Kolapo Osunsanya, for his efforts in making the training workshop a reality, recalling that agriculture was the major foreign exchange earner in the 1960s in Nigeria before the discovery of petroleum.
https://farmersmanual.com/naqs-tutors-ogun-farmers-on-profitable-farming-through-technology/

The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), under its Value Chain Development (VCDP), has initiated a partnership between cassava and rice farmers in Taraba State and Tita Kuru, a food processing company.

The IFAD state Business and Marketing Officer, Mr. Bedu Wiza, noted during the contractual agreement or MOU between VCDP farmers and Cassava and Rice Off-Taker in Jalingo that the idea was to sustain the desired quantity of production of the two crops in the state.

VCDP was established by IFAD to support smallholder farmers along the cassava and rice value chains through an inclusive strategy to strengthen the capacity of actors along the chain, including producers and processors, as well as public and private institutions, service providers, policymakers, and regulators.

IFAD LIFE-ND Distributes Farm Inputs to Flood Victims in Ondo
Wiza pointed out that the possibility of IFAD exiting Taraba in the near future is the reason for engaging farmers with off-takers who will support them with inputs to farm at a zero percent interest rate.

“The off-taker would provide input to the farmers, while the farmers would repay for the inputs after havest at a no interest percent, while the off-taker would be the farmers sole market point,” Wiza explained.

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The head of quality assurance at Tita Kuru Food Processing Company, Jalingo, Mr. Emmanuel Zebedee, while speaking on behalf of the company, assured that the collaboration with the VCDP farmers would create a boost for the company to meet her production demands in the country.

“We are proud to establish a contract with the VCDP farmers. We are committed to ensuring that the farmers enjoy the best they wish.

“I wish to also appeal for serious commitment among the farmers to avoid any breach of the contract agreement, as the company may be relying on the farmers for her production,” he stated.
https://farmersmanual.com/ifad-initiates-mou-between-off-taker-and-farmers-in-taraba/

In order to ensure the establishment of inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation across Africa, over 4000 agricultural stakeholders have converged in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the 13th annual Africa Food Systems Forum.

Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Mohamed Bashe, welcomed delegates from Tanzania and beyond for attending the summit with the theme Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation’.

Bash noted that the summit will provide a platform for the delegates, leaders, and innovators from across the globe to discuss policy, breakthroughs, and innovations in agriculture and food system transformation.

https://farmersmanual.com/aatf-calls-for-conducive-policy-to-transform-agriculture-in-africa-2/

He emphasized that this year’s summit places a strong emphasis on empowering women and youth, recognizing their pivotal roles and great contributions in reshaping Africa’s food landscape while acknowledging their efforts that represent a significant milestone in the journey towards food security.

The minister also used the opportunity to discuss how Tanzania is working to address food security and job creation through ‘Building a Better Tomorrow: Youth Initiative for Agribusiness (BBT-YIA)’, which aims to provide agribusiness training to 200,000 young individuals and support 15,000 youth-led agribusiness ventures in the country over the next five years.

The Managing Director of the Africa Food Systems Forum, Amath Pathe Sene, stressed the need to tackle food system challenges, disclosing that it is necessary for the continent to develop solutions that are rooted in local context and give paramount importance to the empowerment of women and youth in the process of transforming food systems.

According to Sene, the forum will also build momentum for the Food Systems Transformation dialogue ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai.


https://farmersmanual.com/stakeholders-converge-in-tanzania-for-africa-food-systems-forum/

Plantain flour is flour obtained from milling unripe plantains. Plantains are a staple food in tropical regions of the world. It can either be used for domestic consumption or as an input by other producers. It is rich in iron, ascorbic acid, vitamin C, carotene, and other vitamins.

Plantain flour is lower in calories than regular all-purpose flour; it is naturally gluten- and lactose-free. It is an excellent substitution for wheat flour in dishes such as pancakes. In breads, it can replace up to 30% of regular flour. Plantain flour is made by drying green, unripe plantains and grinding them into flour.

