Category: AGRICULTURE

Food Security: 456,000 farmers to benefit, as FG launches agric. value-chain in 7 states

Aminu Imam

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has launched an agricultural value chain project aimed at boosting agricultural production towards achieving food security in the country. The project, termed: ‘Value-Chain North Project Design Mission’, is jointly initiated by the ministry and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD). The project, to be executed in seven Northern States, is to benefit 456,000 farmers. The Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Bukar Musa, said, during the project in Maiduguri on Thursday, that it would explore all…

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FG to assist 250,000 wheat farmers with subsidies – Agric. Minister, Kyari

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has pledged to support about 250,000 wheat farmers with a 50 percent input subsidy to cultivate about 250,000 hectares during this year’s dry season. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during the flag-off of the 2023/2024 dry session farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-pocket Project at Kadume Village, Hadejia local government area, Jigawa State, yesterday. He said the FG’s support for the wheat farmers is expected to produce over 1.2 million tonnes of wheat during the farming session.…

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FG approves 50% subsidy on agric. inputs amid food inflation

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has endorsed a 50% reduction in the cost of agricultural inputs in preparation for the commencement of dry season farming starting from November 25, 2023. This announcement came through a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which indicated that the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, will lead the launch ceremony in Jigawa State. The event aims not only to kick-start dry season farming but also to facilitate the distribution of vital resources like seedlings, herbicides, pesticides, and more. This initiative spans across the…

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“We must develop our agric sector to self-sufficiency”, VP Shettima tells Governors

Aminu Imam

Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has implored Governors of the 36 States of the federation to work towards revamping Nigeria’s agricultural sector with a view to reducing dependence on food imports and attaining greater food self-sufficiency. This, he noted, resonates well with the investments and commitment of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to establishing Specialised Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) in the country. Sen. Shettima gave the charge yesterday, during the 137th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. While delivering his opening address…

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Agro-Industrial Programme: Security-embattled North-West Govs. head to Abidjan, to meet AfDB president

Aminu Imam

Seven State governors from the North-West geo-political zone are set to embark on a journey to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in a bid to harness the potential of the Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme. A statement released by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Idris, yesterday, noted that the State Governors will be going to Abidjan to explore the opportunities offered by the Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme. The State governors are expected to have departed Nigeria yesterday. Idris also stated that the governors are scheduled to meet with the President of the…

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Food Security: Wheat seeds arrive Nigeria ahead of dry season farming

Aminu Imam

Hybrid wheat seeds ordered by the PresidentTinubu-led administration have arrived at the Nigerian port in Lagos. Recall that the President declared a state of emergency on food security in the country and made agriculture and food security the number one priority of his ‘Renewed Hope’ administration.  Acting on this, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security outlined the procedures and processes for the dry season wheat farming. The Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security were at the venue inspecting the imported seeds. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator…

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Youth Unemployment: Milk Value Foundation, ECOWAS partner to tackle menace in Kaduna

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

As the advocacy for job creation gets louder, Milk Value Chain Foundation in partnership with Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS is out to implement the enhancement of youth employment project aimed at addressing youth unemployment in Kaduna State. The project particularly aimed the pastoral communities of Luumo Kosam and Damau Grazing village milk producer cooperatives in Chikun and Kubau Local Governments.  The Chief Executive Officer of Milk Value Chain Dr. Ishaq Bello said this at an inception workshop organized by the Foundation to sensitize the public on the project Wednesday in Kaduna.…

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Kaduna: Ginger pandemic wipes out N10bn farmlands in 7 LGAs 

Aminu Imam

… Nigeria’s 4th position as the world’s ginger producer threatened  No fewer than seven local government councils of Kaduna State affected by an outbreak of fungi pathogens infection that wiped out N10 billion worth of ginger, covering 2,500 hectares of farm land in seven local government councils of Kaduna State, threatening Nigeria’s fourth position as the world’s ginger producer.  An assessment tour of ginger farms in some affected local government councils over the weekend by the Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC), Dr. Ezra…

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Food Insecurity: ‘Biting hunger resulting from low-crop yield leading to mortality in North’ – Stakeholders

Aminu Imam

Across Nigeria, in spite of the advent of rainy season which led to heavy rainfall, the annual seasonal farming in northern Nigeria, stakeholders have raised alarm that biting hunger resulting from low crop yield is leading to mortality in the North, resulting in food insecurity in the region. Lamenting the situation to newsmen, a father of five, ‘Malam’ Garba, (not his real name), from an Adamawa community, said he lost his first daughter, A’isha, as a result of hunger resulting from low crop yield. At the burial ground, when Aisha…

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‘Nigeria’s agricultural revolution created over 13m jobs in seven years’ – President Buhari

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Washington D.C said Nigeria’s agricultural revolution has led to the creation of over 13million direct and indirect jobs in the last seven and half-years. The President disclosed this at an interactive session, titled: “A conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria’’, co-hosted by the United State Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The Nigerian leader used the occasion to once again advise western nations not to be in a rush…

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