Author: Adewale Kupoluyi
In the strive to make more impact, no fewer than 150 Kano sesame farmers, processors and exporters have been trained by experts on the global methods of packaging, exportation and marketing of Sesame Value Chain to international markets. This was made possible as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) brought together exporters, farmers and processors of various farm produce in the state in this regard. “Sesame is among the top globally-traded commodities due to its multiple uses. In 2020, export of sesame seeds from the five top world exporters are: Sudan ($690m), India ($463m), Nigeria ($396m), Ethiopia ($352m) and Niger…
Oluwole Okunola, a graduate of the National Open University Nigeria (NOUN), is the Chief Executive Officer of Haremex Farms. He is a fish farmer and spoke on a number of issues bordering on how he started the catfish farming business, why fish farming is good, successes recorded so far in the venture, challenges associated with fish farming, contributions of fish farming to the Nigerian economy, words of advice to young farmers, and the role expected of the government in that line of business. More importantly, he has made a case for rich database in Nigeria on loan opportunities, equipment and technology for fish farmers to excel. Excerpts: Can…
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar has formally inaugurated the National Council on Animal Welfare (NCAW) with a charge to ensure the regulation of animal welfare in Nigeria in line with global best practices. According to the minister, “It is our duty to ensure that animals are treated humanely, responsibly and devoid of stress, hunger, anxiety and pain”. He added that the Nigeria Animal Welfare Strategy was developed and approved by the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development (NCARD) in 2016 and in furtherance of the implementation of the policy, the ministry stepped up efforts…
The Federal Government has taken steps to enhance living income differential of cocoa farmers by inaugurating the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC). While inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar stated that the effort would boost living income differential (LID) for cocoa smallholder farmers, guarantee quality, traceability, transparency and sustainability for cocoa value chain as well as meet export demands, added that the initiative would make Nigerian cocoa farmers to start benefiting from the project like their counterparts in Ghana and Cote d’Ivorie. Dr. Abubakar charged the committee to come up with…
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has called on the Government of China to partner with the Nigerian government to domesticate Juncao technology in the nation’s universities of agriculture. The Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu stated this in Abuja at a three-day workshop on the application of Juncao technology and its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Juncao technology is an environmental-friendly system that empowers smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs to grow mushrooms from dried, chopped grasses without cutting down trees and damaging the environment. The technology could also be used for producing cattle…
The President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has revealed that his bank is set to deliver climate-adapted, certified wheat and other staple crops seeds to 20 million farmers. Adesina made this known in a document titled, “Averting an African Food Crisis: The African Food Production Facility”. He said the initiative, which was part of activities by the bank, would tackle food crisis in African countries, including Nigeria. The President said the delivery of seeds and increased access to agricultural fertilizers would be done through the bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility. Dr. Adesina said within the next two…
The Chairman, Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Regional Steering Committee, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Mr. Ernest Aubee has said that organic agriculture is generating lots of resources globally. Aubee said this at a two-day national stakeholders meeting on reporting achievements of EOA in Nigeria to the government and national stakeholders. “ECOWAS Commission is promoting organic agriculture in West Africa. We, as a region, want to benefit from the high turnover in terms of resources so that our farmers can also benefit. Organic agriculture is the best way to adopt because it is promoting sound health for the…