The demand for plantain flour is increasing daily, especially with the increasing reported cases of diabetes; therefore, the degree of need, health considerations, and rising standard of living contribute in no small measure to the rising demand for plantain flour. With an estimated population of over 200 million people, the demand is 20% higher than the current supply.

https://farmersmanual.com/unlocking-financial-potential-of-chilli-pepper-powder/

The consumption of plantain flour is becoming more acceptable and popular today in both local and international markets, as it is a remedy for people who have diabetes or are trying to control their fat. The potential national demand for plantain flour has been estimated to be in excess of 300,000 tons per year. Also, the demand for plantain flour in the international market is very high, especially in Europe and the U.S.A.

Plantain fruit is the major raw material and can be found in commercial quantities in different parts of the country, including in Edo, Delta, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Anambra, Enugu, and Lagos states.

EQUIPMENTS NEEDED FOR PLANTAIN FLOUR

Drying machine,

slicing/chipping machine,

milling machine

packaging machine

STAGES ON HOW TO PROCESS PLANTAIN TO PLAINTAIN FLOUR

Sorting:this involves separating the plantains that will be used from the non-useful ones. In plantain flour production, the plantain pulp must be well matured.

Blanching:since the production of the plantain flour is for commercial purposes, which means it is large, there is a need to put the plantain in very hot water to soften or weaken the bark before peeling for a few minutes in order to make them easier for peeling; this is termed blanching.

Peeling:sharp objects such as a knife are used for the peeling (removing of the bark of plantain fruit) in order to avoid wastage. There are machines that can handle this for large-scale production.

Slicing and chipping:this is done with the use of a machine for an easy and faster result. The pulp is sliced into pieces (chips).

Drying:the pulp is dried in a drying machine (dryer) for some minutes (a short time).

Milling:A hammer mill is used in milling the sliced pulp. This is very important. It is one of the pieces of equipment you cannot do without.

Sieving: It is important to sieve the milled plantains for uniform sizes.

Packaging:the last thing to do after sieving is to package the sieved flour. Use thick nylon to package it to prevent moisture from entering it.

Sealing machine:it is used in sealing the flour nylon.

How To Make Money From Processing Yam Tuber To Yam Flour
How to Market Plantain Products in Nigeria

Sell at local markets:One of the most popular ways to sell plantains in Nigeria and Africa is by selling them at local markets.

Sell to food processing companies:Large food processing companies in Nigeria and Africa require a steady supply of plantains for their products.

Export to international markets:Plantains are in high demand in international markets, and exporting to these markets can be a lucrative option.

Sell to wholesalers:You can sell your plantains to wholesalers, who will then distribute them to retailers.

Sell to retailers:Small retailers, such as grocery stores and roadside vendors, often buy plantains in bulk to sell to their customers.

Sell online:With the increasing use of e-commerce platforms in Nigeria and Africa, selling plantains online can be a great way to reach a wider audience.

Sell to restaurants and hotels:Restaurants and hotels use plantains in various dishes, making them a potential market for farmers.

Advertise at trade shows:Attending trade shows related to agriculture and food processing can help farmers market their products to potential buyers.

Social media marketing:Social media platforms can be used to showcase plantain farming products and reach potential customers.



Health Benefits of Plantain Flour

Rich in fiber:Plantains are high in fiber, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent constipation.

Promotes heart health:Plantains are rich in potassium, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Lowers cholesterol:The fiber in plantains can also help lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Boosts immunity:Plantains contain vitamins A and C, which can help boost the immune system and protect against infections.

Good for the skin:The vitamin A in plantains can help improve skin health and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Anti-inflammatory properties:Plantains contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce inflammation in the body.

Regulates blood sugar:The fiber in plantains can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent spikes and crashes.

Improves vision:Plantains contain vitamin A, which is essential for good vision and eye health.

Rich in antioxidants:Plantains contain antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage and prevent disease.

Helps with weight loss:Plantains are low in fat and calories, making them a good food to include in a weight loss diet.

