Author: Adewale Kupoluyi
By Omolola Pedro The Ogun State Government has launched an integrated digital support platform, Ogun State Farmer Information Management System (OGFIMS), an initiative created with the aim to offer one-stop resources to farmers and other value chain actors in the state. The platform is an initiative of a partnership between by the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, said that the initiative was an effort to unleash the full potentials of the agricultural sector and ensure…
By Olamide Tejuoso The National President of the National Sunflower Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NSUNGPMAN), Mr. Jibrin Bukar, has stated that Nigeria has a huge potential to produce sunflower seeds that could generate revenue up to US$3.5 billion. Experts have projected that since Nigeria has the highest potential of sunflower production in Africa, among the over 15 countries like Tanzania, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, Rwanda and Sudan, the country can earn about US$1.5billion from the export of its seeds and another US$2bn from export of other processed products, such…
By Olamide Tejuoso The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is seeking applications for the internationally-recruited position of a plant breeder (women candidates are encouraged to apply). Qualified candidate should be interested in taking up the role as a postdoctoral fellow. The candidate should have a PhD in plant breed, quantitative genetics or a related field/demonstrated skills in plant breeding. The contract-position would last for a period of two years. For details, visit: jobs.iita.org. To apply, visit: https://jobs.iita.org/eRecruit/RecApplication/Create?vid=2975. Application deadline is May 12, 2023.
By Olamide Tejuoso Over 10,000 cocoa farmers at the Oluwa Forest Reserve (OA3A) in Odigbo, Ondo State, are protesting the government’s step to evict and destruct their farmlands. The protesters, who trooped out to the streets of Odigbo in large number, had carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “Our land is weeping because its keepers have been displaced”, “Where do we farm, if our land is taken away?” Others include “Respect the farmers, because we give life”, “Farming is our job, we are not criminals”, and “We pay our rent, government leave us alone”, among others. The farmers lamented…
By Olamide Tejuoso Farmers have been advised not to use pesticides and other chemicals when storing dried beans and other legume crops by the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The head of NSPRI, Dr. Akin Olagbaju said this at a sensitisation workshop in Sokoto, which was organised, to enhance the capacity of farmers and merchants on how best to preserve beans for effective and profitable exportation. Warning further, he reiterated that the use of chemicals for storage is the cause of several ailments such as cancer among many others. Olagbaju added that…
By Oludele Taiwo and Sodiq Lawal The Lagos State government would commence the commercial sales of Eko Rice, a commodity produced and packaged at the state mill, located in the Imota area of the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Rice Mill Initiative, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, dropped this hint at the Secretariat, Alausa, Lagos while speaking during the signing of an agreement with the Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE) and key capital market operators to provide sustainable finance to the commodities ecosystem through the generation of tradable financial instruments. According to him, the signing…
By Omolola Pedro A 50-year-old farmer, Olaoluwa Olorunfemi, has been killed by armed herdsmen, following the invasion of Ago-Oyinbo community at the Ala Forest Reserve in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State while eight other persons in the community sustained injuries in the violent attack. The herders wreaked havoc on the people, who are mostly farmers, in the middle of the night without any challenge. Addressing newsmen at Akure, the state capital, the community spokesperson, Samuel Olowolafe, said the heavily-armed herders also looted property of victims. He explained that the situation had left many residents with no choice,…
By Omolola Pedro The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated the steering committee on states’ implementation of the food systems transformation pathway, targeted at establishing Nigeria’s efforts at ensuring an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient food system transformation, FarmingFarmersFarms reports. The Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, while speaking at the inauguration of the committee, held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, said, there is no better time to inaugurate the committee than now that the current administration would be transiting to a new one on come May 29, 2023. “Due diligence was undertaken in the…
By Omolola Pedro Following renewed bandit attacks in the Mashegu, Munya, Rafi, Paikoro, and Shiroro communities of Niger state, farmers have expressed fears while farming this year. As a result, they warn that hunger is looming in the state and throughout the country and as such, called on the federal and state governments to establish a permanent security base in their areas to enable them return to farms this rainy season. It would be recalled that the Shiroro, Paikoro, and Munya local government areas are among the major producers of yams in the state with the International Yam Market located in…
