Author: Adewale Kupoluyi

A former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to rethink its approach to ranching, arguing that the initiative should be driven by the private sector rather than the government. Aondoakaa, who spoke during an interview, said the government should focus on creating an enabling environment for ranching by improving cattle breeds, providing infrastructure and ensuring access to affordable financing, while allowing private investors to establish and operate ranches. He said the government could adopt a model similar to its approach to the poultry and rice sectors, where it creates the necessary conditions…

The World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) invites journalists and storytellers to a press forum to hear directly from leaders from the community, learn more about the struggle against an industry that destroys life, water and territory, as fishing communities are demanding that governments prioritise fishers rights, hold aquaculture corporations accountable, and invest in fishing communities, who have been feeding the world since time immemorial. The Press Forum for Journalists and Storytellers, themed “The Future of the Fisheries”, takes place on September 11, 2026 at 8am Belize Time, 17 hours Central European Time (CET), and 20:30 hours Indian Standard Time (IST). In a statement, made…

The Federal Government says it is prioritising support for farmers to boost domestic food production and improve distribution, as the harvest period approaches. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, spoke while leading the 17th meeting of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) steering committee at the State House in Abuja. In a statement issued by the PFSCU, the committee said discussions focused on supporting farmers, improving the movement of food from producing areas to consumers. The conversation also covered strengthening strategic reserves and directing government interventions to areas where they would have the greatest impact. Speaking at the meeting, Shettima said the government must…

The Federal Government has trained 500 women and youths in Ogun State on modern vegetable production techniques, as part of efforts to boost food security and create jobs at the grassroots. The training was done through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in conjunction with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT). Participants are specifically trained on tomato, okra, and Telfairia production techniques as well as the economics of production, marketing, and record-keeping required for the selected vegetable crops. The empowerment aspect of the training was to support participants with starter packs (cash) and some farm inputs such as seed planters, plastic crates, raincoats, watering cans,…

The Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has backed the alarm raised by the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, over incessant attacks and kidnappings targeting farmers in the South-West. The monarch made this known while speaking in Ibadan, the state capital. Ogunmakinde called for proactive measures to curb attacks in parts of the region, particularly in remote communities in Oyo State. It was reported that Afenifere, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, raised concerns over attacks on farmlands and the kidnapping of residents in various parts of Yorubaland and…

The Federal Government has opened applications for the recruitment of 18 key officers for the National Programme Management Unit of the Value Chain for Northern Nigeria Programme. FarmingFarmersFarms gathered that the recruitment was announced by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through its Federal Department of Development Partners Projects. The programme, backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the French Development Agency, is aimed at improving incomes, food security and climate resilience among smallholder farmers and other value chain actors in nine Northern states. The participating states are Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano. Available slots include: National Programme…

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has raised the alarm over inadequate funding and non-release of capital funds, saying the situation has hampered the implementation of several projects and programmes in the sector. The Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Henrietta Okokon, said that the ministry had not received capital releases since 2024. Okokon said the funding challenge had become a major concern, particularly, as the Federal Government is seeking to develop the livestock sector as a major source of economic growth. “We’ve been having issues of funding. You know, non-releases. Since 2024, we don’t have capital releases,…

The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has lifted its suspension on onion exports from Nigeria to Ghana with immediate effect, following renewed engagements aimed at resolving challenges affecting cross-border trade. The association, in a public notice, signed by its President, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, said the decision followed consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the ministries of trade of Nigeria and Ghana, diplomatic authorities, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other institutions. NOPPMAN had earlier suspended onion exports to Ghana over unresolved difficulties confronting Nigerian and Nigerien onion traders and exporters in the Ghanaian market. The challenges reportedly centred…

As AGRA, formerly known as Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, marks its 20th anniversary with a continent-wide celebration tour, new evidence has allegedly tells a different story that hunger has risen sharply across AGRA’s focus countries since 2006, even as billions of philanthropic dollars poured into the industrial agricultural model. The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA)’s General Coordinator, Million Belay and Tufts University researcher, Timothy Wise would present two new reports that show the extent to which Gates-funded model of agriculture devastated the continent., saying food sovereignty movement leaders would ground the findings in their lived…

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has said it is strengthening support for women farmers by expanding access to finance and inputs to boost production, strengthen livelihoods, and improve their participation in the agricultural value chain. The bank disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists, highlighting its interventions to address persistent barriers confronting women farmers, including limited access to finance, inputs, technology, mechanisation, and markets. According to the statement, women are widely-recognised as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy, with estimates cited by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations, placing their share of the agricultural workforce at up to…