COST OF PRODUCTION

The amount required for a plantain flour business depends on your scale of production. If you are starting small, #100,000 can start you up. But if you are starting big on a larger scale, then #15,000,000 will comfortably start the plantain flour business. On a larger scale, you can cut costs by employing more hands to peel the plantain skin.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The profitability of plantain flour production largely depends on the cost of the primary raw material, matured, unripe plantain. The price fluctuates with season, demand, and supply. As the price of plantains changes, so does the price of plantains’ flour.

The average cost of plantains is N540,000 per ton. Depending on the quality of plantain, an average of 450 kg of plantain flour is obtainable from processing 1 ton of matured or unripe plantain. This implies that it will cost N1200 to produce 1 kg of plantain flour or N 1,200,000 to produce 1 ton of plantain flour.

Meanwhile, 1 kg of plantain floor is sold for #2500 per kg, making #2,500,000 per ton, showing that processing plantain into plantain floor is a profitable business venture with a great return on investment.
https://farmersmanual.com/how-to-generate-income-from-plantain-flour-2/

The Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) has called for the establishment of the Cassava Development Commission to improve the cassava value chain and complement oil as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

The President of NCGA, Pastor Segun Adewuni, made this known at the Agro-Commodity Roundtable Dialogue, Dinner, and Recognition Night, which was organized by the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN).

The NCGA president pointed out that there are two programs for cassava development, stating that the country should separate the agenda of cassava for food security from that of cassava for industrial use to encourage efficient production.

How to Make Money From Processing Cassava to Garri
He emphasized that the creation of such a commission requires strong political will while calling for consideration of the zeal with which Malaysia took palm seeds from Nigeria and transformed palm produce into an economic crop that generates more than twice what Nigeria earns from her oil.

According to him, until recent times, cassava was never seen as a cash crop by the average farmer but was used for intercropping to support the food needs of the family in the off-season period of yam, adding that cassava cannot penetrate the world market because the practice of agriculture in Nigeria is still in its crude form.

CFAN Demands Regulatory Board to Develop Cocoa Sector
“You may wish to know that some southern states that have a farming population of over two million do not have up to ten (10) serviceable tractors for the use of their farmers. Besides, it is rare to find contiguous tractor-able farmland of 100 ha anywhere in the southern states where cassava is the main crop.

“From the over twenty mega factories that process cassava in Nigeria, I cannot see more than one that has over 60% regular cassava feed stock all the year round. Most of the other factories operate at less than 10% of their installed capacities. This is because the cassava supply issue was not properly addressed before the factories were established.
https://farmersmanual.com/ncga-stresses-need-for-cassava-development-commission/

The Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) has called for the establishment of the Cassava Development Commission to improve the cassava value chain and complement oil as the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy.

The President of NCGA, Pastor Segun Adewuni, made this known at the Agro-Commodity Roundtable Dialogue, Dinner, and Recognition Night, which was organized by the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN).

The NCGA president pointed out that there are two programs for cassava development, stating that the country should separate the agenda of cassava for food security from that of cassava for industrial use to encourage efficient production.

How to Make Money From Processing Cassava to Garri
He emphasized that the creation of such a commission requires strong political will while calling for consideration of the zeal with which Malaysia took palm seeds from Nigeria and transformed palm produce into an economic crop that generates more than twice what Nigeria earns from her oil.

According to him, until recent times, cassava was never seen as a cash crop by the average farmer but was used for intercropping to support the food needs of the family in the off-season period of yam, adding that cassava cannot penetrate the world market because the practice of agriculture in Nigeria is still in its crude form.

CFAN Demands Regulatory Board to Develop Cocoa Sector
“You may wish to know that some southern states that have a farming population of over two million do not have up to ten (10) serviceable tractors for the use of their farmers. Besides, it is rare to find contiguous tractor-able farmland of 100 ha anywhere in the southern states where cassava is the main crop.

“From the over twenty mega factories that process cassava in Nigeria, I cannot see more than one that has over 60% regular cassava feed stock all the year round. Most of the other factories operate at less than 10% of their installed capacities. This is because the cassava supply issue was not properly addressed before the factories were established.

https://farmersmanual.com/ncga-stresses-need-for-cassava-development-commission/

The Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), which represents feed millers in the country, has lamented the impact of inadequate supply and increases in the cost of maize, soybeans, and other feed ingredients, while expressing concern at the possibility of a scarcity of eggs, chicken, and other livestock.

The President of FIPAN, Raymond Isidinaso, disclosed while speaking with the journalists that the soaring prices of eggs, chicken, fish, and other livestock products are largely attributed to the scarcity of maize and soy beans.

He explained that these two ingredients constitute a high percentage in the production of animal feeds and are essential to the process of producing animal feed from raw agricultural products for animals.

https://farmersmanual.com/iita-bip-ngn-organize-training-on-insect-breeding-as-alternative-feed-source/

The FIPAN president added that the shortage has resulted in an increase in the cost of formulating feed to meet specific animal nutrition requirements for different species of animals at different life stages.

Isidinaso therefore called on the government at all levels to come to the aid of the sector by releasing grains from the national grain reserve in order to alleviate the challenges faced by the industry and prevent scarcity of eggs, chicken, and other livestock products.

https://farmersmanual.com/fg-calls-for-alternative-feed-ingredients-to-reduce-production-cost/

He also pointed out the possibility of an increase in unemployment if the industry were to collapse while explaining that the sector contributes to high job provision, stating that the sector engaged approximately 45 percent of the nation’s labor force.

According to FIPAN’s boss, in order to mitigate the impending food crisis, there is a need to immediately halt the illegal exportation of soy bean seed and call for intervention in the importation of maize for commercial production of feeds for poultry, swine, fish, and other livestock industries.
The Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), which represents feed millers in the country, has lamented the impact of inadequate supply and increases in the cost of maize, soybeans, and other feed ingredients, while expressing concern at the possibility of a scarcity of eggs, chicken, and other livestock

https://farmersmanual.com/fipan-forecasts-scarcity-of-chicken-eggs-and-other-livestock-products/.

The Lift Poverty Organization (LAPO), through its LAPO Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (LARDI), has improved rural agricultural development with a disbursement of N9 billion to rural farmers and micro business owners in the first half of the year 2023.

The Executive Director of LAPO, Dr Honestus Ayo Obadiora, noted that the funds were disbursed to 191,134 farmers across 310 branches nationwide between January and June 2023, to address challenges limiting farmers’ productivity such as the non-availability of inputs for improved farm yield and limited access to finance.

LAPO microfinance bank is an off shoot of the lift above poverty (LAPO) organization, a poverty- focused non-governmental organization. It was initiated in the late 1980s in response to the fall out of the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP).

AFOS Foundation Calls for Best Practices in Agribusiness Finance
The LAPO boss expressed satisfaction with the progress of the beneficiaries, noting that many have significantly expanded their farmlands and enhanced their productivities to ensure food security, while some have improved their business operations with improved income and better livelihood.

Obadiora pointed out that LAPO is strongly committed to the mandate of improving rural agriculture, food security and the general living condition of rural dwellers, particularly, women-headed households and youths through flexible and affordable financial services.

NDE Empowers Kano Farmers with Soft Agribusiness Loan
He further explained that part of what the organization does to help rural community is capacity development of rural farmers and business owners through on-farm demonstration, workshop and training programs.

According to him, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has a strong potential to provide adequate food for its teeming populace and supply raw materials to a growing industrial sector, which constitutes a major source of foreign exchange and employment in the country.
https://farmersmanual.com/lapo-empowers-farmers-with-financial-services/

In order to encourage food production in the country, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, organized training in Enugu State on modern techniques to increase the production of tomatoes in the southern region.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, while declaring the training open, stated that the training was organized to stop overdependence on rain-fed agriculture and encourage all-season tomato production.

The training was held at Enugu State College of Education Technical, ESCET, with the topic, “Emergency training on all-season tomato production for youth and women in the South East, South-South, and South West.

https://farmersmanual.com/how-to-start-a-lucrative-tomato-farming-2/

Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by the State Coordinator and Deputy Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Enugu, Mr. Peter Nwaogor, pointed out that the ministry, in collaboration with its development partners, put the training together to increase supply and curb scarcity.

The Program Manager of Enugu State Agricultural Development Program, ENADEP, Dr. Ogbonna Onyishi, noted during his address that Enugu has started producing 30% of the tomatoes being used in the state and that making tomatoes all season will improve production and increase farmers’ income.

https://farmersmanual.com/nafdac-calls-on-nigerians-to-avoid-smuggled-tomato-paste/

“The training will create an opportunity for farmers to learn how to use technology and all varieties of species to ensure that tomatoes are produced all season. It will also reduce the hike in price because it will always be available in the market. Onyishi said.

Also speaking was the supervisor for the tomato value chain, Mr. John Sule, who called on the beneficiaries of the training to pay attention to every section of the training for them to get adequate benefits from the training that is enormous to increase their productivities.
https://farmersmanual.com/fg-trains-youths-and-women-on-modern-tomato-production/

Shea butter is an extracted fat from the nuts of the shea tree. It is solid at room temperature and has an off-white or ivory color. The shea tree is found in eastern and western tropical Africa.

Shea butter comes from two oily kernels within the shea tree seed. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve, or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries.

Shea is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins, making it perfect for collagen production and ultraviolet protection. Its buttery texture contains 60% fat, which makes it ideal for penetrating the skin. Plus, the natural moisturizers in shea butter are analogous to the sebaceous glands of our skin. All this together makes shea butter a moisturizing miracle for skin.

USES OF SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter is used as a fat for cooking.

Shea butter is used in cosmetic products.

It helps to soften or smooth dry skin.

Shea butter is used on the skin for acne, burns, dandruff, dry skin, eczema, and many other conditions.

BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER

Relieves dry skin

Eases irritation

Prevents cell damage

Improves eczema

Provides sun protection.

HOW TO USE SHEA BUTTER

As A Moisturize
Shea butter can transform dry and cracked skin into healthy, moisturized skin. Once you apply it, shea butter delivers an oil-like texture to your skin, which your skin almost instantly absorbs. Immediately absorbing the product restores the lost moisture and eases skin tightness.

How to Make Money From Processing Plantain Into Plantain Chips
To Soothe Chapped Lips
Chapped lips are an everlasting issue. Shea butter lip balm can help your lips look supple and soft. Dab a dash of shea butter on your lips to make sure your chapped lips or skin remain smooth and soft.

To Fight Irritation and Dandruff
Especially if you experience a dry scalp, shea butter’s soothing qualities help calm your scalp. Section your hair, take a small amount of shea butter, and massage it onto your scalp in a circular motion. Use it repeatedly, and you’ll notice the difference in a few days.

A Smoothening Cream for Frizzy Hair
You can use shea butter to combat issues like dull, dry, and frizzy hair. Whenever you feel your hair is dry or unmanageable, touch up the problem spots with shea butter. Alternatively, you can comb it through your hair and leave it on for an hour before shampooing.

For Softer Hands
If your hands are dry from daily wear and tear, they need a good dose of shea butter hand cream. One of the primary benefits of shea butter is restoring moisture and hydrating the skin. Smother your hands with shea butter and wake up to hands as soft as silk.

TYPES OF SHEA BUTTER PRODUCTION BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA

Traditional production: This involves the manual extraction of shea butter by women in rural communities using traditional methods such as crushing, roasting, and pounding the shea nuts.

Semi-mechanized production:This involves the use of machines and equipment such as mills, grinders, and pressers, to assist in the extraction of shea butter.

Industrial production:This involves large-scale production of shea butter using modern machinery and techniques. This type of production is mostly found in commercial and industrial settings.

Organic production:This involves the production of shea butter using only natural and organic methods. This type of production is gaining popularity due to the increasing demand for organic and natural products.

How to Make Money From Processing Cassava to Garri
Cooperative production:This involves the pooling of resources and efforts by a group of farmers or producers to produce shea butter. This type of production helps to improve the livelihoods of small-scale producers and promotes community development.

Private label production:This involves the production of shea butter for private label brands or companies. This type of production is a popular way for small-scale producers to enter the market and build their brand.

TYPES OF SHEA BUTTERS IN NIGERIA

Grade A Shea Butter:This is the highest quality of shea butter produced from high-quality shea nuts. It is known for its smooth texture, yellow color, and mild nutty fragrance. It is preferred for use in cosmetic and skincare products.

Grade B Shea Butter:This type of shea butter is produced from lower-quality shea nuts and has a grainy texture and a darker color. It is used mainly for industrial purposes.

Unrefined Shea Butter:This is the purest form of shea butter, which is extracted without the use of chemicals or preservatives. It retains all the natural vitamins and minerals present in the shea nut, making it the best for skincare and hair care products.

Refined Shea Butter:This type of shea butter is processed to remove impurities and other substances, resulting in a smoother texture and a lighter color. It is mostly used in the food and cosmetic industries.

Ultra-Refined Shea Butter:This is the most processed form of shea butter, which is stripped of all natural nutrients and compounds. It is used in the cosmetic industry for its soft texture and neutral scent.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

The return on investment of shea nuts is estimated between 10% and 15%, while for shea butter, it is between 25% and 30%. 1 metric ton of shea nut is N 800,000, while shea butter is # 2,000,000 per metric ton.

To produce 1 kg of shea butter, you need 2.5 kg of shea nuts; therefore, 50 tons of shea nuts would yield 20 tons of shea butter, which could be further refined to satisfy the needs of the market. Shea cake is another derivative of shea butter processing with economic benefits. It is also demanded by foreign buyers.
https://farmersmanual.com/how-to-make-money-from-shea-butter-2/

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) partnered with HarvestPlus to commercialize bio-fortified Vitamin A Maize and Vitamin A Cassava with a target of reaching 34 million Nigerians in 8 states in order to solve problems associated with the high level of malnutrition in Nigeria.

The Deputy Country Director of GAIN Nigeria, Dr. Abbas Yusuf, who represented the Country Director, Michael Ojo, during the National Project Close-Out Ceremony of the Commercialization of Bio-fortified Crops (CBC) Project, disclosed that Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of cases of malnutrition.

The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Netherlands. It is targeting 23 million people in Imo, Oyo, Niger, and Kaduna with Vitamin A maize and 11 million people in Cross River, Anambra, Osun, and Nasarawa states with Vitamin A cassava.

Harvestplus Makes Case for Biofortified Crops to Tackle Malnutrition
The GAIN boss noted that the project is meant to ensure that the processed foods get to the end users with high quality, adding that though bio-fortified crops are safe and good to eat for everyone, it is important to process them in the right way to avoid food poisoning.

“One of the sustainable ways of addressing malnutrition is ensuring that a very essential nutrient, which is vitamin A, which we see lacking in children, gets together as they grow.

HarvestPlus Partners ADP to Educate Women on Vitamin A Fortified Foods

“Biofortification ensures that rather than you beginning to give supplements, you have biofortified crops like maize and cassava, which are grown at the community, which means that when you harvest cassava, as you harvest maize, you already have the right component of vitamin A, which can be processed and eaten locally for the children and for pregnant women as well,” he stated.

On the occasion, the Country Director of HarvestPlus, Yusuf Dollah,said they developed those varieties of crops with high levels of micronutrients and vitamins in order to ensure people live healthy lives by having access to essential micronutrients and vitamins from the natural crops harvested from farms.
https://farmersmanual.com/gain-partners-harvestplus-to-promote-consumption-of-bio-fortified-crops-2/

In its bid to ensure food security, the federal government has begun the distribution of 60,000 agricultural inputs to farmers in five states: Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto. These inputs are provided at subsidized costs, and they also come with a stern warning to beneficiaries against round-tripping.

Dr. Ernest Afolabi, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), disclosed that the distribution at Bunkure Local Council of Kano State was sponsored by the National Agricultural Growth Scheme.

He also disclosed that the ceremony marks the beginning of this year’s delivery of subsidized inputs to 60,000 farmers in the participating states, adding that the event is very important to the ministry in helping the drive to increase agricultural productivity.

NSPFS, Edo Commences Distribution of Inputs for 2023 Farming Season
He explained that food security cannot be attained without guaranteed access to quality agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, whose distribution is part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program-Phase One (ATASP-1) Project.

He went further to narrate that the government has devoted 80 percent of the total cost of the input package to paying the government, while the participating farmers are expected to pay the remaining 20 percent balance for the redemption of their inputs.

Gombe SWOFON Decries Lack of Access to Agricultural Inputs
Furthermore, he discloses that the program was organized to support 60,000 farmers in the five ATASP and 15 states with highly subsidized inputs in order to increase their production level, achieve economic well-being, and contribute substantially to the national agricultural product output.

Lastly, he wishes to instruct all the benefiting farmers to ensure full utilization of the inputs in their various farms in order to increase their farm harvest, which will bring about an increase in farm income.’’ Afolabi noted
https://farmersmanual.com/federal-government-distributes-subsidized-agricultural-inputs-to-farmers/

Stakeholders in agricultural sector have called on the Federal Government to make sure that the next budget cycle and following ones are gender sensitive and responsive, through implementation of National Gender Policy in Agriculture that addresses specific challenges affecting women farmers different from men.

This appeal was made during the National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2024 Agriculture Budget, held in Lagos, noting that agricultural funding should focus on getting consultants or consultancy firms to support women, youth and farmers living with disability, to navigate the too cumbersome access to credit in the country.

They also called on the government to stop umping up budget for women farmers and other groups such as youths, while advising state ministries of agriculture to start creating a yearly budget line to strengthen access to credit.

Olam Agri launches Academy to Empower Women
According to the stakeholders, the consultancy firm will help cooperatives to access existing agricultural credit facilities provided by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others.

The advocates lamented that the data collected through the Non-State Actors (NSAs) Value Addition Biennial Review Toolkit (VABKIT), reflect that smallholder women currently have only 26 per cent access to processing facilities; 18 per cent to storage facilities; 21 per cent access to off takers/access to markets and 10 per cent to transportation for agricultural produce.

SWOFON Urges Bauchi Govt. to Implement Gender Policy in Agriculture
They went further to state that smallholder women farmers have only two per cent access to agricultural insurance, while 30 per cent women have control over land, adding that only 10 per cent are engaged in land governance discussions, out of 60 per cent women that have access to land.
https://farmersmanual.com/stakeholders-demand-gender-sensitivity-for-2024-agric-budget/

In its bid to ensure food security, the federal government has begun the distribution of 60,000 agricultural inputs to farmers in five states: Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto. These inputs are provided at subsidized costs, and they also come with a stern warning to beneficiaries against round-tripping.

Dr. Ernest Afolabi, The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), disclosed that the distribution at Bunkure Local Council of Kano State was sponsored by the National Agricultural Growth Scheme.

He also disclosed that the ceremony marks the beginning of this year’s delivery of subsidized inputs to 60,000 farmers in the participating states, adding that the event is very important to the ministry in helping the drive to increase agricultural productivity.

https://farmersmanual.com/nspfs-edo-commences-distribution-of-inputs-for-2023-farming-season/

He explained that food security cannot be attained without guaranteed access to quality agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides, whose distribution is part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program-Phase One (ATASP-1) Project.

He went further to narrate that the government has devoted 80 percent of the total cost of the input package to paying the government, while the participating farmers are expected to pay the remaining 20 percent balance for the redemption of their inputs.

https://farmersmanual.com/gombe-swofon-decries-lack-of-access-to-agricultural-inputs/

Furthermore, he discloses that the program was organized to support 60,000 farmers in the five ATASP and 15 states with highly subsidized inputs in order to increase their production level, achieve economic well-being, and contribute substantially to the national agricultural product output.

Lastly, he wishes to instruct all the benefiting farmers to ensure full utilization of the inputs in their various farms in order to increase their farm harvest, which will bring about an increase in farm income.’’ Afolabi noted
https://farmersmanual.com/federal-government-distributes-subsidized-agricultural-inputs-to-farmers/